Best Fitting Lifevest for Dogs & A Giveaway

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Ammo

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway is brought to you by Ruffwear. All opinions are my own and I only share products I think my readers will love!

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Every summer I enjoy hitting the lake, sometimes kayaking, most of the time Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), and always practicing water safety by wearing a floatation device. While I’ve owned several life vests over the years, I’ve finally found one that fits me PERFECTLY, the Ruffwear K-9 Float Coat.

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Being a Dachshund means that sometimes I have trouble finding harnesses, coats and even life vests that can accommodate my unique body type. Thankfully the Ruffwear Lifevest is adjustable in all the right places making it the best fitting one I’ve ever worn.

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

This floatation device has a sleek design making it slimmer fitting than any of the other vests I’ve tried, but don’t worry it’s still full of plenty of “float”!

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

This life jacket is not only a great design for Dachshunds, but it is also designed for dogs of all shapes and sizes. It even includes thoughtful details like a strong handle, optimally positioned to lift dogs out of the water, and reflective trim for enhanced visibility in or out of the water.

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I enjoyed how the front of the vest was adjustable, but once set is easy to slip over your pup’s head, and the belly straps are also fully adjustable.

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The design of this vest allowed me to have great free-flowing movement of my front legs, which is fantastic for swimming (and for all those occasions when you accidentally fall in!).

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

A fun little fact about me, while swimming might not be my #1 favorite thing to do, I do on occasion like to swim voluntarily, but I’ll only do so if I’m wearing a life jacket and the water is bath water warm!

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I’m a big fan of the Ruffwear K-9 Float Coat, and I can’t recommend it enough for all those water loving dogs out there! It’s now my go-to summer accessory that I never leave home without.

You can fetch your own life jacket from Ruffwear for $79.95. (and incase you’re wondering, I wear a size XS and I’m 20lbs).

And now for the best part…

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

ONE WINNER WILL WIN A RUFFWEAR K-9 FLOAT COAT!

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

No purchase necessary. To enter use the Rafflecopter widget below. You will be contacted via e-mail to claim your prize. All the winners will also be announced on this blog post once the giveaway ends. Open to USA residents only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. By entering you are agreeing to the terms & conditions set forth in the Rafflecopter widget (see below). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read our full list of Terms & Conditions for this giveaway.

Lake Dogs

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Ammo

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

By now you probably know that hanging out at the lake is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. I love it so much that whenever I can I like to bring my dog friends to the lake with me too. You might remember a few summers back when I introduced my gal pal Shilah to the lake when she was just 1 year old.

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

Well it seems my gal pals keep getting younger and younger (*wink*), and this time I brought along my new friend Maya the rescue pup to the lake.

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

It was a bit more of an overcast type of day, and I was a bit worried we might get rained on, but you know what…..when you go to the lake you gotta expect to get wet!

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

This time I decided to rent a double kayak with my mom and dad. Since the water was a little cooler I didn’t feel like getting as wet so a kayak seemed to be the way to go.

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

Maya started out on the kayak too so that she could get her sea legs.

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

And it didn’t take long for her to take the obligatory accidental lake plunge. Don’t worry Maya, we’ve all been there!

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

But Maya didn’t let a little dip in the lake discourage her, she hopped right back on and even tried her paw on the paddleboard too.

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

She even got brave enough to take a purposeful plunge later on in the day (which my camera crew totally missed!)

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

And incase you’re wondering, life guard Ammo was on duty the whole time and I kept a watchful eye on my young puppy friend.

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

Needless to say I was very glad she figured out the whole swimming thing on her own, because I was much too comfortable to perform any daring rescues!

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that this won’t be Maya’s last time on the lake.

Lake Dogs // Summer // Ammo the Dachshund

After all, how could you not come back with a view like this!

July 2014 Monthly Recap

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Ammo

Before we get to the recap of all the exciting adventures I’ve been on in July, I wanted to give a shoutout to my special sponsors! Thanks to them I’m able to bring you exciting posts, so make sure you give them some love and check out what great products they carry!

Barkbox is a monthly subscription service for your dog. Starting as low as $19 a month (shipping included) you can get a box of the finest treats and toys sent right to your front door every month! Choose from packages for small, medium, and large dogs and as a bonus 10% of their sales go to supporting rescue groups! You can check out just what goodies your dog could be getting every month by reading my reviews!

Use code AMMO5 for 10% off your Barkbox Subscription.

Ruffwear carries performance dog gear designed to enhance and inspire outdoor adventures for dogs and their human companions. Totally my kind of company that carries anything from dog hiking packs, harnesses, camping essentials and more! You can check out my review of their dog boots (that even work for dachshund’s too) as well as the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler to keep your pup cool in the summer!

Free Shipping on all orders over $75 at Ruffwear! Free Shipping on orders including the all-new everyday dog harness from Ruffwear – Front Range Harness (Use Code FREEFRONT)

Kurgo is devoted to helping people get out & safely enjoy the world with their dogs. They carry high-quality, innovative products that last at reasonable prices. They even offer a lifetime guarantee. You can check out my review of the Kurgo Surf n’ Turf Life Vest.

Use code KURGO20WIN for 20% off your purchase at Kurgo!

If you would like to find out more about my advertising rates, click HERE. And thanks again to all of my wonderful sponsors, I couldn’t do it without you!

And now onto my July Adventures….

When Toads Attack // Ammo the Dachshund

Things got exciting real fast when I got attacked by a Killer Toad!

Camping in the Pocono Mountains with Ammo the Dachshund

I shared the fun adventures I had with my pal Shilah camping in the Pocono Mountains.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah and I went hiking in Glen Onoko Falls.

Happy 4th of July // Ammo the Dachshund

I celebrated the 4th of July.

Ruffwear Roamer Leash Review & Giveaway

Shilah and I tested out my new favorite hiking leash, the Ruffwear Roamer Leash.

Super Mom-Mom's 90th Birthday // Ammo the Dachshund

I celebrated my Super Mom-Mom’s 90th Birthday!

New York of Bust // Ammo the Dachshund

I headed to New York with my ponies to go camping.

Blanket Dog Bed Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I tried to fend off the barn cats from stealing my new Blanket Dog Bed.

Planet Dog Glow For Good Ball // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared my favorite indoor/outdoor dog toys.

Swimming Dogs and Ponies at the Lake // Ammo the Dachshund

I went swimming at the lake with my favorite pony Minnow.

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub, Weenie in a Tub // Ammo the Dachshund

I had a date with the bathtub!

DoggieLawn Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out an indoor dog potty!

Adventures in Home Improvement // Ammo the Dachshund

I went shopping for home improvement.

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared some easy DIY Dog Art.

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

I performed some water rescues at the pool.

The Eclectic Hound Martingale Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out some fun martingale dog collars.

Afternoon Nap // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared what startled me at nap time.

Kid Magnet // Ammo the Dachshund

I told everyone why I love being a kid magnet!

Watch This // Training Horses Through Mimicking // Ammo the Dachshund

I helped train my ponies.

Wow! It’s amazing all the exciting stuff I seem to pack in each month. I still have lots to fit in before the summer is over though!

What sort of adventures did your pup go on in July?

Summer at the Pool

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Ammo

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

Hot summer days are always best spent by the pool, which is exactly where I headed last weekend!

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

I took some relaxing raft rides.

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

I even worked on my tan.

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

But what I was most excited for was to dig into this month’s Barkbox!

Mom took some great videos of me enjoying my Barkbox poolside, unfortunately the computer decided the videos looked way too yummy to share and ate them all! So instead I’ll have to share my pool adventures with you via photographs. Hopefully you won’t be as sad about it as I am.

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

So after digging into my Barkbox I decided to break open the Louisiana Crab Jerky, because everyone knows you have to eat crab when you lounge by the pool.

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

I even chowed down on these PetSafe Indigo Chews, which tasted just as yummy even though mom says they are supposed to boost my antioxidants and clean my teeth all at the same time!

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

In fact I was having so much fun with my Barkbox that I decided to take it out to sea with me. Dad may or may not have had to save me when I drifted a bit too far.

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

Sadly we had an incident on the water though, as Mr. Whale forgot to wear his life vest and took a tumble into the pool.

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

Not to worry though, I’m an expert life guard – and wasted no time in rushing to his rescue.

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

It helps if you listen to baywatch music while looking at this photograph.

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

I’m also great at mouth to mouth resuscitation….maybe with a nibble thrown in here or there for good measure!

Summer at the Pool // Ammo the Dachshund

Boy, who know pool day could be so exciting!

If you want to make your pup feel like he’s lounging at the pool too, make sure you check out Barkbox for a monthly subscription to the most wonderful pet products! You can even use code AMMO5 to save 10% off!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Barkbox, but all opinions are my own.

Swimming Dogs and Ponies at the Lake

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Ammo

Swimming Dogs and Ponies at the Lake // Ammo the Dachshund

It’s no secret that I love spending time at the lake during the summer.

Swimming Dogs and Ponies at the Lake // Ammo the Dachshund

But did you know that my pony friends from the farm also enjoy relaxing at the lake on hot summer days?

Swimming Dogs and Ponies at the Lake // Ammo the Dachshund

While I’ve been to the lake with my ponies many times before, this time I decided to find out what it was like to swim with them! My favorite pony Minnow offered up his back to take me for a swim around the lake.

Swimming Dogs and Ponies at the Lake // Ammo the Dachshund

And since ponies don’t come equipped with seat belts, mom had to come along too to make sure I didn’t accidentally fall in (not to worry though, I wore my life vest at all times too).

Swimming Dogs and Ponies at the Lake // Ammo the Dachshund

My pal Minnow is actually a Chincoteague Pony and he was born wild on the Island of Assateague. Which if you know the story of the Chincoteague Ponies, then you may know that as a young pony Minnow made the swim across the Chincoteague Channel during Pony Penning Week when he was just a young foal. So if anyone knows how to swim, it’s my pal Minnow.

And I have to say, swimming on the back of a pony is a heck of a lot easier than swimming in the lake on your own. I think it’s going to have to be my preferred method of transportation on the lake from now on!

Swimming Dogs and Ponies at the Lake // Ammo the Dachshund

So thanks Minnow, for taking me on my maiden pony swimming voyage! I hope to have many more in my future!

P.S. Thanks to my pals from My Life, Naturally for taking some of the photos in this post!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Dogs

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Ammo

As you saw yesterday, I went on a weekend camping adventure to the Pocono Mountains – in search of fun! Well aside from lounging around the campsite, my pal Shilah the Husky and I also went on a day-time adventure to hike the nearby Glen Onoko Falls.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

After checking out some scenic overlooks we decided to hit up the popular trail to see some of the falls.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking is one of my all-time favorite activities, in fact I get so excited that I charge up the trails like I was the lead sled dog instead of Shilah!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

This particular hike was quite rocky, but Shilah and I were up for the challenge!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Our parents were glad to have our new Ruffwear Roamer Leashes with them, which made the hike so much more enjoyable. Stay tuned on Monday for a full review on them, and a chance to win one for your dog!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

We crossed water and fallen trees, and mom found herself wishing we had one of Ruffwear’s Hiking Harnesses with the handle to lift me over obstacles like my hiking pals Chester & Gretel from You Did What With Your Weiner.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah and I made it pretty far up the hike before stopping for a group photo….because that’s how we roll! We didn’t make it all the way to the big waterfall at the top because the climb started to get pretty steep and our parents were worried about the decent for us dogs (although I totally could of made it!).

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

On the way back down we ran into these two pups. I warned them that they may wish they had leashes attached to their humans as it got higher – because we all know those of us with 4 legs have to keep those with 2 legs from falling off the side of the mountain!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

When we reached the bottom of our hike Shilah and I decided to take a dip in the river while our parents ate lunch.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

I showed off my swimming skills to all the other pups hanging around the river, and I’m pretty sure they were all wishing they had a spiffy life vest just like me.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

After cooling off Shilah and I decided to head into Jim Thorpe to grab some ice cream!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Italian Ice was just what I needed after an invigorating hike!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

I was sad to end my weekend full of camping and hiking, but I have to say it was nice to finally get back home to my air conditioning!

Rumor has it I won’t have to wait too long for my next camping adventure, as I’m headed off on another adventure soon….this time with my ponies!

When Dogs Go Stand Up Paddleboarding

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Ammo

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your dog // Ammo the Dachshund

I’m no stranger to the lake, and one of my favorite warm-weather activities is to go Stand Up Paddleboarding (aka SUP) with my mom and dad. So over the weekend we hit up our favorite lake and boat rental – Marsh Creek Lake.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your dog // Ammo the Dachshund

I enjoy the paddleboard more than any of the other rentals (kayak, motorized rowboat, sailboat) because the paddleboard puts me the closest to the water – and I do in fact enjoy swimming when the water is just the right temperature.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your dog // Ammo the Dachshund

Most of the time I end up taking a dive into the water when mom and dad drift too far apart. I think I channel my inner herding dog (thanks to my pal Trooper) and I worry a bit when my “pack” gets too far apart. So I’ll dive into the water and swim to dad to make sure he’s still ok.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your dog // Ammo the Dachshund

When we finally get further out on the lake it’s enjoyable just to lay around on the paddleboards and soak in the sun. After all summer is almost here – and I gotta work on my tan!

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your dog // Ammo the Dachshund

As much as attention as I tend to draw on the lake – you would think that it’s pretty rare to see dogs out on the water.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your dog // Ammo the Dachshund

But in actuality I tend to see quite a few dogs when I head out, like this pup Kahula, who’s owner has an awesome go-pro setup on their board and posts amazing instagram photos of their paddleboarding adventures.

So if you’re looking for a fun summertime activity to enjoy with your dog I highly recommend paddleboarding. You can check with your local boat rental to see if they allow dogs on their rentals (as I’ve found most do) and even if the paddle board isn’t for you there are lots of other rentable water vessels! Just make sure your pup wear’s it’s life vest! Mine is from my friends at Kurgo.

Marsh Creek Mother’s Day

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Ammo

Mother's Day at Marsh Creek // Ammo the Dachshund

Sunday was Mother’s Day, so Trooper and I packed up our moms (and our ponies) and headed to the Marsh Creek State Park so that everyone could have a fun day.

Mother's Day at Marsh Creek // Ammo the Dachshund

While our mom’s went on an afternoon ride with the ponies Trooper and I went frolicking through the grass.

Mother's Day at Marsh Creek // Ammo the Dachshund

As if the look on my face doesn’t give it away already, I’m absolutely in love with frolicking!

Mother's Day at Marsh Creek // Ammo the Dachshund

After our moms returned, Trooper and I hit the lake for a little dip.

Mother's Day at Marsh Creek // Ammo the Dachshund

The water was a bit too chilly for my liking, so I sent Trooper out to retrieve all of the items floating in the lake instead.

Mother's Day at Marsh Creek // Ammo the Dachshund

Thanks to me (and I guess Trooper), the lake is now stick free! Thank goodness!

Mother's Day at Marsh Creek // Ammo the Dachshund

As you can imagine our moms were pretty tired out after an eventful day, so I faked napping so that my mom could rest too. I’m sweet like that.

How was your mother’s day?

Kurgo Lifevest for Dogs Review & Giveaway

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Ammo

Disclaimer: This product review & giveaway is sponsored by Kurgo and contains affiliate links.

I don’t know about you, but I can hardly keep my tail from wagging with the thought that Summer is just around the corner!

One of my favorite summer activities is to spend time at the Marsh Creek Lake with my family – swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking…..there are so many fun activities on the water to look forward to.

So when my friends at Kurgo sent me their Surf n Turf Life Vest for Dogs to test out I couldn’t wait to get my paws wet!

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

One of the perplexing problems with life vests for dachshunds is that it’s very hard to find ones the accommodate our deep chests. As you can see I’ve sort of maxed out the velco capacity in the front, but thankfully Kurgo’s vest comes with an extra long buckle so I don’t have to worry about it not staying on!

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The Surf n Turf comes with lots of extra handles and hooks on the top so that you can easily grab a hold of your dog in an emergency or attach a leash to one of the hooks. As a bonus the back ring even doubles as a bottle opening, how cool is that!

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The underneath buckles have plenty of length to fit dogs of all sizes and I liked how it didn’t have any extra bulk underneath which made it easier to swim in.

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I really liked how padded and secure the Surf n Turf was as opposed to the vest mom and dad had purchased me a few years ago.

But you can’t truly give a review of a life vest without first hitting the water…..

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

So a couple weekends ago I hit up the Brandywine River on one of our unseasonably warm days for April.

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I must admit that water was bit colder than I would of liked, because you may be surprised to know that I actually really enjoy swimming…..but especially when the water is really warm.

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Even though it was chilly, I still braved the water because I’m an expert product tester and couldn’t give you guys my honest opinion if I didn’t take a dip in it myself!

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The Surf n Turf held it’s own in the water and kept me happily floating ABOVE the water like it should. A little known fact about me is that as much as I enjoy swimming I won’t swim unless I’m wearing a life vest. One can never be too safe (no matter the size of the dog) and I feel much more at ease braving the waters with my vest on!

So if you’re looking for a life vest to keep your small, big or in-between sized dog safe around the water this summer I highly recommend the Kurgo Surf n Turf Life Vest.

You can even use code KURGO20WIN for 20% off your entire purchase at Kurgo!

And now for the best part…..

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

ONE Lucky WINNER will win Kurgo Surf n Turf Life Vest for their dog

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

For this giveaway I will be using, Rafflecopter. Winners will be chosen at random and you will be contacted via e-mail to claim your prize. Don’t worry, we never share your information! All the winners will also be announced on this blog post once the giveaway ends on 4/29/14 12AM EST. Open to USA or CANADA residents only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget, today is the last day to enter my Penn + Pooch Giveaway!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kurgo, but all opinions are my own.

Last Days of Summer

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Ammo

The cool weather is rolling in and it’s time to squeeze in those last little bits of summer. Ice cream cones and a dip in the pool seem like the perfect way to soak in every last bit of it. Before I know it it will be time to break out my sweaters!

Last Days of Summer // Ammo the Dachshund