Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by RedBarn Products. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you and your pets will love!
Just as I have for the past 8 years, I took a trip to the Devon Horse Show at the end of May. Only this year I got to bring along my sister too! I guess technically she got to go last year as well (inside mom’s tummy), but I feel like when you can’t actually see the ponies – it doesn’t really count!
While I always love sniffing new smells and seeing all the pretty ponies, sometimes Devon can get a little overwhelming for a small dog such as myself. It can get VERY crowded, especially in the evenings – and even on Grand Prix night (when the horses jump super super big fences for the chance to win big big money). Usually mom would end up carrying me around (all 20lbs of me!) when things got a little crazy, but this year we had a different option!
Rewind to a few weeks before the Devon Horse Show, and mom decided that I needed to learn how to ride in the bottom of my sister’s stroller!
Arguably it’s not my favorite place to be, but since these Bully Slices require some intense chewing effort on my part I was able to relax enough that mom could push me around the driveway.
Made with natural beef these chews are a natural source of protein and antioxidants too. I enjoy snacking on them everywhere, from work to home, and even on my adventures.
So how did I fair at the Devon Horse Show when the crowds got bigger? Well the first struggle was convincing my sister that my training chews were for me and not her!
While I did ride around in the bottom of the stroller for a little bit, I still have some work to do to be extra comfortable in there. But it’s a start!
I much preferred to chew my bully slices under a shady tree at Devon anyway!
You can snag your pup some Bully Slices from Redbarn Products they even come in some really fun flavors like French Toast, Peanut Butter, and Vanilla. And be sure to check out my full review on their products too!
Hopefully by this time next year I’ll be a real pro at riding under that stroller!
Do you think your dog would enjoy a stroller ride?
Disclaimer: this post and giveaway is brought to you by Bully Bundles. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you and your dogs will love!
Recently my new friends over at Bully Bundles sent me a package of their 6″ Bully Sticks to try. Now if you’ve never heard of Bully Sticks, then you are missing out my friend!
Now I admit, when I was a young pup I used to snack on rawhides (before my mom knew any better), but Bully Sticks are a type of chew that are MUCH better than rawhides. Not only are they safer because they are 100% digestible (much lower risk of choking compared rawhides), but they are also healthier because they are made of 100% beef. Rawhides typically contain harmful chemicals and are treated with a long list of ingredients.
So I can attest, when you’re looking for a chew for your dog, Bully Sticks are definitely the way to go. Not only will your dog love them, but your humans will feel good knowing they are safe and healthy.
Now the cool thing about Bully Bundles is that you can sign up to have your dog’s Bully Sticks delivered monthly. When you’re a busy shop dog it’s nice to know there will always be a snack around for your work breaks (even if your mom forgets to pick some up at the store!).
In fact, I have a fun little game I like to play to earn my bully sticks while at work…
I’ve gotten so good at finding those hidden Bully Sticks that mom has had to get pretty creative in hiding them now!
The Bully Bundles come in 6″ or 12″ sticks that are between 5/8″ – 7/8″ thick (which are thicker than most I’ve seen on the market).
They’re also made with no preservatives or chemicals and are produced in a USDA approved facility. Hailing from free-range, grass-fed Brazilian cattle, and No growth hormones or antibiotics are used on the cattle.
So if you’re ready to set your dog up with a monthly subscription of bully sticks from Bully Bundles, you can choose between 6, 10, 15, 30, or 60 6″ sticks a month or 5, 10, 15, or 30 12″ sticks a month.
And don’t worry, you can even skip a month or cancel at anytime! The best part is you can save 10% OFF your Bully Bundles order with code AMMO.
As a bonus…
FOUR WINNERS WILL WIN A 4-PACK OF BULLY STICKS FROM BULLY BUNDLES!
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 readers 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).
It’s that time of year when it seems I find myself visiting the hardware store almost every weekend. Mom and Dad are always coming up with projects that need to be done around the house in the Spring. Mom says it’s the perfect place for me to tag along and practice all my “behaving in public” skills, as I inevitably get a little rusty over the winter.
I beg to differ on the “rusty” part, I mean just look how good my sit/stay is!
I’ve also got the healing next to the shopping cart down too!
And my self control (even when I smell critters in the garden center) is pretty good too (well most of the time!).
As you may know, I’ve got a 9-5 job working at my mom’s custom frame shop. While I’d totally love to not have to work at all….we all know the business would totally fall apart without me.
My mom always says we need to work smarter not harder, so that we have more time for the adventures that we love. (and well, so I have more time to play fetch and practice my dog agility at work).
So I picked up a little trick on my own to help us get done our work faster…
I’ve started grabbing the printouts when they come out of the printer and bringing them to mom. And if you visit my shop and you’re lucky, maybe I’ll even bring you your receipt (mom says I still need to practice not drooling on the paper first before I master that one).
As many of you may know I’m a big fan of learning, and ever since I was a wee pup my mom has been taking me to classes and clicker training me just like my Trick Pony friends.
Since learning is a never ending adventure I’m always up to pick up a new skill, and lately mom has been helping me to perfect my fetching skills.
See I wasn’t born with those amazing retriever traits, and while I do enjoy chasing after a good toy, I’m not great about actually bring said toy back! (the video above is proof of that)
But that’s ok, armed with a few simple tools my mom helped me learn what it means to play a real game of fetch!
What You Need:
Yummy Treats (These came in my Barkbox* this month, but you can also snag them in the Barkshop* with code AMMO for a special surprise at checkout!)
A Fun Fetch Toy
Something to Target (I used a scrap of mat board from the frame shop, but anything flat and large will work)
Clicker (not pictured, but you can snag one off amazon*)
To teach this trick your dog needs a basic knowledge of clicker training. You can check out this website for a basic tutorial on clicker training, or grab yourself a beginner clicker training book*. And they should also have a basic knowledge of how to pick up an item with their mouth.
*affiliate links
How to Teach Your Dog to Fetch:
At a close distance ask your dog to touch the target with their feet. Click and reward each time their feet touch the target. If your dog doesn’t already have a cue to “target” you may have to let them accidentally walk across the target so you can click and reward them each time their feet touch your mark. Practice this close to your dog, then move the target to different spots and areas further from you to strengthen your dog’s knowledge of this task.
If your dog already has a basic knowledge of how to chase an item and pick it up then you can move onto step 3 once they have mastered targeting. Otherwise you should teach your dog to pick up an item with their mouth first.
At a close distance to your target toss a toy for your dog to get. Once they pick it up with their mouth ask them to touch their target again. When they hit the target WITH the toy in their mouth, click and reward. Repeat this at a close distance until your dog has mastered the idea. Continue to repeat this until you can toss the toy further and further away.
Congratulations! Your dog is now great at playing fetch the proper way (by returning the toy to you!) Much more fun isn’t it?
Disclaimer: this post is brought to you by Chewy. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you and your dog will love.
Raise of paws, who likes having their nails trimmed? Raise of hands, who likes trimming their pet’s nails? Just as I thought, no one.
It’s a necessary evil though, because having long nails can cause your pet to walk irregularly which can lead to skeletal problems. And we all know that us dachshunds don’t need any more reasons to have back trouble!
Now if your dog has black nails like I do, I’m sure you spend your life in constant fear of cutting them too short and hitting the quick (a soft cuticle rich in blood vessels and nerves that grows in the center of your dog’s nail). If you nick that tiny little quick your dog will scream out in pain, and yes, there may be blood!
My mom used to trim my nails at home, but over the years I got progressively worse at having them trimmed – so she started to take me to the vet to have them done every few months. Then a few months ago she decided it was high time I got better at having my nails done, so she set out to condition me to actually enjoy having them done!
Interestingly, this new nail trimming method was not with the traditional nail clippers, but instead with a dremel!
Over the past 2 months my mom has been working with me to make me more comfortable with the use of the dremel on my nails. While I wouldn’t say I LOVE it, I tolerate it. It saves me from having to make more trips than necessary to the vet or groomer, saves my mom money, and keeps my nails at a healthy length. It’s a win – win!
So since I’m sure you’re all curious just how my mom trained me to be better about having my nails trimmed, here’s how she did it….
Starting with the nail file, mom used it EVERY SINGLE DAY for 3 weeks to get me used to having my feet and nails handled. She started by picking up a foot and gently sanding my nails for just a few seconds at a time.
Each time I didn’t resist she would use the clicker and then reward me with a small (but yummy treat).
The great thing about these chews is that not only do I love the taste, but they’re also helping to clean my teeth while rewarding me for having my nails done at the same time!
After several weeks of practice with the nail file, mom moved onto the dremel. This time she “sanded” my nails without even turning it on. Again, each time I didn’t resist on a nail she would click and reward me. At the end of the session I’d get my jackpot treat, a Natural Balance Dental Chew.
After another week or so it was time to turn on the dremel. Using a low speed to start she’d do just a few of my nails, making sure to reward me quickly for not resisting at all.
Now once you start using the dremel with it on it’s important to note that you can’t just quickly sand your dog’s nails down in one sitting to the desired length, even if they are ok with it. The quick inside grows with your dog’s nail. So my mom likes to only work on sanding my nails once a week to allow time for the quick of my nail to shorten after the last trimming. (see diagram above for more details)
How short should you keep your pet’s nails? According to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation they should be short enough that they don’t touch the ground when your dog is standing on a flat surface, but long enough to aid the dog when climbing up a hill or digging.
Hear that mom? I need them for digging!
While I still have a ways to go to get mine back to the ideal length, I’m happy to say that after weeks of practice I’m now much more tolerant of having my nails done by dremel. While I very much wish I had gotten a video of the “before”, here’s how good I am at it now…
How is your dog about having their nails trimmed? Have you ever trimmed your pet’s nails with a dremel? Do tell!
Handy Tip: If your dog is resistant to even having their feet touched start without the nail fail and just reward them for letting you touch their feet without pulling away. Also, using a treat that your dog goes crazy over helps too, the better the treat, the more willing they will be to try.
Disclaimer: This post is meant to be informative, but please keep in mind, what works for me may not work for your own pet. Please consult an expert if you are unsure about how to train your pet. Use caution when using a dremel around your pet, and we are not responsible for any injuries that may occur.
Disclosure: This post and giveaway is brought to you by the Dog Agility Shop. All opinions are my own and I only share products I think you and your dog will love!
Us dogs are powerful, muscled beasts (well when we’re in proper shape), and I’ve always been one to believe that the greatest service you can do for your dog is to help them keep in shape! As hard as it is to “feel the burn”, I’ve always believed that being the ideal weight will help keep us dogs from getting injuries, health problems, and even back issues (especially important for us dachshunds). Which is also why I’m so excited to tell you about a product to help keep your pup well muscled from my friends at the Dog Agility Shop.
Introducing the Wobble Board! The Wobble Board from the Dog Agility Shop is a 22″ wide board that sits about 3.5″ off the ground.
The attached wooden ball to the underside keeps the board “wobbly”. It’s even painted with silica (sand) on the surface for added traction.
The Wobble Board has lots of great benefits for your dog:
Improves your dog’s reaction and control
Improves balance
Improves sensory & body awareness
Helps strengthen the bond with your dog through interactive positive training
Builds confidence in your dog or puppy
Can be use to introduce your dog to contacts and dog agility equipment that will move
Can be used to rehab after an injury (torn ACL, sprains, etc)
Builds muscle and strength
With Trooper as my coach, mom used some yummy treats to lure me onto the Wobble Board.
Once I was confident enough to put all 4 paws on, she used the treat to lure me around on the board to get my core really working! But to really get the full effect of how the Wobble Board works, you’ll have to watch me in action…
I’ve actually been using the Wobble Board a couple time a week, and it’s going to be great in the winter months especially when it’s a little too cold to run around on the farm. I’ll use this to keep fit indoors!
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).
It’s been a while since I shared much about my ongoing agility training. The fact is, I actually haven’t been to any training classes since last year, mostly I blame it on my mom because her schedule got too hectic to take me.
But even though I may not be taking regular classes, that doesn’t mean that I’m not doing a little training on the side, because….
Agility is a great way to keep me muscled and fit, plus it’s fun too! Early this Spring my mom decided to move all my agility equipment out to the farm so that we’d have more room to practice. And you know what, I completely forgot to share with you this fun little video of me running the agility course in the horse arenagiant sandbox.
Obviously I was a bit rusty, but not too bad! I’ll just have to keep up with even more practicing.
If you’d like to find out more about how much fun agility is for you and your dog, you can check out some of my old posts.
Disclaimer: this is NOT a sponsored post, but it does contain some affiliate links.
It’s no secret that I am OBSESSED with holes. After all, my breed was originally bred to go down holes and hunt down badgers.
And go down holes I do! My mom has had to pull me out of many ground hog holes around the farm over the years, and because of my affinity to go hunting whenever I feel like it I now wear a GPS tracker whenever I’m on the farm. While my tracker gives mom piece of mind, she’d still prefer my escapades kept me a little closer to the barn, which is why she decided to dupe me!
So I decided to share how my mom made me a DIY Fake Rabbit Hole so all you other dogs out there won’t get tricked like I did!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Rabbit Scent (or any other scent your dog might prefer)
Step 1: Choose a spot to dig a hole about 2 feet deep. Make sure you choose a spot where no one could fall in it (placing a marker when it’s done is helpful too). A spot near a bush or tree makes it more believable to your dog as well.
As you can see just the sight of a hole was enough to get me interested!
Step 2: Mix your Rabbit Scent with some water in a spray bottle and mist it into the hole. You can make it stronger by foregoing the water if your dog doesn’t seem interested.
Step 3: Tie a paper towel to a string and mist with the rabbit scent. Drag the towel to and from the hole to leave a scent trail for your dog to follow.
Trooper and I picked up on the rabbit scent trail right away.
But only one of us really cared…..I’m pretty sure you can guess who!
Well I feel pretty silly getting tricked with a fake hole, but I did have a really good time digging to my hearts content. So fake or not, I don’t regret it one bit. Well except for the fact that it landed me in the bath a few hours later!
Do you think your dog would be tricked by a fake scent hole?
*Be advised that fake animal scents can attract other wild animals as well. So be aware of where you are putting it, and make sure to supervise your dog especially if they are out at night.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Chewy.com, but all opinions are entirely my own.
Now if you own a Dachshund are owned by a Dachshund then this might sound familiar to you. Picture this, you open your front door and your dog darts out after some scent or sound (or perhaps just the thought of all of the above) and no matter how many times you call them they won’t come. Frustrating right? Imagine how us Dachshunds feel with all that nagging!
So it seems the alternative to always worrying that your dog won’t come when called is to keep them safe and secure on a leash at all times. It’s not a bad option, but what happens if you drop the leash, it breaks, or your dog accidentally gets out of the house?
In my mom’s case, she was tired of having to always leash me just to walk out our front door and get into the car to go to work everyday.
So instead with a little help from some yummy treats, like these Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats from Chewy.com, mom has trained me to load into the car by myself. Or I guess depending on who you ask, I’ve trained my mom to give me a treat every single day for simply walking to the car (no one ever said dachshunds weren’t smart).
The key to the training method my mom has used with me is high value treats. High value just means it’s a treat that your dog LOVES. It has to be something your dog is willing to work for. These Blue Buffalo Wilderness Treats work great because they are nice and soft and meaty yet healthy enough that mom doesn’t feel guilty about giving me one everyday.
So in the beginning of my training mom kept me on the leash and put a treat in her hand. She’d lure me to the car every day with the goods and once she lifted me into the car I would get my reward. We did this EVERY SINGLE DAY for several weeks.
When I began to look forward to getting my treat in the car every morning (and seemed less interested in exploring the yard) mom removed my leash and continued to lure me to the car.
Another few weeks passed and mom stopped walking right next to me and instead went ahead of me to the car and cued me to come load up (and get my treat).
A few more weeks later mom stopped carrying the treats in her hand and instead left my Blue Buffalo Wilderness Treats in the car (the handy resealable bag is great for on-the-go-training). She also started allowing me out of the house in front of her.
And before she knew it I was running to the car (off leash) each morning and waiting to be lifted into my booster seat.
Now it’s not to say along the training route I didn’t occasionally try to wander off. But when I did mom was quick to retrieve me and return me to the car (without a treat reward for wandering). It didn’t take me long to realize that if I just went directly to the car I’d get a treat every single time.
The key here is routine, consistency, and very very yummy treats.
So if you’d like to give this training method a try, or if you simply want a great high-value treat to reward your dog with, I highly recommend the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Treats from Chewy.com.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Treats:
Grain-free treats
High-quality protein source
DHA to help support cognitive development
Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to promote skin and coat health
Great for training
No corn, wheat or soy
Made in the USA
How trustworthy is your dog off leash?
Disclaimer: My mom is not a professional trainer and these are just methods that have worked for me. They may not be suitable for all dogs and always exercise caution when allowing your dog off-leash especially near busy roads or dangerous areas. Happy Training!
(or any other scent your dog might prefer)
