Dehydrated Pet Food from The Honest Kitchen + A Giveaway

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Ammo

Disclaimer: this post is brought to you by The Honest Kitchen. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you and your dog will love!

As you may have read on my blog last week, I’ve recently taken the plunge into trying dehydrated pet food. Since I’ve been on a rotational diet since I was just a wee pup I’m always excited when mom finds a few food for me to try. This time around I got to try the Revel Chicken Recipe from my friends at The Honest Kitchen!

If you’re unfamiliar with de-hydrated dog food, it is essentially raw foods that have been dehydrated to lock in the nutrients. It’s less processed than dry food, and typically needs water to “plump up”.

The Honest Kitchen’s dehydrated pet food, treats and supplements are made from 100% human grade whole foods.

The Honest Kitchen makes several varieties of pet food including grain free, whole grain, and even limited ingredient foods for sensitive pets, or pets with allergies.

Revel is the food I started out with, and had been eating over the past few weeks. It’s a whole grain chicken food with Free-range chicken, organic barley, potatoes, organic flax, organic oats, green peas, carrots, bananas, parsley, organic kelp, celery, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, potassium iodide, potassium chloride, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate.

A 2 lb. box of Revel costs $15.99, and if you consider that I eat 1/3 cup twice a day, a 2lb. box (which contains about 8 cups of food) would end up costing me $1.33 a day and would last me 12 days (and there is even bigger savings when you buy larger quantities).

Now let me just say, I’ve never been much of a morning dog, but ever since Revel showed up at my door I’ve been an early riser because I just cannot wait to get my breakfast! No joke, I’m the first one out of bed now ready and waiting to be served my Honest Kitchen meal.

I’ve been eating about 1/3 cup twice a day for the past several weeks – and loving every minute of it.

The hardest part about eating dehydrated is having to wait that agonizing 3 minutes while it “puffs up” after mom adds hot water. I have to say though, after about a month I’m starting to get a bit more patient for my meals now, and mom likes how it’s teaching me to have more self control (as if dachshunds have any of that!).

The aroma of chicken noodle soup (which is what mom says it smells like) fills my house at mealtime, and I scarf that puppy down! After a month of eating dehydrated food from The Honest Kitchen mom even noticed that my coat seemed shinier and softer too.

You can fetch REVEL and other great dehydrated foods from the Honest Kitchen. And as a BONUS, if you’d like to try some Honest Kitchen with your pets you can use my special promo code for a FREE SAMPLE BUNDLE + Honest Kitchen Coupon ($10 Total Value) for just $1 in shipping. (discount will be automatically applied at checkout)

And now for the best part…

ONE WINNER WILL WIN A 4lb BOX OF REVEL FROM THE HONEST KITCHEN!

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).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. The Honest Kitchen is also having a fun Calendar Contest you can enter to win a Free trip to San Diego for you and your pet + Honest Kitchen Goodies! If you’d like you can check out my entry, and see the “honest confession” that I’m telling the world. I’d love it if you could give me a vote too! ?
Grab a FREE SAMPLE BUNDLE + Coupon (A $10 Value) for $1 shipping with code AMBBGKD6100 from the Honest Kitchen!

Never want to miss any of the adventures (or giveaways) on my blog? Make sure you sign-up for e-mail updates!

GPS Pet Tracker To Keep Your Dog Safe + A Giveaway

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Ammo

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway is brought to you by Trax and does contain some affiliate links. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you and your pets will love.

You might remember that at the beginning of this year I started testing out a new GPS Pet Tracker on the market to keep pets (and anything else you want) safe called Trax.

This tiny little device that gets attached to my collar has changed the way I get to enjoy time on the farm. Not to mention it keeps my mom from worrying ALL THE TIME (She’s a bit dramatic if you ask me) about what I’m doing.

Now for those of you that are dachshund owners – this is a common scene I’m sure you know all too well. You trust “dachshund” to stay close, you unhook leash, dachshund takes off and pretends they can’t hear your frantic yelling, you chase dachshund down, you tie dachshund up again, no one is happy.

Now while a good recall is always a good idea, I (nor any dog) wants to listen all of the time (life is just too short for that), and being tied up 24/7 is just oh so sad. So enter the Trax GPS Tracker.

With this around my neck my mom feels better about letting me roam the farm (which is not fenced) because she can check in on me any time she wants. I’m happy because I don’t have to be tied up as much, and I still get to go on my coveted hunting excursions!

Mom sets up a “geo-fence” around the areas she would like me to stay and anytime I cross the invisible boundary she gets a text to notify her and can check in to see where I’m at using the free Trax mobile app.

And guess what, it even works underground! Thanks to Trax I’m able to enjoy my time outdoors without the restrictions of a leash. If you haven’t tried it, it’s heaven!

Mom even leaves my Trax on me when I’m home alone, and it’s kinda fun to check it later to see where exactly I traveled inside the house. Now while the farmhouse is still too new to show up on the aerial view of the map, you can sort of still decipher that I only traveled to check the side doors and to my dog bed while mom was gone.

A fun little tip for all you Trax wearers out there is that since Trax is only water resistant (not waterproof), mom slips mine into one of these tiny little bags before putting it on my collar to make sure it doesn’t ever get too wet on dewy mornings or rainy days.

Thanks Trax for helping set me free, and making sure I get to check EVERY SINGLE ONE of my ground hog holes!

My pal Minnow is thrilled that I can keep those pesky critters at bay so he has no scary holes to fall into when he’s playing in the pasture.

You can fetch your own Trax GPS Pet Tracker for $249 + 2 years of free service ($5/month for each additional year). Which is much cheaper than many of the comparable trackers we have researched.

Make sure you check out my full review from back in January with even more nifty features that are available when you purchase the Trax GPS Tracker.

And now for the best part….

ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER WILL WIN A TRAX GPS TRACKER! ($249 value!)
TWO RUNNERS-UP WILL WIN A DISCOUNT CODE FOR TRAX + A TRAX SLEEP MASK!

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 WORLDWIDE residents. 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).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read our full Terms & Conditions for this giveaway.

Never want to miss any of the adventures (or giveaways) on my blog? Make sure you sign-up for e-mail updates!

Cat Scratch Fever

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Ammo

Disclaimer: this post is brought to you by Chewy. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you and your pets will love.

Catit Bench Scratcher with Catnip from Chewy

Recently this interesting looking thing showed up at my door from my friends at Chewy.com.

Catit Bench Scratcher with Catnip from Chewy

Initially I thought maybe it was a new pedestal for when I perform all my amazing tricks, but then mom informed me that this little goodie wasn’t for me at all, but for my farm cat friends instead.

Catit Bench Scratcher with Catnip from Chewy

I’m not so sure they were convinced it was for them either, that is until mom sprinkled a little of the catnip that came with it on the cardboard bench.

Catit Bench Scratcher with Catnip from Chewy

See the Catit Bench Scratcher with Catnip from Chewy.com just instantly draws a crowd! My gal pals Cricket & Spider couldn’t keep their paws off it!

Catit Bench Scratcher with Catnip from Chewy

My outdoor cat friends have been using their new scratching bench everyday on the farm. Cricket has pretty much claimed this one, while Spider is still totally in love with the cat play mat they got last month from Chewy.

Catit Bench Scratcher with Catnip from Chewy

Mom said who knew all it took to keep them from scratching up the walls of the barn was a cat scratching bench!

Catit Bench Scratcher with Catnip from Chewy

And the really good news is that it even kept my pal Trooper occupied enough that I got to sneak into the barn and steal all the cat food!

You can fetch your cat pals a Catit Bench Scratcher from Chewy, ON SALE for $8!

Do your cat friends like to scratch walls like mine do?

5 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of Your Dog

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Ammo

It’s no secret that I love having my photo taken. It’s been years and years of practice to get these super model moves down pat!

Ammo the Dachshund Studio Photos

And while I’m pretty much a pro infront of the lens, I do have a mom who’s got a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to capturing adorable shots of yours truly. So I thought it would be fun to pick her brain, and share some tips on how you can capture some great pictures like these of your own pets!

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

5 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of Your Dog:

1. Have Amazing Treats

Ammo the Dachshund - Pony Cookie - Howl Naturale

Until you find that amazing treat (or meat) that makes your dog do back flips, you’re not going to get them to be interested in your photo session. Good treats go a long way, and if your dog is willing to do anything to get them, then you might just get that shot you were looking for.

2. Get Down Low

Winter on the Farm // Ammo the Dachshund

Dogs aren’t that big (well unless maybe you have a great dane), so getting yourself on the floor and down to the dog’s level is going to give you a better picture every time.

3. Practice “Waiting”

Evel Knievel // Ammo the Dachshund's Halloween Costume

Teaching your dog commands such as “wait” (my term for stay put and don’t move) is only going to help you get that amazing picture. Using positive reinforcement and some yummy treats practice asking your dog to hold still for pictures.

4. Let Your Dog Be a Dog

Barkbox Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

As fun as some of the posed shots are, it’s even more fun for your dog just to play and be themselves. Some of the best shots come from letting your dog do their own thing and being there to capture the moment (or the mess).

5. Prop Up Your Pet

Purple Possum Dachshund Scarf Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Have a squirmy dog that won’t sit still? Prop them up on something high (and safe) so they don’t have room to roam. This will keep you from chasing your dog all over trying to snag a photo.

A Day at the Beach // Ammo the Dachshund

And there you have it, 5 tips to grabbing shots of your pet like a pro! Above all else, make picture time fun for your dog and I’m sure you’ll get that photograph! There’s many more where that came from, if you liked my mom’s tips for photographing pets let me know in the comments below and perhaps I’ll share some more soon!

P.S. if you’re wondering what camera gear my mom uses to photograph me, be sure to check out my gear page!

Oh the Places You Sleep: Vol. 5

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Ammo

I bet you never knew napping could be so interesting? Well when you’re a dog and you nap 90% of your life, you tend to get a little creative. Here’s where I’ve been napping over the past month…

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go take a nap!

Check out where else I’ve been sleeping in my “Oh the Places You Sleep” series!

Work Weekend

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Ammo

Adventures around my house have been pretty light lately while mom and dad are busy working on my new kitchen. If all goes well, by the end of next week I should have my food bowls back where they belong, in the kitchen!

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

From electrical work, plumbing, drywall, spackling & painting – my mom and dad are doing it all (with a little help from our friends at Lowes on the new flooring). As much as I hate that this weekend work is cutting into my adventure time, mom says with all the money we are saving by doing it ourselves – there will be so many more adventures we’ll be able to go on!

That does sound pretty good to me. What sort of home renovations has your dog lived through?

Summer Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Ammo

A few weekends ago some of my family from out of town came for a visit. Since I’m always up for a fun adventure, I decided to show them a good time with a weekend excursion on the river!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Just down the road from the family farm is the Brandywine River, which is the perfect place to do some river tubing on a hot day!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Since this wasn’t my first tubing adventure I got pretty brave and performed some dare-devilish (I was Evel Knievel for Halloween after all) stunts on the tubes by balancing on the edge!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

I wasn’t the only one enjoying the river that day either, we even found this adorable turtle taking a dip!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

As the sun started to set over the river I decided to trade in my tube for a canoe since it was getting a little chilly in the water.

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

I love to navigate the waters and I always have to stand at the very tip of the canoe (so I get to see everything first), even if it means that I might occasionally fall overboard. Not to worry though, I’m a pretty good swimmer!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually we decided to park the canoe so we could take a swim in the river, which is also where I got to perform my very first water rescue!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Ok technically no one was ever really drowning, but how was I supposed to know that? I’m a Super Hero trained to save people, and when you’re a teeny tiny dog like me everything looks dangerous!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Thankfully everyone survived the rope swing, and I made sure my entire family made it back into their rafts for the remainder of the trip home.

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Well, that is until we hit a river road block! “Everyone stay with your flotation device, keep your hands inside the raft, and do not drown!”

Phew! River Tubing is stressful for a Super Hero!

Do you think your dog would attempt to save you if you were drowning? (Don’t worry, I’m sure they probably would….unless there was an alluring groundhog hole nearby of course!)

You can grab a stylish life vest just like the one I’m wearing from my friends at Ruffwear*, or check out my Gear Page for a source guide of all my stylish gear!

*Affiliate

Sparkle Like A Dachshund

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Ammo

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by The Honest Kitchen. All opinions are my own and I only share products I think you will love.