Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: BlogPaws Conference 2015

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Ammo

Just when you thought my week long road trip might be coming to an end, I’ve got even more to share! I’ve already visited some amazing places like; Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park, The Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN, Nashville, Tennessee and now I can’t wait to tell you about the 2015 BlogPaws Conference.

Ammo the Dachshund goes to the 2015 BlogPaws Conference

If you’re unfamiliar with BlogPaws, it’s essentially a community of pet enthusiasts who write about and support pets via social media! Their annual conferences bring together hundreds of pet bloggers, pet enthusiasts, shelters, rescues, and brands for social media education, networking, and promoting.

Ammo the Dachshund - BlogPaws Newbie

I’m pretty much a newbie when it comes to BlogPaws, and I decided to attend this annual event for the first time after I found out I was a finalist for the Best Dog Blog and Best Pet Photo of 2015 in the Nose-to-Nose Awards.

Butt Sniffing at BlogPaws with Ammo the Dachshund

Honestly I had no idea what to expect at this conference, and pretty much all I knew was that it was a pet friendly event, which meant I would be doing a whole lot of butt sniffing!

Meeting friends at BlogPaws with Ammo the Dachshund

At first I was a little nervous when I entered the conference. There was a lot going on, tons of dogs, lots of chatter, and so so much to look at. But after about an hour I quickly realized this was a safe place to be and I was with MY KIND OF DOGS. (friendly, adventurous, and ready to sample lots and lots of treats).

To give you a little better idea of what a BlogPaws conference actually looks like, check out this video:

At 15 seconds in you can actually see me and my mom & dad walking around the BlogPaws vender area (bottom right corner).

BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

The BlogPaws vender area was packed with brands that are interested in working with bloggers, and that’s good news for you, because it means I’ll hopefully be able to bring you even more fun product reviews & giveaways with some great new products in the coming months! Which P.S., if you’re ever interested in hearing my honest review about a product or brand or you’d love me to host a giveaway with them (so you could potentially win!) – just shoot them (or me) an e-mail and let them know about my blog!

BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

I had a blast sampling products, and talking to companies about some of their new product lines.

On Camera at BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

BlogPaws 2015 with Ceasar and Ammo the Dachshund

BlogPaws 2015 Swag // Ammo the Dachshund

While I’ve been to expos before, this was the liveliest one, and I couldn’t believe how much there was to see and do! And did I mention the swag? There were so many wonderful sponsors that donated products to the event, and I gotta send my thanks to them (because this was only a small potion of it)! And since I’m just one small dog, I will be donating many items to my local animal rescue!

BlogPaws Conference - Learning with Ammo the Dachshund 2015

One of the exciting things was getting the opportunity to attend some of the lectures and talks at BlogPaws. I have to say before this, I had never attended a lecture before, unless you count the times I visited an Elementary School.

Ammo the Dachshund naps at BlogPaws 2015

While mom and dad were busy learning about SEO, monetization, pinterest marketing, and so much more, I was busy catching some Zzzz’s! Because honestly, all of it was a bit over my head. I’m much more the “talent” behind this blog anyway, and I was more than thrilled that mom and dad were there to take notes for me. Mom found some of the lectures very interesting and picked up some new skills she’ll be helping me apply to not only my blog, but my regular 9-5 business at the frame shop.

Ammo the Dachshund Plays Dead at BlogPaws 2015

While the lectures were quite serious in nature, I made sure to liven them up some with a few of my silly tricks…..like playing dead! (It’s no fun to be serious all the time!)

BlogPaws 2015 with the Dachshunds

Guess what, I wasn’t the only Dachshund with the silly’s there either! This is Fiona McSnuggles, a long haired sweetie who was actually blind and is a therapy dog just like me.

BlogPaws 2015 with the Dachshunds

I also met Dolly the Doxie, a dachshund mix! Surprisingly (or maybe not so much) those were the only other dachshunds I spotted at BlogPaws.

Prissy and Pop at BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

I did however get to meet the infamous Prissy and Pop! They are celebrities on instagram, and even have jobs working as mascots in a first grade class. And yes, I’m super jealous that they are on summer break right now!

PetSafe at BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

With all the excitement of the BlogPaws conference I made sure to take as many nap breaks as I could squeeze in, especially since my poor mom caught a nasty cold the day we left for our road trip adventure and spent most of the week trying her best to get through all the fun activities we had planned.

Speaking of fun, I became the recipient of my very own Busy Bee while at BlogPaws! If you’ve ever watched the movie Best in Show, then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when I say I was FREAKING OUT every time my Busy Bee from PetSafe (one of the sponsors of BlogPaws) got out of my sight! And if you haven’t watch the movie…do it….do it now!

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

After all the excitement of the week there was one last thing to do….attend the 2015 Nose-to-Nose awards! Of course I dressed to the nines since I was a finalist for Best Dog Blog and Best Pet Photo awards!

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

This was my first time walking a red carpet, and hopefully I worked it!

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

Here’s a group shot of most of the 2015 Nose-to-Nose Finalists. In case you didn’t get a chance to catch the live streaming event, you can watch the video here:

Sadly I did not take home any awards this year, but hey, I’m just honored to have been a finalist – my very first year too!

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

You know who did win though? My fellow dachshund adventurer blog, You Did What With Your Wiener? Congrats to Jessica, and I’m thrilled that dachshund adventure seekers are taking over the World! (well at least BlogPaws).

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

After 3 days of BlogPaws I was royally beat! I had so much fun, and hopefully I’ll get to attend again sometime soon (I’m thinking it may be an every few years event for me).

For now though it was time to make my trek back home to Pennsylvania where my ponies were anxiously awaiting my return!

And don’t worry, incase you were thinking this was the end of my adventures, I still have one more fun stop I made on the way home in Knoxville, Tennessee! Check back next week for the full details on my visit to the Sunsphere.

P.S. Don’t forget, for you local Pennsylvanians, I’ll be at the Ryerss Family Fun Day this Saturday from 12 – 4pm with my friend Minnow the famous Painting Pony. Hope you’ll stop by and meet me! I’ll be performing some of my favorite tricks too!

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Nashville, Tennessee

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Ammo

My week long pet friendly road trip has taken me some amazing places thus far; Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park, The Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN, and today I’m going to share my adventures from Nashville, Tennessee!

Nashville was my main destination during this trip as I would be spending several days attending the BlogPaws Conference. In fact I spent so much time in Nashville that I decided to break it up into two posts today! So make sure you check back later today to read all about my adventures at BlogPaws.

Dog Friendly Nashville Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

One of the first things I did when I hit Nashville was to hit up the main strip on Broadway.

Live music can be seen and heard every day and night of the week in Nashville. It has become a hub for pop, rock, bluegrass, Americana, jazz, classical, contemporary Christian, blues, and soul music. It’s long been known as the “Songwriting Capital of the World” and songwriters from all over the world come to Music City to learn the art of songwriting.

Dog Friendly Nashville Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

Being that I was in Nashville, I had to break out a little country of my own with my plaid bandana – had I owned cowboy boots I would have totally rocked those too!

Jacks Bar-B-Que in Nashville Tennessee

Nashville is known for not only it’s country music, but it’s delicious food too. Of course I’m never one to pass up a good piece of meat, so I popped into Jack’s Bar-B-Que as I had read they had a pet friendly patio in the back.

Jacks Bar-B-Que in Nashville Tennessee

I didn’t realize you could access the patio from the back of the building, so I actually waited in line to get my BBQ inside with everyone else. No one seemed to care, and most people probably didn’t even notice I was there (I am short if you haven’t noticed).

Jacks Bar-B-Que in Nashville Tennessee - Pet Friendly

Jack’s did not disappoint, and Mom and Dad seemed to be loving it too.

Jacks Bar-B-Que in Nashville Tennessee - Pet Friendly

And in case you’re wondering, yes I did get to sample a bite or two!

After dinner it was time to wander down Broadway and checkout what goes on in Nashville in the evening….

As you can see I’m quite the expert in navigating a crowd.

Ammo the Dachshund takes Selfie with Street Performer

As you saw I just HAD TO stop and take a few selfies with the street performers. This guy even wanted his own picture with me.

Ammo the Dachshund takes Selfie with Elvis

And you really can’t visit Nashville without getting a selfie with Elvis! I told him that he may be the King of Rock, but I was most certainly the King of Groundhogs. (he didn’t argue with that one bit)

Dachshund in Hotel

After all that excitement I was happy to check into my hotel for a much needed rest. As you can see I brought all the comforts from home (as in my favorite toys).

My adventures in Nashville didn’t end there though, because I spent the next 3 days mixing and mingling at the BlogPaws conference while I was there. So make sure you check back a little later today when I share how I faired at my very first pet blogging conference…..complete with a red carpet event and everything!

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Gatlinburg, TN

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Ammo

If you’ve been following along with my adventures lately then you know a couple weeks ago I went on an epic road trip. My week long travels have already taken me to some wonderful places; Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park, The Great Smoky Mountains, and now Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

Pet Friendly Cabin in Gatlinburg Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

My mom and dad had found a cute little cabin tucked into the mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee for me to spend two nights in during my road trip.

Gatlinburg is nestled at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and has great access to many of the hiking trails in the Smokies, but also has a bustling downtown area. The Downtown Parkway is essentially a boardwalk of sorts without the beach!

Pet Friendly Gatlinburg - walking downtown with Ammo the Dachshund

After a day of hiking in the Smokies I decided to check out the activity down town and headed out on an evening walk.

Pet Friendly Gatlinburg - walking downtown with Ammo the Dachshund

Many of the shops had open-air type attractions, and I started to gather just as much attention as the fast and furious cars and the cotton candy and the haunted attractions (if you catch my drift).

Pet Friendly Gatlinburg - walking downtown with Ammo the Dachshund

While I didn’t meander into any shops (and I’m not quite sure if there were any that were pet friendly or not), I had some fun checking out some of the more wild attractions – like this Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Super Heroes in Gatlinburg with Ammo the Dachshund

Heck, I even got to meet some of the Avengers! I’m pretty sure they were wondering where my super hero costume was, but I assured them that it was safely packed in my travel bag should any funny business arrive.

Pet Friendly Dining in Gatlinburg with Ammo the Dachshund

After exploring the town for a bit I stumbled across a pet friendly patio for dinner at the Back Alley Grill.

Pet Friendly Dining in Gatlinburg with Ammo the Dachshund

At this point after a day full of hiking, and exploring the town, I was pretty beat. So while mom and dad ate I snuck in a quick nap.

Bears in the Smokies with Ammo the Dachshund

On the way back to my cabin I got to meet my SECOND BEAR of the trip! Only this one must have been pretty tried like me, because he was in a deep deep sleep and couldn’t even be bothered to say hello to me. (I left him my business card for when he wakes up)

Pet Friendly Cabin in Gatlinburg Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

After so much excitement for one day I spent as much time as I could relaxing at my cabin while mom and dad packed up for my next adventure. My next stop would be the BlogPaws Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, and I was going to need all the rest I could get!

Rest Stop with Ammo the Dachshund

And after a few more hours of driving, and a couple rest stops (where I left a few of my signature calling cards), I was almost in Nashville!

Make sure you stop by my blog tomorrow to hear all about the adventures I had the BlogPaws Conference, where I even got to meet Elvis!

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Shenandoah National Park

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Ammo

If you’ve been following along with me on Facebook then you know I went on a super fun road trip last week to some amazing pet friendly locations. Yesterday I shared my first stop along the way, the National Mall, and today I’m going to share my next pit stop, the Shenandoah National Park!

Shenandoah National Park with Ammo the Dachshund

The Shenandoah National Park is over 200,000 acres of protected lands that is home to deer, birds, black bears and more!

Within minutes of pulling into the park I had already seen a newborn deer cross the road in front of us with it’s mom, and if that weren’t exciting enough, you’ll never guess what I spotted next!

Black Bear in Shenandoah National Park with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh yes, that’s right, I spotted a Black Bear! And not just one black bear, but I saw two….one of which had bear cubs with it (unfortunately my camera crew missed that shot!).

And in case you were wondering what I did when I spotted the bear….I just took it all in. No barking, not one peep, because I may have been safely in my car, but there was no way I was going to give that bear any excuse to eat me! I’m no dummy!

Dinner on Skyline Drive with Ammo the Dachshund

After all that black bear excitement I took a breather to eat my dinner overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains on Skyline drive. Best dinner ever!

Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

After I finished up dinner I checked into my pet friendly accommodations at the Skyland Resort for the night.

Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

My room for the night was pretty basic, but the views were so breathtaking.

Skyland Resort Restaurant // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

Within walking distance of my accommodations was a nice little restaurant that had a pet friendly patio for “to-go” orders. I was lucky enough to eat dinner and breakfast overlooking the blue ridge mountains.

Sunset over the Blueridge Mountains // Ammo the Dachshund

As a bonus there was a nice little bluff that was perfect for watching the sunset from.

Pet Friendly Road Trip // Ammo the Dachshund

After a restful nights sleep it was time to pack up and head out on my next adventure. But before I could hit the road, there was one last thing to do.

Millers Head Trail // Shenandoah National Park // Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking in Shenandoah! The Shenandoah National Park has several trails that pets are not allowed on, so I made sure to hit up one that was, Millers Head.

It had a few nice overlooks of the mountains, and was a relatively shady trail, which was nice on such a hot day.

Pet Friendly Road Trip // Ammo the Dachshund

As I headed out from Shenandoah I enjoyed taking in the scenery along Skyline Drive which runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park. It’s the only public road through the park, and honestly makes a road trip that much better with it’s views!

Skyline Drive // Shenandoah National Park // Pet Friendly

And of course I had to stop to take a few selfies along the way!

Pet Safe Travel // Ammo the Dachshund

The journey ahead to my next destination was long…

Pet Safe Travel // Ammo the Dachshund

…but thankfully my meals came to me!

Make sure you check in on Monday where I’ll share my next big adventure in the Smoky Mountains and visiting the town of Gatlinberg!

What do you think your dog would have done had it spotted a black bear like I did?

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: The National Mall, D.C.

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Ammo

Road trips are something I have been doing since I was just a wee pup, and I’m lucky enough that when my family sets out on an adventure they’re always looking for pet friendly locations so that I can tag along too!

Last week I set out on a week long trek to reach my final destination, the annual BlogPaws Pet Blogging Conference. I have tons to share about my week on the road, but I figured I start with my first stop, The National Mall!

Pet Friendly Travel - The National Mall, Washington D.C. with Ammo the Dachshund

If you’re not familiar with the National Mall, it is a great symbol of the United States. The National Mall is over 1,000 acres of park space in our capital city, Washington, D.C. Inside the National Mall are many memorial parks with iconic monuments and memorials.

Pet Friendly Washington D.C. and the Lincoln Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

I was lucky enough to visit the National Mall on Memorial Day so there was lots going on to see! The National Mall is pet friendly for all leashed pets and the only areas pets aren’t allowed are on the walkways at the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials and inside the Washington Monument. As a general rule dogs aren’t allowed inside any buildings and covered areas.

National Monument // Pet Friendly Travel with Ammo the Dachshund

My first stop was the Washington Monument! It was built to honor George Washington, (the U.S.’s first president) and towers 555 feet over Washington, D.C.

Washington Monument in Pet Friendly D.C. with Ammo the Dachshund

It was a fairly warm day, but with a cool breeze blowing through the capitol I was loving every minute of it! What a special place to be on a day to remember those who lost their lives fighting for my country.

Pet Friendly Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually I made my way over to the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I spotted a family of ducklings enjoying the cool water and couldn’t wait to take a dip with them! Sadly mom said she didn’t think the park staff would be too happy if I went for a swim, so alas I didn’t even get to dip a toe in.

Pet Friendly Lincoln Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

The Lincoln Memorial itself was bustling with visitors and surprisingly I didn’t see many other dogs.

Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. // Ammo the Dachshund

Family Photos at the Lincoln Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually I made my way to the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and while I wasn’t allowed to go inside the monument, I did grab a selfie with my mom and dad on the steps. Apparently we’re all behind the times too, because I didn’t have a selfie stick like the many other visitors that were at the National Mall. I guess I better step my selfie game up!

Police Horse on the National Mall with Ammo the Dachshund

While I didn’t see many dogs during my National Mall excursion, I did spot several mounted police officers. Even though I was only a day into my road trip, it made me miss my ponies even more!

Pet Friendly Vietnam Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

I also made my way over to the Vietnam Memorial. The area was packed with visitors on Memorial Day and I hung back (pets aren’t allowed on the pathway at the Vietnam Memorial) while Dad went up to check it out. A little side fact, did you know my PopPop actually fought in Vietnam?

Pet Friendly White House, Washington D.C. // Ammo the Dachshund

My last stop before I waved goodbye to the National Mall was of course the White House! I had high hopes I’d spot the Obama Family pets, Sunny & Bo, running on the lawn, but they must have been taking their mid-afternoon nap. Although I did spot a box of bees on the back lawn, who knew the president had honeybee pets?

Pet Friendly Lincoln Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

I had a blast checking out the National Mall on Memorial Day, and I even got to watch a little bit of the parade and met so many dachshund loving people on my adventure.

Next on my road trip, I was headed to Shenandoah National Park! So stay tuned tomorrow for even more fun, and find out what happened when I came face to face with a BEAR!

What did you do with your pups on Memorial Day?

What to Do When Your Pet Has Seasonal Allergies

Posted on May 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 will love!

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

It’s Springtime. The flowers are blooming, the bees are buzzing, and the pollen is flying. And just like you, I have seasonal allergies too!

A video posted by Kyley, Ammo + Painting Ponies (@kyleydiluigi) on May 19, 2015 at 6:11pm PDT

My sneezing has been keeping everyone up at night, and that’s no fun for anyone.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

Thankfully my vet recommended I take a dose of Zyrtec (I’ve been using the generic version of it) each night before I go to bed.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

And thankfully my mom knew I needed something extra special to “help the medicine go down”. These Wellness Core SuperFood Protein Bars from Chewy.com are the perfect addition to my allergy med dose.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

These nutrient-dense protein nuggets are packed with quality animal protein, without fillers or grains, and with wholesome superfoods. Their chewy size is easy to break apart into smaller doses to take my medication each night.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

Mom cuts one of my Zyrtec pills in half – I weigh 20lbs and she’s been giving me a 5mg dose once a night – although my vet said I could take 10mg.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

She then hides my pill inside my Wellness Protein Bars. I’m none the wiser (although don’t tell mom I’d probably eat anything she handed me) and mom feels better knowing I’m not only eating a 100% natural (made in the USA) treat that I go crazy for, but that I won’t be up all night sneezing either.

So if you’re in need of a good wholesome treat, that can also double as a pill disguiser I recommend checking out the Wellness Core Grain-Free Protein Bars from Chewy.com!

Does your pet have seasonal allergies? What do you do to combat the sniffles?

Disclaimer: it’s always best to check with your vet first before administering a medication. What worked for me may not work for all animals.

Happiness and Buttercups

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Ammo

You know, sometimes it’s the simple things in life that can bring you the greatest joy.

Ammo the Dachshund Runs through a Field of Buttercups

For example, a few weeks ago I happened across a field of buttercups while on a walk with my mom and dad. And what I did next instantly put a smile on my face…

And to get the full effect you have to run like no one’s watching.

Ammo the Dachshund Runs through a Field of Buttercups

Happiness is a field of buttercups to run through! What brings your dog happiness?

When Your Dog Helps With Gardening

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Ammo

I have a secret to tell you about my parents. Something that not everyone knows……they have GREEN THUMBS!

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

And apparently not the good kind of green thumbs…because they’re experts at growing weeds! Yes, it’s true. My landscaping at home was looking a little sad. But don’t worry, this year I whipped my parents into shape and helped them add a little curb appeal to our home.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

It was no easy task though, and took a lot of effort on my part – including trips to Lowes.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

Many, many trips to Lowes!

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

And trips to Terrain for inspiration.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

Trips to the garden center for plants.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

And then the hard work really began. In case you’re wondering, yes I did actually work…

But after all that hard work, my yard was looking a bit more presentable.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

So presentable in fact that I’m sure all the neighbor dogs are just lined up waiting to “mark it”.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

I’ve got my eye on you neighbor dogs! I’ve got my E..Y..E.. on you.

Does your dog help with the gardening too?

Dachshund Life Struggle – The Saga

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Ammo

You may have caught my struggles over the last few months on the saga that is the Dachshund Life Struggle. And if you follow along with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, then likely you may have already seen many of the Dachshund Life Struggles.

Who would have thought that this adventure of being a dachshund would be so struggle riddled! So here’s what I’ve been struggling with this past month…

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

In case you missed any struggles, be sure to check them all out on my blog. You can keep following along with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to see more #dachshundlifestruggle and if you’ve got a struggle to add be sure to let me know!

P.S. Don’t forget to share my struggles with all your friends…..we have to spread the word about how hard it is to be a dachshund these days!

Martha Stewart Pets Natural Dog Treats Review & Giveaway

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Ammo

Disclosure: This post and giveaway is brought to you by Martha Stewart Pets. All opinions are my own, but I only share products I think you will love.