Ammo the Dachshund

Pet Blog – Adventures in the Life of a Super Dog

Beltzville State Park Lake with Ammo & Shilah

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Ammo

Yesterday I shared some of the adventures my pal Shilah and I had during our annual camping trip (once the rain cleared), and today I’ve got even more to share!

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

One of the great things about camping is getting to explore the great outdoors! While I had many fun things planned for my weekend outside, the rain kept me from most of them, but the good news is I still got to visit the Beltzville State Park with Shilah.

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

The fun thing about Beltzville is that they have a lake! I was super excited to visit the lake because they also have a pet friendly boat rental (similar to the local lake I visit in the summer), and I was secretly hoping it had some speed boats because Beltzville has a 45mph speed limit (my local lake is much lower).

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

Sadly because of the overcast day the boat rental was closed for the day when I arrived! But I wasn’t going to let that ruin my fun.

Especially since there were so many things in the lake that needed saving! If you didn’t already know, when I’m around water I become Mr. Lifeguard, trying to save any and everything from drowning.

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

I tried saving people.

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

I tried saving lost shoes.

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

(this particular rescue attempt was a success).

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

And I even tried saving my pal Shilah!

Although truth be told, nothing I tried to save actually needed saving. But life guard skills need to be kept in tip top shape, so it’s always best to practice as much as possible. (although paws crossed no one ever ACTUALLY needs my life saving skills, because I’m not sure I could really pull anyone in from the water, but that won’t stop me from trying!)

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

Visiting the Beltzville Lake was the perfect end to our camping adventure, and I can’t wait to go back again when the boat rental is open!

Don’t forget, this week I’m giving away an awesome life vest from my pals at Ruffwear (as seen on me in this post). It comes in a variety of sizes to fit any dog, and is the perfect accessory for water adventures. Don’t forget to enter!

Wondering where to get any of my great camping gear? Be sure to check out my gear page!

P.S. Special thanks to Shilah’s mom from Mrs. Dailey’s Classroom for sharing some of her camping photos with me (the ones not watermarked with my website)!

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.

Long Weekend

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Ammo

Since today is the start of a long holiday weekend for Independence Day so I’m taking off early! You better believe I’ll be doing a whole lot of this too…

Don’t forget to save some hot dogs for me!!

trooper the hot dog

Happy Long Weekend Everyone!

June 2015 Monthly Recap

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Ammo

I’m back from my annual camping trip, but before I share all those adventures I thought it would be fun to recap all the excitement from June!

First, I wanted to give a shoutout to my special sponsors & affiliates! 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 AMMO 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 and one of my favorites, the Ruffwear Front Range Harness!

Free Shipping on all orders over $75 at Ruffwear!

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

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

And now onto my June Adventures…

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

I kicked off June by sharing all the adventures of my week long road trip, first stop, Washington D.C. and the National Mall!

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

The next stop on my trip was the Shenandoah National Park, where I met my first Bear!

The Great Smoky Mountains // Dog Selfie // Ammo the Dachshund

In the Great Smoky Mountains I ran into Elk!

TaylorHappy Glucosamine Supplement for Dogs // Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I took a break from my travels to share the secret weapon against joint pain for my best friend Trooper.

Super Heroes in Gatlinburg with Ammo the Dachshund

Next up I took a tour of downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

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

I ate BBQ in Nashville, Tennessee!

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

Then I found myself in Nashville where I walked the red carpet at the BlogPaws annual conference.

Peach Pillow Bed Kickstarter Campaign with Ammo the Dachshund

I shared the new Kickstarter campaign for my friends at Peach Industries (which got fully funded by the way!)

Earth Rated Scented Dog Poop Bags // Review and Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I picked up pony poop thanks to my friends at Earth Rated.

Visit Knoxville Tennessee to see the Sunsphere

I made the last stop on my road trip, Knoxville, Tennessee, to see the Sunsphere!

Dachshund Plays Dead at Ryerss

I helped support the non-profit, Ryerss Farm, by attending (and performing) at their Family Day. My pal Minnow the Painting Pony tagged along too.

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 3 with Ammo the Dachshund

I shared Vol. 3 in the places I love to sleep series!

Doggie Days Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I modeled my new Gooby collar from the Doggie Days Boutique.

The Dog Toy Your Dog Won't be too tired to play with! via Ammo the Dachshund

I played tug of war even though I was so tired I could barely stand (there’s a video for proof).

I shared the story of how I got my super awesome name.

When your Dog Barks and Yells at You! Ammo the Dachshund

I barked back and shared how sometimes I can have an attitude too.

Open Farm Ethically Raised Dog Food Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out some ethically raised dog food, and you can still enter to win a bag for your dog too!

Wow, did I really fit in all that excitement last month? I blink and it just flys by! Stay tuned this week as I share my next big adventures on my annual camping trip.

What did your dog do in June? Anyone else go on a road trip?

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!

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: 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?

Adventure Awaits on the Road Ahead

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Ammo

As you read this I’m off on a week long road trip with my family as I head to Nashville Tennessee for this year’s BlogPaws Conference!

I’m excited to hit up some interesting places along the way like the Shenandoah National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains and so much more! While I won’t be blogging the rest of this week, you can still check in with me on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter as I’ll be sharing lots of the fun as we go!

Find out where I got my awesome travel bag.

And before I head home, I’ll be attending the Red Carpet ceremony at the BlogPaws Conference as I’m up for the Best Dog Blog & Best Pet Photo awards. Paws crossed I win, and if you want to check out all the fun you can watch the live streaming event on Youtube!

Watch on the BlogPaws YouTube channel: beginning at approximately 7:00pm CST, followed by closing remarks.

And that’s not all, since I felt bad about not blogging the rest of the week while I was traveling, I decided to add some fun adventure goodies to my shop!

From pocket mirrors…

…and even magnets!

Check out my online etsy shop, Flying Hero to grab all these goodies and more! (please note items purchased this week will ship the first week in June).

So friends, I’m signing off now, because as always Adventure Awaits!

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?

April 2015 Monthly Recap

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Ammo

Before we get to the recap of all the exciting adventures I’ve been on in April, I wanted to give a shoutout to my special sponsors & affiliates! 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 and one of my favorites, the Ruffwear Front Range Harness!

Free Shipping on all orders over $75 at Ruffwear!

Wolfgang was created to celebrate the unique relationship between a dog and his people. They offer American-made leashes and collars for your pup using only the finest American leathers and textiles, plus a distinctive collection of wallets, belts, t-shirts and hoodies for you too. I personally love their collection of natural leather collars and leashes. You can check out all the fun goodies from Wolfgang by visiting their shop.

EzyDog makes a line of products encompassing the rugged outdoor lifestyle dogs love along with the comfort and style pet owners prefer. All EzyDog Products are designed to help both owners and pets get more out of the great outdoors. I’m currently digging their collection of life vests and rash guards – because summer is almost here! Shop EzyDog and get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $75!

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

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

And now onto my April Adventures…

Throwback Thursday: The Dogs Before Me // Jack // Ammo the Dachshund

I kicked off April by sharing some special photographs of my mom’s of the dogs that came before me.

Adventures at Ludwigs // Ammo the Dachshund

I announced my upcoming appearance at the Ryerss Family Fun Day this Summer with my pal Minnow the Painting Pony.

k9 Couture Collars Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I strutted around some sweet collars from K9 Couture Collars.

Easter Bunny with Dachshund // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared my Easter escapades which included hunting for Easter eggs!

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

I shared a collection of all the places I love to sleep.

Wag & Ramble Pet Soap Review & Giveaway

I got in the bathtub with Wag and Ramble.

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

I shared another collection of my dachshund life struggles.

Adventures with Max and Duke from Sleepypod // Super Heroes // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper and I hosted some special guests on the farm.

Wares for Bears Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper and I shared our newest accessories from Wares for Bears.

DIY Fake Scent Hole for Hunting Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

I got duped by a FAKE rabbit hole!

De-shedding Dogs with Trooper & Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper and I got ready for Spring by shedding our winter coats.

Thermos Heated Pet Bed Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared the new secret my mom has for a good nights sleep with the ThermoSiv Heated Pet Bed.

doxie on bed

I had the best time ever with a simple bed sheet.

Ammo the Dachshund // Dachshund Loves New West Elm Carpet

I got a new carpet. I bet you can’t guess what I did on it.

April just flew by! It’s already starting to get really warm here in Pennsylvania and I’m so excited for May because I have a big trip planned for the end of the month to BlogPaws!

Dachshund vs. Bed Sheet

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Ammo

Did you know that dog toys are overrated? That’s right, what if I told you there was something everyone has in their house that your dog will LOVE to play with. Well I guess if they’re anything like me they’ll love it. Check me out as I have the BEST TIME EVER with an old bed sheet!

You may have caught my original bed sheet playing video on instagram, but incase you missed the shortened version you can check it out below:

A video posted by Kyley, Ammo + Painting Ponies (@kyleydiluigi) on Apr 3, 2015 at 1:40pm PDT

So what do you think? Ready to go pull an old sheet off your bed for your dog too?