Nose Art

I may have talented paws (check out my original paintings HERE), but did you also know I have a talented nose? Oh yes, I’ve been working on my original “nose art” (seen above) for quite some time now.

It takes patience and some long long naps on the couch to perfect my technique – and the occasional bunny outside helps a bit too.

I’ve been working on this masterpiece for a couple of months now, and while it’s looking quite swell I know there is still more to add.

After all you can’t rush genius! 

I went on a Barn Hunt

On Mother’s Day I got to go on a very special adventure with my mom (dad came too). We packed up the car and headed south to New Jersey for a Barn Hunt Practice!

Barn Hunts were created to honor the traditional role of “ratcatchers” in ridding barns and properties of vermin. Barn Hunts are open to any dog, of (almost) any size, type or breed. In a Barn Hunt competition you can earn titles and placements at various levels and degrees of difficulty.

At this Barn Hunt I met up with my Philadelphian gal pal Liebe, and we were both pretty excited to hunt for some rats! (Especially Liebe who is a city dog – and doesn’t get as many chances as me to hunt for vermin)

At a Barn Hunt you are required to go through straw bale tunnels and climb over several bales to earn a qualifying mark – all while in pursuit of a rat.

In the lower levels you are then met with various tubes, some of which contain rat bedding and one that contains an actual rat. Your goal as rat hunter extraordinare is to locate the rat and alert your mom or dad that you have found the correct tube containing it. Once found your mom/dad is responsible for telling the judge you have found the rat – in which case the time will stop (as long as you have completed the necessary requirements of completing tunnels and climbing straw bales too).

As the day progressed I got better and better at finding my rats. I even began digging at the tubes and making lots of noise once I found the tubes that contained a rat.

Mom said in the higher level classes I would even have to find multiple rats in one run – making sure to find them fast enough to not run over the time limit, many of which that are hidden under straw and in crevices. Sounds like a blast!

Liebe (who is just over a year old) even had fun locating the rats and as she gets older I’m sure she’s going to be one ferocious rat hunter just like me!

I had so much fun looking for my rats, that sitting on the sidelines while the other dogs had a turn was so hard!

I can’t wait to return again and actually compete in this fun new sport – it’s totally my kind of competition!

You can learn more about the rules of Barn Hunt and find competitions and practices local to you HERE. 

A Dachshund’s Art Gallery

Since I was just a wee pup I was instilled with a love of the arts. Not only do I paint myself, but I live with some super talented Painting Ponies! And while you might think having animal artists in the family is quite a feat, my mom and dad are no stranger to the arts themselves. My dad is a graphic designer (who spends his free time designing posters that you can purchase HERE) and my mom is a picture framer (check out the shop where I work HERE).

With a love of art spreading across my family, it’s no wonder that my home has turned into an art gallery of sorts. I thought it would be fun to take you for a tour around my home and show you some of the latest and greatest artistic treasures that are currently making my home just a bit more cheerful!

When I attended the Spring Doxie Fest this year I picked up a happy little Dachshund print from artist, Debbie Sampson. Of course mom framed him up in a happy yellow frame that makes him extra cheerful!

where to purchase: [middle] Dachshund Print – [right] Black and White Photograph of Pony

Back in November mom picked up this cute little dachshund print from Kim at Yellow Brick Home. He kind of has an uncanny resemblance to yours truly.

where to purchase:  Dachshund Print

This happy horse head was a Christmas gift to my mom and came from White Faux Taxidermy – and not to worry, he’s completely made of resin (no real taxidermy horses here).

where to purchase:  Resin Horse Head

Of course the ceramic dachshund my mom found at Home Goods last year keeps Mr. Fake Pony company in my office, because everything is better with the buddy system.

These two pieces arrived around Christmas time. One being a rendering of my home by the talented Rebekkah Seale and the other a very special original painting of cows done by the ever amazing Janis Fitch.

where to purchase:  [left] Custom House Watercolor, [right] Cow Painting

Those cows just remind me of how lucky I am to have grown up in farm country, where the smell of cattle and horses are just a few steps out my backdoor. Not to mention those yummy cow pies!

And the last little art trinket is one that just makes me giggle – this sweet little screen printed squirrel from the Land of Nod (meant to be an ornament) is happily hanging on my cork board in the living room. He may not nibble on acorns in real life, but he reminds me that there are plenty of critters just out my back door begging to be chased. Happy Hunting!

where to purchase:  Squirrel Ornament

With all these artists and artistic pieces in my home it’s no wonder that I spend most of my life with a camera in my face. Of course I like to think that I’ll always be mom and dad’s number one muse!

I’m always on the lookout for new artists and art to add to my “gallery”, so I’d love to hear which ones you are admiring currently! Post your links in the comments so we can all check out some amazing art together! Yay for artists!

*all artwork has been custom framed by my mom at Studio 3.

Happy Mother’s Day to the Dog Moms

Today is Mother’s Day, and I just wanted to pop in to say Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s out there! Whether you’re a mom to a four-legged kid or a two-legged kid (or both), I wanted to tell you that you are great!

You mom’s are the real super heroes of the World, and without you we’d all be lost!

So I’m sending some happy tail wags to all of the mom’s today, even those who are no longer with us. Know that you will always hold a special place in our hearts and we love you more every day!

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for all that you do. xoxo, 

Billy Wolf Giveaway Winner Announced

It’s time to announce the winner of my Billy Wolf Giveaway!

One lucky winner will take home a Randal Bowl and Bag from Billy Wolf - the perfect accessory for a dog on the go! A clip lets you attach the bag anywhere so the collapsible bowl is at the ready when your pooch needs to quench his thirst or grab a quick bite.

Congrats to our winner, Janine who said she always packs “Earth Rated Poop Bags bio degradable and scented with lavender with cool dispenser. I love them and they smell great. Well for poop bags they smell great, LOL.” You will be hearing from me shortly!

And have no fear, even if you didn’t win this time you can still shop Billy Wolf‘s Mother’s Day Sale and save 15% off your entire order with code: MOM LOVE

There’s still time to show your mom some love! Shop Billy Wolf HERE! 

Friday Fetch: Whimsical Animal Wire Art Sculptures

I came across these fun wire animal sculptures on Etsy made by Wire Art Ink. These nifty sculptures feature original handmade wire art that focuses on personalized pet portraits, whimsical wire animal art, and custom mixed media sculpture. How fun!

You can fetch your own personalized wire pet sculpture from Wire Art Ink HERE. 

A Day of Sticks

When I woke up yesterday morning and the air smelled heavy of rain – I surely thought I would be doing nothing else than curling up under my blanket at the shop. Boy was I wrong.

I spent most of the day holding down the fort car, while mom and dad proceeded to load our trailer up with thousands and thousands of sticks from some fallen trees in my backyard. Apparently the hurricanes earlier this year didn’t like the trees in my backyard (they even took out my special pear tree).

Once the sticks were loaded we had to take them to the township mulch site for composting. I may have cried a little when I thought of all those poor sticks being chopped to bits….I’m sure they would of much rather stayed in my backyard and been chew toys for a little dog that I shall not name.

We came and went with those loads of sticks more times than I care to count. It was a never ending joy ride for me aka an EPIC DAY OF STICKS for mom and dad.

I guess I’ll just have to wait until next year’s hurricane season for that taste of yummy sticks again.

Paintings by Ammo the Dachshund

As you know, I have a whole slew of talents – many of which I document on this blog and one of which is PAINTING! I like to think of myself as a mini Picasso, and while I don’t technically wield a paintbrush – my paws are just oozing with talent! Just check out this video of me painting at the Spring Doxie Fest this year:

Now I know what you might be thinking, “but where can I buy these fabulous paintings that you made” – have no fear, I’ve recently added several of my creations to the Painting Pony Etsy Shop!

So if you’re looking for something spiffy and colorful to spruce up your walls this Spring then head on over to the Painting Pony Etsy Shop and check out some of my latest work!

And don’t forget, I donate a portion of my proceeds to my favorite animal rescues – so by purchasing a painting you get to help some animals in need! Double win! 

Got Gold Fishes

Every once in a while you get that itch. That itch to play and dart, and RUN!

And then just like that you’re off like a rocket. Faster than a speeding bullet you run, thinking maybe you’ll never come back.

But then mom digs around in her pocket and finds a leftover goldfish. Darn those gold fishes, they’re just so delicious.

And just like that you find yourself screaming…… “I’m coming mom, I’m coming…..don’t eat it…..I’m coming!”

Darn those gold fishes, they’re just so delicious. 

Billy Wolf Giveaway & Sale

**UPDATE** This giveaway is no longer accepting entries.

It may be Monday, but I’m hear to make it a little better with a great giveaway and sale from my friends at Billy Wolf!

Billy Wolf carries fine hand-crafted coats and accessories for dogs. All of their coats and bandanas are made from vintage, dead stock, or American made fabrics and finished with salvaged buttons and handmade labels in New York City.

They have just released their line of new spring items which includes a new bandana for huskier breeds (the Haywood, Harper, and Boyd), two rain jackets and a collapsible water bowl for dogs and owners on the move.

Their Mother’s Day Sale has officially begun and you can save 15% off your entire order with code: MOM LOVE

And if that weren’t enough to make you smile today, you also have the chance to win one of their new collapsible water bowls!

The perfect accessory for a dog on the go! A clip lets you attach the bag anywhere so the collapsible bowl is at the ready when your pooch needs to quench his thirst or grab a quick bite.

Here’s How to Win:

PRIZE: One Randal Bowl and Bag from Billy Wolf
TO ENTER: Comment on this post (you must comment on the BLOG – not on our facebook page) with the words “BOWL ME OVER” and….
BONUS QUESTION: What must-have accessory for your dog do you never leave home without? A bag of their favorite cookies, as stash of baggies, maybe your dog’s favorite toy? Whatever it is I’d love to know!
GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Friday, May 10, 2013 at 10:00am EST
NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
PRIZE SHIPS: United States (sorry international readers)
RULES: one entry per e-mail address. Winner will be selected using random.org (meaning the winner is drawn at random) – and will be announced shortly afterward. Good Luck!

Don’t forget to shop Billy Wolf‘s Mother’s Day Sale – you can save 15% off your entire order with code: MOM LOVE