Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

I’m a little late with giving everyone a recap of my Thanksgiving vacation, but with the busy holiday season at my mom’s shop I had a hard time getting my “tech team” to edit all the photos! But have no fear! I’m ready to share all the details of my week long trip down south to Folly Beach, South Carolina.

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Before I dive in to all the fun I had visiting with my family, I have to introduce you to my new friends! The cute little Jack Russell puppy is Artemis and the fluffy white fellow, Sharkie (or Mark Sharkman for those that know him a little better). Artemis and Sharkie are Folly Beach residents and they had a blast showing Trooper and I how to be real beach dogs.

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Artemis has just started his Beach Dog training (after all he is pretty young still), but not to worry, I took him under my wing and shared all the important things about the world with him. Like how to hunt rabbits, dig holes, and bark at strangers.

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Sharkie on the other hand is a beach dog pro!

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Sharkie’s ball chasing skills made Trooper and I look like a couple of idiots.

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Yeah, I’m pretty sure we should be embarrassed to be seen in public after watching Sharkie chase after his ball. We didn’t come off anywhere near as elegant as he does in photos.

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Gotta love a dog that knows what he wants!

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Sharkie and I had a blast on the beach though and it was fun having another small dog sidekick to run around with. I’m pretty sure Trooper felt very out numbered with all us shorties.

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

Thanksgiving Roadtrip: Folly Beach Dogs

I already miss being able to run like the wind on the wide open beach. It’s something I’ll never get tired of.

And since you all couldn’t be there with me to enjoy the glorious beach, I made this fun video so you could pretend like you were there with me!

So what do you think? Aren’t you impressed with Sharkie’s ball skills? (Don’t tell him, but I’ve been practicing at home so that next time we get together I’ll look a little cooler!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Happy Dog Loves the Beach

A few weekends ago my mom and dad decided to take me on a fun adventure to the Delaware Beaches. And you know what that means? There are going to be a bazillion photos of me running like a crazy dog on the beach in this post!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Now if you have followed my blog for a while, then you may already know that I LOVE the beach! While I’m not so much a fan of the ocean per-say, I am a fan of the sand. Digging, rolling, and running in it are my idea of a good time.

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Despite the fact that it was a little bit chilly, you can tell by the smile on my face just how happy being at the beach made me!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

I spent some time relaxing on the beach, and then set out on a late afternoon walk.

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

It wasn’t long before my parents finally unhooked the leash so I could run as much as my heart desired!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

And run I did!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

If you’ve ever wondered how I keep such a fit figure….this is how! I was built to run!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

After some running I decided it might be nice to cool off in the water. Good thing I found it to be a bit too chilly for me, because you’ll never guess what I found in one of the tide pools!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Oh yes! That’s a small shark right there (with sadly a hook & bobber stuck on him) in one of the beach tide pools.

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Dad and I desperately wanted to capture the shark and help remove that hook and send him back out to sea….but of course mom was worried one of us would get an arm or leg bit off! So needless to say we were left hoping that the tide would come in that night and take him back out to see for more shark adventures!

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

And then it was back to more running on the beach…baywatch style! Of course the daredevil in me ran a little bit close to the water, just enough to make mom worry that the shark was gonna get me!

(P.S. Don’t worry, that shark was safely in another tide pool and I was in no real danger, but it’s fun to pretend!)

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

After all that running I was pretty pooped! But when mom and dad said it was time to pack up and head back home, I was a little sad.

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

Don’t worry though, I made sure to bring a little of that beach smell home with me! Nothing quite like a nose full of sand.

Does your dog love the beach as much as I do? Do you ever let your dog run off leash? (P.S. I’m only allowed off leash when mom and dad are sure I’m in the listening mood, as you know sometimes us dachshunds decide we don’t feel like obeying!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Train Your Dog to Load in the Car

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Chewy.com, but all opinions are entirely my own.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

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.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

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).

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

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.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

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.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

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.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

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).

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

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.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

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.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

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 theseAmmo the Dachshund 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!

Higbee Beach – My Trip to the Dog Friendly Beach

The main reason for my camping excursion to Cape May last weekend was to hit up one of the all year round dog friendly beaches, Higbee Beach. I’ve been to the beach a few times before (this was my first trip to Higbee), but every time I went it was either rainy or cold, and I never got to really have a true beach experience.

Be forewarned, my mom went a little photo crazy and took way too many photos of me at the beach – and I didn’t have the heart to leave any out of this post!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Even though the day started out a bit rainy, by the time my pal Shilah and I were ready to hit the sand the weather had cleared and at 70 degrees and a bit overcast it was the perfect weather for us dogs to be on the sand.

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Now as a general rule of thumb I’m usually always kept on my leash when I’m away from home (aside from where I’m let off leash at the family farm). But since mom and dad knew that I wouldn’t get to fully enjoy the beach without being able to run, mom decided that I could be trusted enough to ditch the leash this one time. Now you’re probably thinking by the looks of this photo – that maybe it wasn’t the best idea.

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

But not to worry, I remembered all of my training and came running as fast as I could as soon as mom or dad called. After all, I didn’t want to loose my off-leash beach privileges!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Running free on the sand was one of the greatest experiences, I highly recommend it to all you dogs out there! But one other thing on my doggie bucket list was to touch the ocean too….

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

As you can see I was a bit hesitant at first – those waves are quite intimidating!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

So instead I decided to build a sandcastle instead!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

I even got to meet some new pals, like this short-legged (like me) Jack Russell. He was very fun to play with – until he peed on mom’s beach chair!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Just as I was getting back into my hole digging fun, mom said we need to take some family photos on the beach.

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

As you can see I was less than thrilled!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Even my pal Shilah got in on the action with some modeling shots!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

I’m friends with that beauty right there!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

After out mandated photo shoot I decided to coach Shilah on her first dip in the ocean.

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Ultimately I had to show her the ropes, being that I’m much older and wiser!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Then as luck would have it I found a horseshoe crab that had washed up on the beach! (Not to worry, no horseshoe crabs were harmed – and this one was not living when I found him)

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

I found him quite intriguing as he didn’t smell like the groundhogs and bunnies I was used to hunting in my own backyard.

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

After Shilah and I full inspected and tasted our horseshoe crab friend, I started to get concerned that he might float back out to sea.

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

And as the waves started to take him back to the ocean I suddenly wasn’t too scared to brave the waves myself.

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Ok well I was about as brave as you can be without your life vest on!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

My trip to Higbee Beach was one of my favorite adventures of all time, and you can bet it won’t be my last!

Higbee Beach - Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape May via Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah and I were dog tired after our day in the sand, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Anyone else frequent dog friendly beaches? Tell us where it’s located in the comments!Ammo the Dachshund