Easy Frozen Dog Treats & A Giveaway

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway is brought to you by Happy Lapper. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you will love!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Lets face it, Summer is H O T! Which is why my mom helped me come up with a fantastic way to help you and your pup cool off this summer. These super easy DIY Frozen Dog Treats are the perfect way to spend a hot day!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

*contains affiliate links

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Now before we dive into how to make these frozen treats, I bet you’re wondering what the Happy Lapper is. It’s this super cool frozen dog treat holder designed and created for dogs by a small business owner in my home state of Pennsylvania! It makes eating frozen treats a snap for all the dogs out there, and I’ll show you just how to use it after I share how to make these 2 ingredient frozen treats.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

I decided to make 2 ingredient treats (all you need is bananas and peanut butter) because most frozen treats for dogs have yogurt in them. While yogurt is super yummy, I actually have a sensitivity to dairy (just like my mom who is lactose intolerant) so I tend to steer clear of the yogurt!

So all you need to get started is your 3 bananas and your 1/2 cup of peanut butter.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Simply pop them in the blender and mix those two yummy things up into a fine paste! You’ll notice I was getting my treat making on outside, mostly because if you remember, my kitchen looks like this right now. But the great news is, you don’t even need a functioning kitchen to make these treats!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Then simply dish out the mixture evenly into your cupcake liners (or whatever you choose to use) and pop them in the freezer until frozen.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

While you wait for your treats to freeze, it’s perfectly ok to lick the spoon. You can’t let any of the yumminess go to waste!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

The Happy Lapper Frozen Treat Holder was going to be a great addition to my upcoming snack. It’s also dishwasher safe and made from 100% non toxic materials.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Once your treats are frozen you simply pop them into the Happy Lapper (I decided to leave mine in the cupcake liners, but you can also pop them out if you prefer).

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Then place the Happy Lapper on the floor for your dog to enjoy! The Happy Lapper has a non-skid base to keep it from moving around while your dog licks it. I can’t tell you how annoying it is to lick a treat and have it slide all around the house (or worse it slides so much you have to make your mom or dad hold it for you!).

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

I’m such a nice guy, that I decided to share my frozen treats with my best pal Trooper.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Trooper’s Happy Lapper got placed under the leg of a chair to keep it even more securely in place, and you could even have your mom or dad hold it down with their foot too. Mom thought this was a neat idea for dogs who might like to steal each other’s treats (of course I would NEVER do that), because you could put their treats under the leg of a chair at opposite ends of the house.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Smarty pants Trooper also got creative and figured out how to hold his treat down himself. (I could have done that too if I had really wanted….he’s not the only smart one around here!)

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Trooper and I loved the Happy Lapper, and think it’s a great addition to your summertime frozen pet treats. You can even use it with store-bought treats*, or any homemade ones you might want to make for your pup (Pretty Fluffy has a great DIY E-Book out that has some yummy frozen treat recipes in it).
*affiliate links

You can fetch your own Happy Lapper for $12.50 and $4 flat rate shipping (no matter how many you buy!). These would make a great gift for all your dog friends this summer!

Check out the video of Happy Lapper in action.

And now for the best part…

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

THREE WINNERS WILL WIN A HAPPY LAPPER FROZEN PET TREAT HOLDER!

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

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!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

 

Follow me on Pinterest

Did you know that I’m on Pinterest? That’s right, I’m fetching up all my favorite things over there so that you can enjoy them too!

Pinterest Finds with Ammo the Dachshund

From DIY Dog Projects, to Dachshund Life Struggles, and even Super Heroes – I’ve got collections of all the cool stuff!

Pinterest Finds with Ammo the Dachshund

I’m even pinning some of my favorite dog products for my fur-iends, and humans too! My mom might have a couple of fun boards of her own to share like art, food, and even inspiration for the kitchen renovation going on at my house!

Want to know what my current favorite find on Pinterest is right now?

BarkShop Activity Mat for Dogs

This super fun Buster Activity Mat from the BarkShop! With fun tasks to challenge your pup, I just know I’d be able to solve all the puzzles in no time!

P.S. If you want to snag one for your pup, you can even use my super awesome BarkShop code AMMO for a FREE GIFT with purchase!

So if you’re on Pinterest, make sure you pop on over and give me and my mom a follow! We’d love to share with you our latest finds! Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation

You might remember that for the past several years I’ve been helping my mom and dad “kitchen shop”. Oh yes, for year’s I’ve been shopping appliancesbuilding pantries and more, but the time has finally come to demolish my old kitchen for good!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Incase you might have forgotten, here’s what my kitchen originally looked like.

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Pretty retro, but if you ask me, as long as I had a place to lay down and a spot for my food bowls, I was a happy happy dog.

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

But, mom and dad had other ideas and pretty soon my happy little resting spot and my food bowls were replaced with a shop vac.

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

And the demo had begun!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

My dad is a pretty handy guy, and he even started building this new closet, which I’ve already claimed for all of my adventure gear!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

While I am gaining a closet, I’m also loosing one too.

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

But I plan to hide a little secret inside the one I’m loosing. Someday if anyone ever tears down the wall, they’ll find one of my cute little business cards inside!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Next it was time to start demoing the wall between my old kitchen and the dining room, for one big super kitchen!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Things were starting to look pretty messy and then one day when I came home from work….

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

…I saw that Dad had completely knocked down the wall without me!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Suddenly there was so much room for activities! (name that movie) But honestly, I really only had one concern, where is my super soft bed and my food bowls going to go?

Mom assures me that this will be a pet friendly kitchen when it’s all done, but for now I’ll just have to wait and see. This kitchen remodel is going to be taking up a lot of my adventuring time for the next few weeks, and this journey has just begun, so stay tuned to find out how it turns out! Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Have you done any major home renovations that included features for your pets? Do tell!

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

Beltzville State Park Lake with Ammo & Shilah

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)!

Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

 

Dachshund Goes Camping in the Rain

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Every year I go tent camping with friends during the summer. It’s a fun trip (filled with dog friendly adventures) that I look forward to all year long!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Especially since I get to spend all weekend with this lovely lady, my pal Shilah the Husky!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

This year’s camping trip was a little different, because when I woke up on Saturday morning it was raining. And not just a little bit of rain, it POURED ALL-DAY-LONG!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

The rain sort of put a damper on all the fun activities we had planned, but lucky for me mom packed my raincoat, and I wasn’t going to let the wetness stop me from having a good time.

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

The campsite we rented this year came with a bare-bones rustic cabin (although I always tent camp!), and thankfully the porch provided the perfect haven for lounging during the heavy rain.

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually we all started to get cabin fever though, and when the rain lightened up just a bit it was time to venture out for some outdoor fun (with our raincoats of course).

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Even my camera crew dressed appropriately for the weather – so that I would have all these great pictures to share with you!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Our campsite had this neat stream that ran through it, and I quickly discovered my new favorite activity…..FISHING!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Consider my mind fully blown when Shilah’s dad actually caught a fish!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

BEST DAY EVER! I love fishing!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

And then when the fish we caught got released back into the water I couldn’t help myself from starting my own rescue mission. I mean he might drown!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

I never did succeed, hopefully Mr. Fish was a good swimmer!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

After a full day in the cold wet rain we all were a bit soggy, myself included.

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

So we had to make a trip into town to dry off, get food (for the folks that didn’t eat dog food), and make a walmart run for more rain gear!

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

After all my excitement in the rain I was pretty pooped. Thankfully my tent was nice and dry, and the perfect haven to rest up for another day of camping fun!

Stay tuned next week when I continue my adventures in the woods, where I even made a trip to the lake!

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 all the great photos of our soggy camping experience (the ones not watermarked with my website)!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

June 2015 Monthly Recap

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 Summer Ad Save 10% OFF!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 Ad

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 pageAnd 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).

How Ammo the Dachshund got his name

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. Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

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

 

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Knoxville, Tennessee

Adventure Awaits with Ammo the DachshundI know what you’re probably thinking….how can I STILL be recapping my week long road trip? Well, the fact is, there was so much to see and do that I’ve had lots to share. Like my adventures in; Washington, D.C.Shenandoah National ParkThe Great Smoky MountainsGatlinburg, TNNashville, Tennessee and the 2015 BlogPaws Conference. Well, today is the last adventure of my road trip, and it was one of my favorites! On the way home to Pennsylvania I stopped at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Knoxville Tennessee Convention Center with Ammo the Dachshund

Being that it was a Sunday, the convention center was closed, but that didn’t stop me from exploring around.

Sunsphere in Knoxville Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

Just outside the Knoxville Convention Center is the Sunsphere……the main purpose of my visit! The Sunsphere was constructed for the 1982 World’s Fair and served as the symbol to the Fair. It wasn’t until 2007 that it was renovated and reopened for the public.

Visit Knoxville Tennessee to see the Sunsphere

Since there was no signs to say otherwise, and no one around to ask, I rode the elevator up the Sunsphere to the 4th floor observation deck to check out what all the fuss was about.

Dog Friendly Sunsphere // Ammo the Dachshund

Dog Friendly Sunsphere // Ammo the Dachshund

Not gonna lie, it was a long way down! I was more than happy not to get too close to the edge, just in case.

Dog Friendly Sunsphere // Ammo the Dachshund

The 5th floor of the Sunsphere contains a restaurant and bar called the Icon Ultra Lounge. I didn’t attempt to go up there because the sign said reservations were needed – and I’m not even sure if they were open on a Sunday. And the 6th floor was for events.

Dog Friendly Sunsphere // Ammo the Dachshund

Honestly I was thankful to have all 4 feet back on the ground, but there was a lot more to see in the World’s Fair Park, which had signs saying leashed pets were welcome as long as you picked up after them.

World's Fair Park // Ammo the Dachshund

There was some beautiful waterways and according to their website it looks like they hold lots of fun events in the park.

Amphitheater in the World's Fair Park // Knoxville Tennessee // Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually I made my way to the Amphitheater, it was also constructed during the 1982 World’s Fair and was home to both country music and classical music concerts. The Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater are the only structures that remained after the World’s Fair. I would have put on my own show for everyone, only I forgot to pack my trick gear, and sadly I had no spectators.

Outdoor Fountain // Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually I came across an outdoor fountain where lots of kids were enjoying it on a nice hot day. I wanted to join in too, but sadly it was one of the few areas off limits to dogs.

Calhoun's in Knoxville Tennessee // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

After exploring the World’s Fair Park it was time to get something to eat! So I found a pet friendly restaurant on the river, Calhoun’s!

Waterfront Dining // Ammo the Dachshund

Their deck overlooking the water was the perfect spot for a relaxing nap before my long long drive back to Pennsylvania.

Waterfront Dining // Ammo the Dachshund

And just as we were finishing up our dining experience, a big storm came rolling in. I have to say, the entire time I was gone I lucked out with all the weather. Every time I found something fun to do any storms seemed to clear and I had nice sunny days every time!

Tennessee Road Trip // Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually it was time for my fun to end and I headed towards home.

Home Sweet Home // Ammo the Dachshund

Even though my road trip adventures have come to an end, it’s always nice to be back in my home sweet home!

So what was your favorite part of my week-long road trip? Maybe it was the Bears in Shenandoah National Park, or the Elk in the Great Smoky Mountains, or perhaps my red carpet event in Nashville? What did you like best? Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Nashville, Tennessee

Adventure Awaits with Ammo the DachshundMy 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! Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

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: Gatlinburg, TN

Adventure Awaits with Ammo the DachshundIf 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

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!

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!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Great Smoky Mountains

Adventure Awaits with Ammo the DachshundMy week long road trip recap continues on the blog this week! Last week I shared my adventures in Washington, D.C. and the Shenandoah National Park and then headed on to today’s adventures, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Pet Friendly Road Trip // The Great Smoky Mountains // Ammo the Dachshund

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park // Pet Friendly Travel // Ammo the Dachshund

The Great Smoky Mountains straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee and the drive is beautiful with an amazing view of the Smokies.

Skyline Drive // The Smokies // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

The Blue Ridge Parkway made my drive that much better, and I couldn’t get enough wind in my face!

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

Of course I couldn’t help but stop along a few overlooks to take some selfies. Who doesn’t love a good selfie?

Pet Friendly Smoky Mountains // Ammo the Dachshund

My first stop in the Smokies was the Oconaluftee Visitor Center where I shared a picnic lunch and met up with my Uncle Taylor, who lives in North Carolina, for the day.

Oconaluftee Trail // Pet Friendly Smoky Mountains // Ammo the Dachshund

After lunch I set out to hike the Oconaluftee Trail, one of the two pet friendly trails in the Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Oconaluftee Trail // Pet Friendly Smoky Mountains // Ammo the Dachshund

This 1.5 mile trail (one way) is relatively flat and follows along Oconaluftee River. I probably would have enjoyed a bit more challenging hike, but unfortunately most of the more scenic trails in the park are off limits to dogs. But I’m always one to follow the rules, because they are there to keep everyone safe.

Oconaluftee Trail // Pet Friendly Smoky Mountains // Ammo the Dachshund

I still had a blast taking dips in the river to cool off and despite the fact that this trail isn’t as tucked into the wilderness as I typically like, I got quite a fill of wildlife….

Elk // The Smoky Mountains // Ammo the Dachshund

….I met Elk for the first time!

Elk // The Smoky Mountains // Ammo the Dachshund

Although to me they just looked like smaller than average ponies!

Cherokee N.C. // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

After I reached the end of the Oconaluftee trail I was surprised to find myself in the outskirts of a small town, Cherokee, N.C.

Cherokee N.C. // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

It was quite the contrast from my nature filled hiking trail, and I found myself suddenly immersed in a touristy town.

Cherokee N.C. // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

I had a blast exploring the town, stopping for ice cream, watching other tourists ride the mechanical bull, and I even met some larger than life farm animals! It was a fun little surprise at the end of my trail that I very much enjoyed.

Cherokee N.C. // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually it was time to hit the road again, and I headed off to my accommodations for the night in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

I’ll be back to share more about my road trip adventures the rest of this week, so stay tuned!

Any other pups out there hiked in the Smoky Mountains before? I wish I had had time to check out the other pet friendly trail in the park, the Gatlinburg Trail, but perhaps next time!

P.S. for anyone wondering where my super comfy car travel bed comes from – check out my post about Pet Safe Travel. Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity