Another day, another nap! It’s time for my favorite picture round-up of all the places I’ve been sleeping this past month…
Which place would you love to curl up in?
Check out where else I’ve been sleeping in my “Oh the Places You Sleep” series!
Tag Archives: play
Lets Get Tricky: Teach Your Dog to Play Fetch
As many of you may know I’m a big fan of learning, and ever since I was a wee pup my mom has been taking me to classes and clicker training me just like my Trick Pony friends.
Since learning is a never ending adventure I’m always up to pick up a new skill, and lately mom has been helping me to perfect my fetching skills.
See I wasn’t born with those amazing retriever traits, and while I do enjoy chasing after a good toy, I’m not great about actually bring said toy back! (the video above is proof of that)
But that’s ok, armed with a few simple tools my mom helped me learn what it means to play a real game of fetch!
What You Need:
- Yummy Treats (These came in my Barkbox* this month, but you can also snag them in the Barkshop* with code AMMO for a special surprise at checkout!)
- A Fun Fetch Toy
- Something to Target (I used a scrap of mat board from the frame shop, but anything flat and large will work)
- Clicker (not pictured, but you can snag one off amazon*)
To teach this trick your dog needs a basic knowledge of clicker training. You can check out this website for a basic tutorial on clicker training, or grab yourself a beginner clicker training book*. And they should also have a basic knowledge of how to pick up an item with their mouth.
*affiliate links
How to Teach Your Dog to Fetch:
- At a close distance ask your dog to touch the target with their feet. Click and reward each time their feet touch the target. If your dog doesn’t already have a cue to “target” you may have to let them accidentally walk across the target so you can click and reward them each time their feet touch your mark. Practice this close to your dog, then move the target to different spots and areas further from you to strengthen your dog’s knowledge of this task.
- If your dog already has a basic knowledge of how to chase an item and pick it up then you can move onto step 3 once they have mastered targeting. Otherwise you should teach your dog to pick up an item with their mouth first.
- At a close distance to your target toss a toy for your dog to get. Once they pick it up with their mouth ask them to touch their target again. When they hit the target WITH the toy in their mouth, click and reward. Repeat this at a close distance until your dog has mastered the idea. Continue to repeat this until you can toss the toy further and further away.
Congratulations! Your dog is now great at playing fetch the proper way (by returning the toy to you!) Much more fun isn’t it? 
Growing Old Together
While I wouldn’t necessarily say that Trooper and I are old just yet, we have grown up together over the past 7 years. One of my fondest memories is spending my working days at the shop with my best buddy and wrestling on the shop floor..
Fast forward about 6 years and I’m happy to report that not much has changed….
Something tells me we’ll never be too old to wrestle!
Does your dog still enjoy wrestling with their best doggy friend?
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.
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.
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.
Sharkie on the other hand is a beach dog pro!
Sharkie’s ball chasing skills made Trooper and I look like a couple of idiots.
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.
Gotta love a dog that knows what he wants!
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.
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!)
Treat Dispensing Toys for Dogs
Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by Chewy. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you and your dog will love!
When it comes to treat dispensing toys, I have to say, I’ve pretty much tried them all! Toys you have to roll around, toys you have to chew, and toys that are just too frustrating that you can’t get one single treat out of.
I have some that I loathe and some that I love, and now thanks to my friends at Chewy.com I can add another one to the love pile!
This here is the Busy Buddy Twist n’ Treat from PetSafe. You add treats to the inside (any size treats will do and you can even use spreadable treats)…
..then simply twist them together creating space for your dog to get the treats out. Twist the sides close together for a more challenging game, and keep it wider apart for an easier game.
I like mine in the middle, not too hard, but not too easy.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some treat dispensing to work on!
You can fetch your dog a Busy Buddy Twist n’ Treat from Chewy.com on sale starting at $5.
Does your dog love treat dispensing toys? Do you have any favorites you think I may not have tried? Do tell!
Meeting Mr. Bones
So you might have already caught a sneak peek at my new pal, Mr. Bones, a few weeks ago when he helped out with my Martha Stewart Pets photoshoot.
Well, he actually came home to live with me in the very beginning of October. Mom says he’s from an “adoption place” called Target.
While I’m not quite sure how I feel about sharing my home and toys with another dog, the good news is he doesn’t eat very much!
And just for kicks, here’s what happened when I first met Mr. Bones….
Did you catch that little “jab” I gave him. I had to give him a big ole’ bite in the spine…you know, just so he remembers who’s in charge.
Want to see more Mr. Bones fun? You can follow the #skeletondachshund hashtag on Instagram to see all the fun the other Dachshunds out there are having with their Mr. Bones clones.
When Dogs Go Crazy Over Leaves
Ok well technically there is only one dog going crazy over leaves, and it’s me!
Something about those crunchy leaves just gives me the case of the zoomies!
Doesn’t this just make you want to run outside and play in a pile of leaves? Does your dog get the zoomies in the fall too?
Little Boys vs Dogs
When our hay guy delivers to the farm sometimes he likes to bring along something special for Trooper and I.
We wait ever so patiently when the truck pulls up.
Well, Trooper is a little less patient with his waiting, but he tries.
But the wait is over when the farmer’s little boys pop out of the truck! And then suddenly it’s an epic battle of Little Boys vs Dogs. I’ll let you be the judge of who won….
It was me and Trooper wasn’t it? I knew it!
Does your dog love playing with children as much as Trooper and I do?
Epic Wrestling Match
My best bud Trooper and I know a thing or two about wrestling. After all we have been doing it since we were just wee pups.
So when we get a new toy, like this Invincibles Snake toy our friends at Outward Hound recently sent us, we tend to go a little nuts with the wrestling!
And when we’re all done wrestling, new toys make the perfect pillows!
If you’d like to snag one of these toys from Outward Hound, you can use code AMMO for 15% off your order thanks to our friends at Outward Hound!
Does your dog have a favorite toy that makes them go crazy with wrestling fever?
When Dogs & Cats Play
Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by Chewy. All opinions are my own, and I only share products that I think you will love!
My pals over at Chewy.com recently sent me some fun new products to test out. The KONG Active Cat Play Mat and these Free Ranger no stink Bully Stix!
The Bully Stixs were AWESOME, but honestly, I couldn’t see what the big fuss was about the Play Mat was.
But then mom pulled out a bottle of this Kitty Kush Catnip* that we picked up at BlogPaws and sprinkled a little bit on the activity mat.
*affiliate link
Out of nowhere my pal Spider the Kitty showed up and was all about the Kong Play Mat!
It didn’t take Spider long to kick me off the mat as she rolled, crinkled (it has this fun crinkle sound just like a plastic water bottle), and scratched around on it.
Spider was looking like she was having so much fun with the play mat that Trooper and I were a bit concerned we were missing out on something really fun.
That’s ok though, because Spider may have had her play mat, but Trooper and I had Bully Stixs! And with these awesome benefits:
- Grain-free chews
- Low odor for indoor chewing
- Health and safe alternative to rawhide
- Naturally supports dental health
- Free range, grass fed beef
- Gental on the tummy
- No artificial preservatives, flavors or colors
- No corn, wheat, soy or rice
…mom felt good about letting us snack on them whenever we wanted!
And snack we did!
Sorry Spider, you won’t share your play mat, and we won’t share our Bully Stix! Agree to disagree…..or whatever the saying should be here!
If you want to snatch up some of these goodies and more fun stuff for your favorite pet, be sure to check out Chewy.com. They’re one of our favorite retailers for all things pets! And plus you can get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $49! (make sure you tell them Ammo sent you!)