Swimming in the Laurels

Hiking in the Laurels with Friends

When my sister was about 3 weeks old my cousins came to visit from the south. That little white dog is my cousin Sharkie, and the bigger dog on the right is my newly rescued cousin, Scout. And of course you know me and Trooper!

Hiking in the Laurels with Friends

Since it’s rude not to take your guests on fun adventures when they visit you, of course I had to take them to the river for some swimming fun!

Hiking in the Laurels with Friends

And don’t worry, my sister came along for the fun too. Although she was much too young to join in the water activities.

Hiking in the Laurels with Friends

Trooper and Scout became fast friends and took to the water in no time. Especially Scout who I think may be part fish.

Hiking in the Laurels with Friends

Now I tend to be a little more reserved with my swimming, and I usually don’t like to swim unless I have my life vest* on. But unfortunately this was a spur of the moment trip and I forgot to pack it! (Same with the other dogs who have life vests too).

While mom always keeps a watchful eye on me when I’m around the water, she had to watch my sister too.

*affiliate link

Hiking in the Laurels with Friends

So my pal Trooper stepped up to keep a watchful eye on me when I finally decided it was so hot that I had to test out the water.

Hiking in the Laurels with Friends

What a great pal, making sure I got to shore safely each time.

Hiking in the Laurels with Friends

Hiking in the Laurels with Friends

Next time I’ll be sure to pack my life vest, but it’s good to know I’ve got friends that will help me out!

Does your dog like to swim?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

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Dogs

As you saw yesterday, I went on a weekend camping adventure to the Pocono Mountains – in search of fun! Well aside from lounging around the campsite, my pal Shilah the Husky and I also went on a day-time adventure to hike the nearby Glen Onoko Falls.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

After checking out some scenic overlooks we decided to hit up the popular trail to see some of the falls.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking is one of my all-time favorite activities, in fact I get so excited that I charge up the trails like I was the lead sled dog instead of Shilah!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

This particular hike was quite rocky, but Shilah and I were up for the challenge!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Our parents were glad to have our new Ruffwear Roamer Leashes with them, which made the hike so much more enjoyable. Stay tuned on Monday for a full review on them, and a chance to win one for your dog!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

We crossed water and fallen trees, and mom found herself wishing we had one of Ruffwear’s Hiking Harnesses with the handle to lift me over obstacles like my hiking pals Chester & Gretel from You Did What With Your Weiner.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah and I made it pretty far up the hike before stopping for a group photo….because that’s how we roll! We didn’t make it all the way to the big waterfall at the top because the climb started to get pretty steep and our parents were worried about the decent for us dogs (although I totally could of made it!).

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

On the way back down we ran into these two pups. I warned them that they may wish they had leashes attached to their humans as it got higher – because we all know those of us with 4 legs have to keep those with 2 legs from falling off the side of the mountain!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

When we reached the bottom of our hike Shilah and I decided to take a dip in the river while our parents ate lunch.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

I showed off my swimming skills to all the other pups hanging around the river, and I’m pretty sure they were all wishing they had a spiffy life vest just like me.

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

After cooling off Shilah and I decided to head into Jim Thorpe to grab some ice cream!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

Italian Ice was just what I needed after an invigorating hike!

Hiking Glen Onoko Falls with Ammo the Dachshund

I was sad to end my weekend full of camping and hiking, but I have to say it was nice to finally get back home to my air conditioning!

Rumor has it I won’t have to wait too long for my next camping adventure, as I’m headed off on another adventure soon….this time with my ponies! Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking through the Forrest

Hiking through the Forrest // Ammo the Dachshund

Over the weekend I went on a fun hiking adventure with my pal Shilah the Husky. Shilah and I both like to get out an be adventurous when the weather is nice, so we decided to practice our hiking for an upcoming camping trip we will be going on this summer.

Hiking through the Forrest // Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah led the way most of the time because she’s ALWAYS gotta be the lead “sled dog”, but I was happy to trail along behind and pick up on all the scents she missed.

Hiking through the Forrest // Ammo the Dachshund

We got muddy.

Hiking through the Forrest // Ammo the Dachshund

We got wet.

Hiking through the Forrest // Ammo the Dachshund

And we enjoyed every minute of it.

Hiking through the Forrest // Ammo the Dachshund

And when we hit the open fields….

Hiking through the Forrest // Ammo the Dachshund

…I told Shilah to fall back, because I was in the lead now! And I had caught the scent of a rabbit!

And nobody’s better at tracking rabbits than me!

What kind of adventures did you go on this past weekend?

Don’t worry, no rabbits were harmed. (this time)Ammo the Dachshund

Kurgo Lifevest for Dogs Review & Giveaway

Disclaimer: This product review & giveaway is sponsored by Kurgo and contains affiliate links.

I don’t know about you, but I can hardly keep my tail from wagging with the thought that Summer is just around the corner!

One of my favorite summer activities is to spend time at the Marsh Creek Lake with my family – swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking…..there are so many fun activities on the water to look forward to.

So when my friends at Kurgo sent me their Surf n Turf Life Vest for Dogs to test out I couldn’t wait to get my paws wet!

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

One of the perplexing problems with life vests for dachshunds is that it’s very hard to find ones the accommodate our deep chests. As you can see I’ve sort of maxed out the velco capacity in the front, but thankfully Kurgo’s vest comes with an extra long buckle so I don’t have to worry about it not staying on!

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The Surf n Turf comes with lots of extra handles and hooks on the top so that you can easily grab a hold of your dog in an emergency or attach a leash to one of the hooks. As a bonus the back ring even doubles as a bottle opening, how cool is that!

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The underneath buckles have plenty of length to fit dogs of all sizes and I liked how it didn’t have any extra bulk underneath which made it easier to swim in.

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I really liked how padded and secure the Surf n Turf was as opposed to the vest mom and dad had purchased me a few years ago.

But you can’t truly give a review of a life vest without first hitting the water…..

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

So a couple weekends ago I hit up the Brandywine River on one of our unseasonably warm days for April.

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I must admit that water was bit colder than I would of liked, because you may be surprised to know that I actually really enjoy swimming…..but especially when the water is really warm.

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Even though it was chilly, I still braved the water because I’m an expert product tester and couldn’t give you guys my honest opinion if I didn’t take a dip in it myself!

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The Surf n Turf held it’s own in the water and kept me happily floating ABOVE the water like it should. A little known fact about me is that as much as I enjoy swimming I won’t swim unless I’m wearing a life vest. One can never be too safe (no matter the size of the dog) and I feel much more at ease braving the waters with my vest on!

So if you’re looking for a life vest to keep your small, big or in-between sized dog safe around the water this summer I highly recommend the Kurgo Surf n Turf Life Vest.

You can even use code KURGO20WIN for 20% off your entire purchase at Kurgo!

And now for the best part…..

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

ONE Lucky WINNER will win Kurgo Surf n Turf Life Vest for their dog

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

For this giveaway I will be using, Rafflecopter. Winners will be chosen at random and you will be contacted via e-mail to claim your prize. Don’t worry, we never share your information! All the winners will also be announced on this blog post once the giveaway ends on 4/29/14 12AM EST. Open to USA or CANADA residents only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget, today is the last day to enter my Penn + Pooch Giveaway!  Ammo the Dachshund

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kurgo, but all opinions are my own.

Sunday Breakfast

Sunday Breakfast // Ammo the Dachshund

Sunday breakfast out with the family is one of those enjoyable outings that are always few and far between. Which is why last Sunday mom and dad took me out to Georgio’s to have an lovely feast.

Sunday Breakfast // Ammo the Dachshund

And when breakfast comes looking like this you can’t help but to use your best sad puppy face to get a bite of bacon!

Sunday Breakfast // Ammo the Dachshund

Sunday Breakfast // Ammo the Dachshund

Works every time!

Sunday Breakfast // Ammo the Dachshund

If you know my mom and dad, then you know that just one outing in a day is never enough – so a stop off at the river on the way home is the perfect thing to work off all that bacon I ate!

Sunday Breakfast // Ammo the Dachshund

Of course the food coma which ensued afterwards was still inevitable! But Sunday breakfast was totally worth it! Ammo the Dachshund

Over the River and Through the Woods…

Except this time I wasn’t going to grandma’s house! No, instead me and Trooper loaded into the family car and headed to the Pocono Mountains – to the family cabin!

Of course the first thing I did when I got there was run around like a maniac. Wouldn’t you?

After a few good laps, the next logical thing was to find dig a hole.

Only, I got a little carried away in my hole digging (I might need therapy) and before I knew it – I was stuck!

Don’t worry, everyone eventually dug me out – and mom reached in and pulled me to safety. I was a little muddy and tired – but that didn’t stop me from getting back in the hole TWO MORE TIMES (each complete with their own rescue mission). hehe.

Apparently after the third rescue everyone was getting a little tired of saving me (although I thought it was a blast) so I had to sit in time out in the cabin while mom barricaded the holes under the shed.

I promised not to do it again, so mom finally forgave me and let me outside to play with Trooper.

Look at me mom! I’m just like a dolphin!

And of course we HAD to take the row boat out onto the pond.

And to no one’s surprise, Trooper fell out within the first few minutes. I told him he should have worn a life vest (he sucks at swimming – even for a half Labrador).

So I gave Trooper a few pointers, and he actually started looking pretty good.

1..2..3..stroke. 1..2..3..stroke. 1..2..3..stroke.

I said use the towel Trooper!!

I think I see a tadpole!

After our boat ride I decided to give Trooper some more swimming lessons. “I said 10 more laps Trooper!”

Oh brother, he’s learned nothing!

This is just totally embarrassing for him. It’s the attack of the “Labra-dud” (you know, because he can’t swim). hehe.

Well, even though I got to run and play at the cabin while everyone else did “spring cleaning” – it was still an exhausting day!

This was fun and all, but when are we going home? There is a dog bed at my house that is calling my name!