2014 New Year Goals

In keeping up with my yearly tradition I’ve decided to take a look back over the goals I made for myself last year to see how I did! I’ve also come up with a new list of goals for 2014 that will hopefully keep me on my toes!

My 2013 Goals:

1. Create some more greeting card designs for my Flying Hero Etsy Shop

Not only did I come up with a fun new Holiday card this year, but I just finished designing a whole bunch of new cards that will be available in my shop this week! Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to share my new designs with everyone just as soon as they are ready!

New Ammo Greeting Cards // Flying Hero

2. Master the weave poles for my agility classes

I’m proud to say that I officially mastered the weave poles this past year! Yay! I even worked up to weaving 12 poles at a time.

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund
3. Compete in an agility trial

Technically I didn’t compete in an agility trial this past year, but I did get to run a new course in a new location during the Fair Hill International Event in Maryland.

Fair Hill International with Ammo the Dachshund
4. Learn a performance that I can perform on my own at events

I practiced and practiced and performed my very own trick skit during the Spring Doxie Fest last year in support of the Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue! It was a lot of fun and I think everyone enjoyed it!

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs
5. Make every day count!

Looking back over everything I’ve done this past year I think I have this goal down! From trips to the beach, road tripping, paddleboarding, and enjoyable days on the farm – I packed in as much as I could this past year and it was such a blast!

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

2014 Goals:

  1. Relax more, and don’t work so hard!
  2. Go on more walks around my neighborhood
  3. Take a trip to the dog beach again
  4. Compete in a Barn Hunt Competition
  5. Take a new training class

So what about you? What are your goals for 2014?

Ammo's 2014 Wall Calendar // Flying Hero Etsy ShopDon’t forget to start 2014 off right, check out my Calendar available for purchase HERE! Hurry, because I only have a few copies left!

P.S. I promise to have a full recap on my wonderful Christmas for you later this week! Ammo the Dachshund

Oktoberfest Dachshund Races

For those of you who follow me on Facebook I’m sure you have been on the edge of your seats waiting for me to share all my adventures from this past weekend at the Yuengling Oktoberfest event in Bethlehem, Pennyslvania.

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

Well after obtaining my special Puppy Pass (for VIP Dachshunds only) I was excited to attend my very first Oktoberfest!

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

I was super excited to see some fellow germans at the Oktoberfest – I felt right at home immediately!

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

I had fun touring around the event, everything smelled so wonderful, especially the sausages and beer!

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

I quickly began to make new friends – the german ladies loved me, what can I say I’m a handsome guy!

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

Even the children couldn’t keep their hands off me!

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

I had fun soaking up the culture, and after watching some german dances I was definitely ready for the main event – the Dachshund Races!

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

The Dachshunds came from all over to race, and there was even a few other super heroes in the mix besides myself!

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

I even got to meet one of my Facebook friends, Super Dash, who came sporting a bowtie his mom made him from my DIY Bowtie tutorial!

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

There were dachshunds big and small – some twice my size, some half my size, but everyone came for one reason – to race for the title of Champion!

With over 40 Dachshunds competing I knew it was going to be pretty tough to beat them all. But after winning a few of the preliminary heats I was pretty confident I could make it to the top. And after showing off a few of my favorite tricks I was clearly the crowd favorite to win when I made it to the final race!

Just watch what happened yourself….

If you had trouble telling what happened – it’s because mom’s camera skills were not so stellar. She said it was difficult to film me and call my name/shake cookies at the same time. Excuses, excuses.

Regardless, I won 3 preliminary heats, beating out some really fast weenies – and earning myself a spot in the final against 2 other super fast dachshunds. The final race was run and I came in at a photo finish with a dachshund named Tucker – who had me beat in size by a lot! So the judges decided to re-run the race, just me and Tucker.

I like to think I won that final race, but since it was so close to call the judges said Tucker won by just a nose!

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

Even though I didn’t win the coveted Champion title, reserve champ still came with some pretty nice perks. I got to take home this hand-blown glass dog bone from the ArtsQuest Glass Blowing Studio and these yummy handmade cookies from Whisker Biscuits.

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

Not only that but I also brought home not one, but two dachshund cakes from the Vallos Bakery! (too bad mom says they are only for human consumption).

Yeungling Oktoberfest Dachshund Races // Ammo the Dachshund

Even though I can’t say I’m the Dachshund Races Champion it still feels pretty great to be Reserve Champion. After all, I am still faster than a speeding bullet! Ammo the Dachshund

The Goshen Country Fair is for Dogs

The Goshen Country Fair is exactly what you think of when you picture a country fair. Livestock, carnival rides and games, music, blueberry pie, cotton candy, and dogs!

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

This past weekend I got to attend the fair for some good old fashioned hometown fun!

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

To kick off my adventure I checked out the Pet Show hosted by the SPCA which was open to family dogs who wanted to compete in categories like cutest puppy and best costume. This year I decided not to enter, but instead observe my competition for next year!

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

Plus it gave me a better spot to check out all the cute ladies!

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

After the pet show I wandered over to the 4-H livestock tents to make some new friends. The sheep were a little sheepish though, and it seemed no one was interested in being my BFF.

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

The cows proved to be a little more interesting – or at least their smell was quite intriguing to me! I’m trying to convince mom that I need my own cows on the farm now.

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

I then took some time to check out all the fun booths and fair items, and when mom started to zero in on a booth that was offering free nail trims – I decided it would be better if we checked out the carnival games instead!

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

I tried my paw at some of the squirt gun games – but alas my aim wasn’t quite up to par to beat the small child sitting next to me!

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

Dad even tried to win me a stuffed animal at the dart game – but it seems our luck had run out on the carnival games.

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

So instead we picked up some Goshen Homemade Doughnuts and decided to wait for the evening’s entertainment to begin.

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

They had live music and even a pie eating contest to entertain me while I waited for the big act of the night to take the stage.

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

The Kountry K-9 Show was just up my alley, as a group of rescue trick dogs performed some pretty cool tricks on stage. I was secretly hoping they might ask me to join them!

Goshen Country Fair // Dog Friendly Event // Ammo the Dachshund

At the end of the night I waved goodbye to the ferris wheel, and felt grateful that dogs weren’t allowed on the carnival rides because I’m perfectly happy keeping all 4 feet on the ground!

Until next year Goshen Country FairAmmo the Dachshund

In Preparation – Pony Penning 2013

Ammo the Dachshund Helps Prepare for Pony Penning

Every year around June mom and I start training the ponies for a very special trip. A trip to Chincoteague Island in Virginia at the end of July to watch their wild relatives swim from Assateague to Chincoteague during the annual Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction.

As official pony trainer it’s my duty to help the ponies prepare by learning new tricks so they are ready to perform for their week long stay down there at the Chincoteague Pony Centre.

Ammo the Dachshund Helps Prepare for Pony Penning // Chincoteague Pony Boomerang

This year my pal Boomerang will be making his first trip to Virginia to perform, so I had a little chat with him about how he’s supposed to behave properly and not embarrass me.

Ammo the Dachshund Helps Prepare for Pony Penning // Chincoteague Pony Boomerang

Boomerang sulked for the rest of the day, what a baby!

Ammo the Dachshund Helps Prepare for Pony Penning // Chincoteague Pony Boomerang

Another part of Boomer’s preparation is reading the famous book by Marguerite Henry, Misty of Chincoteague. Things were going well until Boomer confessed that he doesn’t know how to read!

Ammo the Dachshund Helps Prepare for Pony Penning // Chincoteague Pony Boomerang

Sigh, it’s going to be a very very long summer! Ammo the Dachshund

 

Learn more about where you can see my pony friends perform at the end of July on the Painting Pony Blog.

Happy 6th Birthday to Trooper!

Trooper as a Puppy // Ammo the Dachshund

Today is my best friend Trooper’s 6th Birthday!

Trooper and Ammo // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper has been by my side since I was just a wee pup. He taught me everything I know, and protected me when I was too tiny to do so myself. In the past 6 years we’ve had so many adventures, and I can’t wait for all the fun that is still yet to come!

Trooper and Ammo canoe ride // Ammo the Dachshund

super hero ammo and trooper

trooper swimming ammo the dachshund

ammo and trooper

ammo and trooper

trooper and ammo hoop

So Happy Birthday best pal!

trooper puppy

xoxo, Ammo the Dachshund

Spring Doxie Fest Recap

As most of you know I was invited to paint and perform at the 2013 Spring Doxie Fest to benefit the Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue. I love to support animal rescues, so I jumped at the chance to show off my stuff!

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

So I packed up my car with lots of goodies for my booth, and brought along all of my trick gear for my big performance. (you can always shop online with me HERE).

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

When it came time to perform I was excited to show everyone what I had been practicing. I love to learn and doing tricks with my mom is one of my favoritiest things in the whole wide world.

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

I kicked off my big performance by finishing up a painting I had started earlier in the week…..afterall you can’t rush talent!

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Then it was off to my phone booth for a quick costume change, of course everyone giggled when my Super Undies went on display for the world to see. I’m still blushing. But Super Ammo had a job to do, and I wasn’t going to let a little embarrassment stop me!

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Eventually I had to break out my super helmet for some of the more dangerous tricks. Safety first.

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

After all that performing I was ready to meet my fans!

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

By then I was pretty tired, but my day wasn’t over yet, because I had to judge some of the contests like best kisser, best tail wag, best costume, and best trick.

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

I even got to meet a cool doxie named Harry who had a knack for playing golf! (I chose him as the winner of best trick by the way).

Incase you missed my big performance at the Doxie Fest, below is a quick highlight video I made. And if you want to see some more of my amazing tricks you can check out the SUPER PONY DVD that I made with my favorite trick ponies HERE.

Spring Doxie Fest 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund performs

At the end of the day I was so excited that so many of you came out to watch me perform and meet me, and most importantly support a great rescue like the Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue.

P.S. you all have some pretty cute Dachshunds! Ammo the Dachshund

Happy National High-Five Day!

Today is National High-Five Day! Only the greatest day ever, especially if you like to high-five like me!

Ammo the Dachshund // Let's Get Tricky // Teach Your Dog to High-Five

So get your hands paws ready and spread some cheer with a high-five today! I’ve already started…

 

And incase you don’t really know how to high-five, you can read my training tips on how to teach your dog to high-five HERE.

Sending virtual high-fives your way today! xoxo, Ammo the Dachshund Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hula Hooping Good Time

As my date to perform at the Spring Doxie Fest this year is approaching I’ve been gathering up props to be used in my performance. One of my favorite tricks is jumping through my hoop, so mom decided it was about time I had more than ONE hoop.

Hoola Hooping Good Time // Ammo the Dachshund

So with a little internet searching we came across Spellbound Dance Arts, who’s main purpose is delivering sunshine one hoop at a time! Totally my kind of hula hoop!

I browsed their site of lots and lots of custom designed hoops in all colors imaginable, but ultimately decided to go the DIY route and ordered a few 18″ blank hoops and some tape. When my hoops arrived mom set to work taping them for me, while I ooh’d and ahh’d over what colors I wanted.

Hoola Hooping Good Time // Ammo the Dachshund

Mom said taping them herself was pretty labor intensive and it took her several hours (despite my protests to go faster, go faster over her shoulder).

Hoola Hooping Good Time // Ammo the Dachshund

Mom still has several hoops to tape, but I haven’t quite decided what colors I want them to be yet, and I just couldn’t wait any longer to test them out!

You can purchase hoops from Spellbound Dance Arts HEREAmmo the Dachshund

I was not paid or perked to write this post, I just wanted to share my hula hooping adventures!

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater

Over the weekend my mom and dad went to a very special event (which I was not invited to – the nerve) called the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. It sounded like so much fun that I thought I would share their adventure with everyone, even if I didn’t get to see it with my own eyes either.

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater // Ammo the Dachshund

The World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is a family-oriented blend of the unique comedy and juggling skills of Gregory Popovich, and the extraordinary talents of his performing pets. Each of the show’s 15 cats and 10 dogs were once strays, rescued from animal shelters. Now they love to show off onstage – by performing a variety of stunts and skits!

The event that my mom and dad attended also helped to raise money for the local SPCA by donating a dollar from every ticket to the shelter.

This amazing event featured lots of dogs and cats performing fun and exciting stunts, and they even had a whole act just with dachshunds!

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater // Ammo the Dachshund

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater // Ammo the Dachshund

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater // Ammo the Dachshund

I’m sad to have missed it myself, but glad that mom and dad were able to go and support the rescue animals. Mom even said it gave her some ideas to add to my own stunt dog act which I will be performing at the end of April to benefit the Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue. You can read more about that HERE.

ammo the dachshund performing

ammo the dachshund goes to school

Jumping through my hoop

If you’d like to see if the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater will be in your area you can check out their tour dates HERE. Ammo the Dachshund

Images of the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater are via.

Tunnel Time!

Mom had a Birthday last week, and like any spoiled well loved pooch, I got presents too!

Agility Tunnel with Ammo the Dachshund

Welcome to my new dog agility tunnel, won’t you come inside?

 

 

Super fun right? Ammo the Dachshund

If you’d like to find out more about my dog agility tunnel check it out Here