Do you see this picture of me? While I’m super adorable and all (we all knew that), there is something missing, something really important on today of all days.
It’s a hat! Because today I’m told, is National Hat Day! And since I couldn’t just wear any old hat, mom helped me make a few fun paper hats so I could have a little dress up fun.
Pretty fun right? So go grab yourself a hat (or make one if you’re so inclined) and join me today for National Hat Day!
Which one of my hats is your favorite?
Merry Christmas everyone!
I hope you all have the merriest of Christmases! I’m taking a little blogging break between now and New Years to catch up on all my sleep. But I’ll be back in 2016 with more adventures to share!
Thanks for sticking around for all the fun!
Happy Holidays!
It’s time once again for an installment of my popular sleeping series! Yay! This past month there was a major theme going on….and it’s called Ammo needs a pillow for Christmas!
It’s a real struggle over here with all my inadequate napping spots. Which one was your favorite this month?
Check out where else I’ve been sleeping in my “Oh the Places You Sleep” series!
It’s the best day ever! It’s time to share my monthly round-up of all the fabulous places I’ve been sleeping the past 4 weeks in my Oh The Places You Sleep Series.
As it starts to get cooler in Pennsylvania you’ll notice I’m doing a lot more blanket snuggling, and curling up. Before you know it I’ll need to break out my heat lamp to keep warm during my napping sessions!
Enjoy Vol. 8 of my Oh the Places You Sleep Series!
Which napping spot is your favorite this month?
Check out where else I’ve been sleeping in my “Oh the Places You Sleep” series!
Last week a box filled with packing materials made its way into the shop.
Since I’m never one to pass up the opportunity to play in a box (don’t knock it until you try it!), I wasted no time in jumping right in.
Then I had a thought! Hey mom, since I’m already all packed up you might as well ship me to the nearest pet store. I’ll make sure to tell them to ship me back before dinner!
Happy Shipping and Receiving Day!
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.
Raise of paws, who likes having their nails trimmed? Raise of hands, who likes trimming their pet’s nails? Just as I thought, no one.
It’s a necessary evil though, because having long nails can cause your pet to walk irregularly which can lead to skeletal problems. And we all know that us dachshunds don’t need any more reasons to have back trouble!
Now if your dog has black nails like I do, I’m sure you spend your life in constant fear of cutting them too short and hitting the quick (a soft cuticle rich in blood vessels and nerves that grows in the center of your dog’s nail). If you nick that tiny little quick your dog will scream out in pain, and yes, there may be blood!
My mom used to trim my nails at home, but over the years I got progressively worse at having them trimmed – so she started to take me to the vet to have them done every few months. Then a few months ago she decided it was high time I got better at having my nails done, so she set out to condition me to actually enjoy having them done!
Interestingly, this new nail trimming method was not with the traditional nail clippers, but instead with a dremel!
Over the past 2 months my mom has been working with me to make me more comfortable with the use of the dremel on my nails. While I wouldn’t say I LOVE it, I tolerate it. It saves me from having to make more trips than necessary to the vet or groomer, saves my mom money, and keeps my nails at a healthy length. It’s a win – win!
So since I’m sure you’re all curious just how my mom trained me to be better about having my nails trimmed, here’s how she did it….
The Best Method for Trimming Your Dog’s Nails
Here’s what you’ll need:
This method requires a basic knowledge of clicker training. If you’d like a little introduction you can check out this website or buy an introduction kit to clicker training.*
*contains affiliate links
Starting with the nail file, mom used it EVERY SINGLE DAY for 3 weeks to get me used to having my feet and nails handled. She started by picking up a foot and gently sanding my nails for just a few seconds at a time.
Each time I didn’t resist she would use the clicker and then reward me with a small (but yummy treat).
After each session, which started out short (maybe 30 seconds tops) she’d give me a big reward. For me that reward has been Natural Balance’s Dental Chews, with Pumpkin & Chicken Meal and Papaya.
The great thing about these chews is that not only do I love the taste, but they’re also helping to clean my teeth while rewarding me for having my nails done at the same time!
Key Benefits of Natural Balance Dental Chews
You can fetch your pet a bag from our friends at Chewy.com for about $14.
After several weeks of practice with the nail file, mom moved onto the dremel. This time she “sanded” my nails without even turning it on. Again, each time I didn’t resist on a nail she would click and reward me. At the end of the session I’d get my jackpot treat, a Natural Balance Dental Chew.
After another week or so it was time to turn on the dremel. Using a low speed to start she’d do just a few of my nails, making sure to reward me quickly for not resisting at all.
Now once you start using the dremel with it on it’s important to note that you can’t just quickly sand your dog’s nails down in one sitting to the desired length, even if they are ok with it. The quick inside grows with your dog’s nail. So my mom likes to only work on sanding my nails once a week to allow time for the quick of my nail to shorten after the last trimming. (see diagram above for more details)
How short should you keep your pet’s nails? According to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation they should be short enough that they don’t touch the ground when your dog is standing on a flat surface, but long enough to aid the dog when climbing up a hill or digging.
Hear that mom? I need them for digging!
While I still have a ways to go to get mine back to the ideal length, I’m happy to say that after weeks of practice I’m now much more tolerant of having my nails done by dremel. While I very much wish I had gotten a video of the “before”, here’s how good I am at it now…
How is your dog about having their nails trimmed? Have you ever trimmed your pet’s nails with a dremel? Do tell!
For more information on avoiding the quick check out this article.
Handy Tip: If your dog is resistant to even having their feet touched start without the nail fail and just reward them for letting you touch their feet without pulling away. Also, using a treat that your dog goes crazy over helps too, the better the treat, the more willing they will be to try.
Disclaimer: This post is meant to be informative, but please keep in mind, what works for me may not work for your own pet. Please consult an expert if you are unsure about how to train your pet. Use caution when using a dremel around your pet, and we are not responsible for any injuries that may occur.
Over here on the Ammo the Dachshund blog we’re wiener dog lovers (if you haven’t already guessed). So when I stumbled across the fun Dachshund Inspired Toy Baskets from Grets Pet Shop I just knew I had to share them with you!
You can fetch these fun handmade toy baskets from Grets Pet Shop for about $30.
Disclaimer – this is NOT A SPONSORED POST nor do I own any of these products, just simply wanted to share my latest find!
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!
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.
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!
I spent some time relaxing on the beach, and then set out on a late afternoon walk.
It wasn’t long before my parents finally unhooked the leash so I could run as much as my heart desired!
And run I did!
If you’ve ever wondered how I keep such a fit figure….this is how! I was built to run!
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!
Oh yes! That’s a small shark right there (with sadly a hook & bobber stuck on him) in one of the beach tide pools.
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!
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!)
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.
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!)
So I’ve finally decided what I’m going to be for Halloween, but you’re going to have to wait just a little longer until I reveal it! Why is that? Well, not only do I love making you sit in suspense, but I also always go the DIY route when it comes to my costumes. Every year mom breaks out the sewing machine hot glue gun and helps me custom make something super unique…and totally me!
So while my own costume is going to take some time to get ready, I thought you might enjoy these 10 Awesome Handmade Pet Costumes that you could make for your pet too!
3. Trophy Dog
6. Snifferlla
10. Michael Jackson
These are some pretty cool costumes, hope I can top them!
Incase you forgot what I was for Halloween the past few years you can check them out here:
Have you ever handmade a costume for your dog? Post the pictures to my Facebook page because I’d LOVE to see it! (maybe you’ll even make next year’s DIY round-up!)
It’s interesting how my sleeping habits change with the seasons. You’ll notice in this next installment of “Oh The Places You Sleep” that I’m not sleeping outside as much now that the weather has cooled, and I’ve gotten much more creative in where I’m finding warmth! I’m sure you’re going to love this month’s napping spots!
Which napping spot is your favorite this month?
Check out where else I’ve been sleeping in my “Oh the Places You Sleep” series!