Tag Archives: clicker training

Super Pony DVD Release!

Posted on by

The day has finally come! It’s time to announce the official release of the brand-new Super Pony DVD, staring the talented Minnow from Painting Pony…..and ME!

Ammo the Dachshund Super Hero and his Super Hero Pony

Thanks to my talented Uncle Taylor and Depthink Productions, we began filming for the DVD this past summer, and I’m so excited that it’s finally ready to share with everyone!

Super Pony DVD Release! via Ammo the Dachshund and Painting Pony

Check out the DVD Trailer:

ON THIS DVD

Trainer, Kyley DiLuigi, introduces us to Super Pony, the alter ego of the talented Chincoteague Pony, Minnow! Watch as he shows us some of his favorite trick performances, many of which have been performed at expos, fairs, schools, and even the Annual Chincoteague Pony Penning. Several performances also include Minnow’s lovable sidekick, Ammo the Dachshund, as well as other members of the Painting Pony crew. In addition to 5 featured videos, this DVD also contains 2 bonus videos: a visit to Iron Horse Farm, home to the Painting Ponies; and a talk given by Kyley about everyone’s favorite Chincoteague Pony, Misty of Chincoteague.

PAINTING PONY

In 2007, Painting Pony was founded when Kyley DiLuigi decided to bring her paints from art school out to the farm where she kept her 14-year-old pony, Minnow. That cold winter day Minnow became the World’s First Painting Chincoteague Pony as he created his very first masterpiece. As it became evident that Minnow had a gift that he truly loved, the paintings he created began to pile higher and higher. Feeling the need to share Minnow’s art with the world, Kyley started PaintingPony.com and the rest is history!

Super Pony DVD Release! via Ammo the Dachshund and Painting Pony

The Super Pony DVD is approx. 20 minutes and is available for purchase at $12 on PaintingPony.com

You’ll get to see performances by me and Minnow as well as me and my buddy Trooper. You even get to see me paint!

There is still plenty of time to order your copy for Holiday Gifts!
As a special gift to all my followers, enter code FREESHIP at checkout to receive free shipping on your entire order! (domestic orders only).

Snag your copy HERE. Ammo the Dachshund

12 Days of Cheer! Ammo’s Christmas Wishlist

Posted on by

Dear Santa,

Even though I ate mom’s lunch at work (several times), barked at my next door neighbor (a lot), destuffed all my toys all over the house, and got mud on the new white sofa…..I really think I deserve all of the items on my Christmas Wish List. I will try harder next year.

xoxo, Ammo.

12 Days of Cheer // Ammo the Dachshund's Christmas Wish List

1. Orbee Tuff Lil’ Bulb from Planet Dog

2. Nina Ottosson Dog Casino from Olive

3. Cashmere Hoodie Cable Coat from Inubar

4. Dipper Bowl from Waggo

5. Hughes Soft Storage Bin (for my toys) from the Container Store Ammo the Dachshund

 

Mastering the Kicker Box

Posted on by

You might remember that for my Birthday back in the beginning of October I received a gift from my parents called the Kicker Box. This box with it’s confusing levers that held my treats captive was a source of frustration for me for the first week or so. But, truth be told, it’s no secret as to how stubborn us Dachshunds are – and I couldn’t give up on the Kicker Box without a fight.

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Wrap-Up

I’m now a master at dispensing my treats from the box, and to prove it to you my mom shot this video of me working for my breakfast this morning:

Do you think your dog could master the Kicker Box? Ammo the Dachshund

 

Disclosure: I was not paid or perked to write about this product, I just wanted to share with my fans this fun toy.

DIY Weave Poles with the Dog Agility Shop

Posted on by

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund

I’m at the point in my Dog Agility training that I’m going to start learning how to do weave poles. Learning to do weave poles is one of the most challenging things in Dog Agility, so mom says it’s important that we have our own set at home to practice in between classes.

So when my friends over at the Dog Agility Shop offered up a set of Spikes and Pole Placers, I knew it was time to jump right in and DIY a set of weave poles!

Building your own set of weave poles is super easy and cost effective (about $25) with the help of the Dog Agility Shop. Here’s what you’ll need…..

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles

Supplies Needed:

  • A set of 6 or 12 Spikes from the Dog Agility Shop (I used 6 since I’m a beginner)
  • Weave Pole Placer from the Dog Agility Shop
  • 3/4 inch PVC Pipe (total of 228″)
  • Six 3/4 inch PVC caps
  • PVC cutting tool
  • Duct Tape

Directions:

Once your Spikes and Pole Placer arrive from the Dog Agility Shop you will need to cut your 3/4 inch PVC pipe into 6 pieces that are 38 inches in length. Then place the PVC caps on one end of all your poles and attach the other end to the Spikes. Then you can stripe your poles with colored duct tape to make them more visible. Once your poles are done, lay out the pole placer, and place your poles into the ground through the grommet holes in the placer. Now you’re ready to learn weave poles!

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund

Inexpensive, easy to set-up, easy to transport, and oh so much fun – these weave poles are looking great in my backyard!

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund

Sadly there are no super cool photos of me weaving through these poles like a pro (yet), because I’ve only just begun my training.

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund

Having these bad boys in my back yard will give me no excuse to not show up everyone in my class when it comes to the weave pole training.

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund

My classmates are gonna be sooooo jealous! Ammo the Dachshund

For more agility tutorials check out my post on Building your own Dog Agility Jumps.

Disclosure: I received a set of spikes and pole placer from the dog agility shop for review. However, all opinions are entirely my own.

 

Fun on the Teeter Totter

Posted on by

As many of you may know, I have been taking agility classes since early Spring this year. I’m having so much fun learning how to navigate a course, and one of my very favorite things to do is work on the contact obstacles.

Ammo the Dachshund // Agility // Teeter Totter

Contact obstacles refers to such objects as; the A-frame, teeter-totter, dog walk, and tunnels. They require the upmost concentration and braveness.

Watch as I expertly navigate the teeter totter at class yesterday:

You may notice that when my mom says “mark” as I approach the base of the obstacle I stop and wait until she gives me the ok to move forward. This is so that when I’m racing around at top speed on the course I don’t forget to take all 4 of my feet across the yellow portion of the obstacle – or else it won’t count.

Looks pretty fun doesn’t it! Ammo the Dachshund

Let’s Get Tricky! Teach your Dog to Play Dead

Posted on by

One of my most popular tricks is the Play Dead trick. Guaranteed to make children giggle and adults oooh and ahhh – it’s a favorite that’s sure to win them over!

Most all of my tricks are taught and mastered with the help of clicker training, so before beginning you might want to read up on how to introduce your dog to a clicker*.

*Disclaimer: this post does contain some affiliate links

Ammo the Dachshund // Lets Get Tricky // Teach Your Dog to Play Dead

Teach Your Dog to Play Dead

Every great dog should know how to play dead – if only to be used as an ice breaker at parties, to scare the ground hogs in the backyard, and to generally just make you look totally awesome.

What you need: A handful of small training treats*, clicker

Step 1: To start your dog should already know how to lay down on command. Place a few treats in a fist and place your hand on the ground in front of your dog as you ask them to lay down.

Ammo the Dachshund // Lets Get Tricky // Teach Your Dog to Play Dead

Step 2: As your dog sniffs the treat tilt your fist up and over the top of your dog’s head, encouraging them to lay on their side. You may need to gently push your hand into your dog to entice them to lay on their side. Click and Reward your dog as soon as their side touches the ground.

Ammo the Dachshund // Lets Get Tricky // Teach Your Dog to Play Dead

Step 3: Continue asking your dog to lay on their side with treats in the fist of your hand until you can ask them to lay on their side with just an open palm (treats removed) – then click and reward.

Ammo the Dachshund // Lets Get Tricky // Teach Your Dog to Play Dead

Step 4: Once your dog is laying on their side consistently you can begin to add a verbal and visual command to it. Point your finger at your dog and say Bang, Bang – if your dog doesn’t immediately flop on their side you can then use the open palm of your hand to remind them what to do, click and reward. Slowly begin waiting longer and longer to show them what to do with the flat of your hand until they offer laying on their side on their own. Jackpot treat your dog when they get it right.

Ammo the Dachshund // Lets Get Tricky // Teach Your Dog to Play Dead

Step 5: When your dog is consistent in laying on their side when you ask you will need to add a release word. Part of the appeal of a play dead trick is that your dog will “remain dead” until you tell them to come back alive. So after asking your dog to play dead, wait a few seconds and say OK (before your dog gets up on their own) to release them and then click and reward. The key is to time this right before your dog gets up on their own. Gradually begin asking them to stay on their side longer and longer until you are certain they will not get up until you give them the verbal OK.

Ammo the Dachshund // Lets Get Tricky // Teach Your Dog to Play Dead

Congratulations! Your dog can now play dead! You can now bring laughter and smiles to everyone!

Ammo the DachshundDisclaimer: The Let’s Get Tricky blog feature is designed to provide general information, instruction, and techniques that may not be suitable for everyone. Please note that we are not liable for any of your activities while attempting to teach your dog the techniques listed on this blog. Please train responsibly.

 

Learn how to teach your dog to high-five!

Birthday Week: Get to Know Me

Posted on by

I thought it would be fun to dive a little deeper into the true me during Birthday Week, just like I did last year when I answered some of your burning questions. So with a little help from my mom we came up with 10 new questions for me to answer that will help you get to know me a little bit better.

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Ammo turns Four

Q What is your all-time favorite thing to do on the weekends?
A This is a tough choice between spending time on the farm, and napping in my sunroom at home. I enjoy being at the farm to hunt for groundhogs and lay in the sun, but being at home has it perks too as my sunroom has an all around view of my yard, and my comfy worn in spot on the sofa.

Ammo the Dachshund // Sunroom napping

Q What is your favorite toy?
A Right now my favorite toy is a Strawberry made by Planet Dog. I love it because it tastes a bit minty, is fun to chew on (but this far indestructible) and mom has been filling it with peanut butter which makes it extra special!

Q Do you have any bad habits?
A Well not any that I care to admit! But if you must know, my mom says I bark a little too much at the critters in my backyard. Personally I do not consider this a bad habit when I’m just doing my job by protecting my fortress from intruders. And I guess if we are being truthful here, I also like to hump pillows – particularly the ones on mom and dad’s bed! I know, I am ashamed.

ammo the dachshund super hero

Q What is the next trick you plan to tackle?
A Well I had started learning how to barrel race like this speedy little dachshund, so perhaps mom will help me finish mastering this one. Although mom says she also wants me to learn to put away my toys at home – which doesn’t sound as thrilling to me.

Q Who is your favorite artist?
A Well besides my talented painting pony friends, I have fallen in love with the paintings made by the talented Kim from Yellow Brick Home after she painted my portrait (and the ponies) earlier this year.

Pet Paintings by Kim @ Yellow Brick Home - via Ammo the Dachshund

Q Where are all your super fun photos taken?
A I experiment with a lot of different places for my styled photoshoots (like work, my backyard, the spare bedroom in my house), but recently I’ve been setting up my backdrops in the sunroom at home. It seems to provide the perfect amount of light which makes me look extra adorable!

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Get to Know Me

Q In the past 4 years, what has been your favorite adventure?
A It’s so tough to choose just one adventure, but I really have enjoyed when mom and dad took me to the corn maze  (which reminds me, I’m due for a trip soon). I get to use all of my hunting and scenting skills to get us through the maze in the fastest time possible – and I have to say my maze skills have been quite impeccable!

Q What is your favorite blog to read?
A Oh gosh, how do I choose just one? You can check out my sidebar to see a bunch of the pet-related blogs that I love to read, but I guess if I had to choose just one to read I’d have to say I’m drawn to my newest blog find, Love and a Six-Foot Leash. It’s the pretty pretty pictures I tell you!

ammo the dachshund blogging outdoors

Q Do you enjoy being a shop dog?
A I very much love being able to go to work with mom every single day, and meeting lots of new people is one of the highlights of my day. However sometimes I just feel a little cooped up, and I get a little antsy having to spend my day inside all the time. But in the long run it definitely beats being stuck home alone all day, and I wouldn’t give up being a shop dog for anything!

Ammo the Dachshund at work

Q What is your favorite food?
A All of the above. But I guess if I had to choose just one, string cheese would be at the top of my list.

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know me a little bit better, and if you have anymore questions for me please be sure to leave them in the comment section below! Ammo the Dachshund

P.S. I have to make sure I say Happy 4th Wedding Anniversary to my mom and dad today! Kisses from your number one boy, Ammo.

*some links contain affiliate links 

Let’s Get Tricky! Teach your Dog to High-Five

Posted on by

I decided it was high time I started a new feature on the blog, and what better thing to write about than trick training! I thought by sharing with you how I have learned some of my amazing tricks over the years (and attempting to master new ones too) it would inspire me to keep up with my training as well. Most all of my tricks are taught and mastered with the help of clicker training, so before beginning you might want to read up on how to introduce your dog to a clicker. (contains affiliate link)

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

Teach your Dog to High-Five

A small twist on the standard one paw high-five, my method is doubly awesome with a two-pawed high-five. (mostly because us dachshunds have stubby little legs and it’s way easier to high-five with two paws).

What you need: A handful of small training treats, clicker (affiliate links)

Step one:  Place a treat in the palm of your hand and close it into a fist. Let you dog sniff your hand with the treat in it so he will know that it’s there.

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

Step two: Put your closed fist with the treat in it directly in front of your dog but slightly above their head and high enough that they cannot reach it with all 4 paws on the ground.

Step three: Your dog will likely begin to sniff at the treat, but pay close attention to their paws, and as soon as they lift both paws or one off the ground be ready to click and reward once they touch a paw to your hand (do not give them the treat in your hand, but a different one). Continue clicking and rewarding for a paw(s) touching your fist until it is consistent.

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

Step four: Once your dog is consistently touching a paw(s) to your fist, then remove the treat inside your hand and begin placing an open palm directly in front of your dog above their head. Click and reward for your dog touching a paw(s) to your hand.

Step five: When your dog is consistently touching a paw(s) to your open hand you may add a verbal cue to it, such as High-Five. Say “High-Five” then place your open palm in front of your dog to touch – then click and reward.

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

If your dog has mastered this trick with one paw (sometimes easier for larger dogs) but you would like them to high-five with two, give your verbal cue, put your open palm out and do not reward the dog for touching it with one paw, simply wait until they offer another behavior (placing two paws) then click and reward. If your dog needs a little help you can place one paw on your palm then pick up and place their second paw on your hand. Immediately reward with a jackpot of treats (one treat after another in a rapid succession). The more excited and animated you are when your dog gets it right, the faster they will learn!

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

Ammo the Dachshund

Disclaimer: The Let’s Get Tricky blog feature is designed to provide general information, instruction, and techniques that may not be suitable for everyone. Please note that we are not liable for any of your activities while attempting to teach your dog the techniques listed on this blog. Please train responsibly.

The Mutt Room

Posted on by

On Saturday I took a trip to the Devon Horse Show Grounds for the Fall Classic Jumper Show.

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

The Devon Show Grounds are known to be an uber friendly dog place, meaning dogs are allowed in the shops (many of which carry items for pets), we can sit in the stands with our humans, and we even have our very own water fountains.

Now I’m no stranger to Devon, however during this particular trip I did something a little unexpected and different.

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

I took a trip to The Mutt Room! The Mutt Room is a mini portrait studio run by Brenda Carpenter (the official photographer for Devon events), and is designed so that your 4 legged friend can get a personal portrait session. Now seeing that I can never pass up the opportunity to get my picture taken, I just had to see what it was like to be in a professional studio.

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Inside the studio it was filled with super fun dog portraits and there were treats and toys everywhere! This was totally my kind of adventure.

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Ammo the Dachshund // Devon Fall Classic // The Mutt Room

Brenda said I was a natural behind the camera as I showed her all of my amazing poses. I can hardly contain my excitement to see the results of my photoshoot – I’m sure my photos will make all the ladies swoon!

And now that I’m officially a pro behind the camera, I may just have to get an agent and start booking magazine shoots. I have no doubt you’ll see me on the cover of Vogue and Sports Illustrated someday soon!

P.S. Brenda does personal portraits of your pets! Check out her website to see how to book!Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: The Clicker Leash

Posted on by

I don’t talk a lot about the training methods my mom uses with me on the blog (but I should!), but since I was just a wee pup my mom has been using clicker training with me. Clicker training is a positive training method for animals using a clicker or small mechanical noisemaker, as a marker for behavior.

In fact, since my mom knew that us Dachshunds are one of the hardest dogs to house train (it’s true), she began clicker training me from the start to do my business outside. I’m proud to say I am completely house trained now (even if it did take me a little longer than the average pooch) thanks to the clicker. Now had we known about the Clicker Leash from the start, this totally would have been a must have item for me when I was learning the potty basics.

Ammo the Dachshund // Friday Fetch // Clicker Leash

The Clicker Leash puts effective, humane training methods at your fingertips by merging a clicker with an ergonomic, lightweight leash handle. The Clicker Leash makes reward-based training convenient and fun while eliminating juggling and fumbling. Whether you are training your puppy, working on basic life skills with an adult dog or competing in canine sports the Clicker Leash puts your clicker where you need it, when it counts. As long as you have your dog’s leash, your favourite training tool is on hand!

Ammo the Dachshund // Friday Fetch // Clicker Leash

You can fetch your own clicker leash HERE for $30. Ammo the Dachshund