Posts Tagged ‘dachshund
Hot Dog in a Tent
So during our camping excursion in New Jersey last weekend I had my special little buddy tag along for the adventure. Ammo, my Dachshund, is what I call my “tag along” dog. He’s easy to tote around anywhere and pretty much adapts to any situation. But being 10 months old, Ammo was about to go on his first camping trip. I knew Ammo would be fine with the horses, he LOVES all of the ponies (especially Minnow) and as we take daily trips to the barn he has become quite the farm dog. I still get laughs when people pull up to the farm and see this squaty little dachshund waddle over to say hello instead of the typical lab or jack russell. I have to say I don’t think I’ve seen a dachshund at anyone else’s farm. But infact he is an excellent farm dog. He keeps his distance from the horses (except for his occasionally playdate with Minnow) and when I ride he sits quietly in the barn and out of the way. If I need to tie him up for any reason he stays in his spot without so much as a peep.
So being toted around and tied up while I rode was a non-issue for Ammo. But camping was different. How would he do in a tent, on an air mattress? After I read the Mattress & Sleep Product Reviews – Cosy Sleephttps://cosysleep.co.uk/ advice, Ammo was no longer allowed to sleep on my bed with me – as he likes to be VERY close to the ones he loves and I end up with a dachshund scarf. So for sake of getting my full 8 hours I request that Ammo sleep on his little bed on the couch.
I think Ammo thoroughly enjoyed getting to sleep in the tent with me – this time I had a Dachshund belt – very stylish. But being a small dog who thinks he’s the big guy, with every nightime noise Ammo felt as if he had to protect me. He’d let out these tiny barks and at one point in the night he some how got stuck in between the window screen and the flap that closes it up. (don’t worry I rescued him). So the first night of tent camping was a bit unrestful as I dealt with my guard dog dachshund. But by night #2 Ammo was utterly exhausted from the day’s activities that he pretty much slept all through the night.
Aside from tent camping, Ammo had lots of fun meeting all the fun dogs that came to the event. His favorite playmate is a friend’s Australian Shepherd/Corgi mix puppy named Spencer. Spencer and Ammo could wrestle for hours on end. Ammo even picked up a new girlfriend in the form of a female Jack Russell named Roxie. I think he was sad she couldn’t come home with us.
Ammo curled up at home in a pile of clean laundry
At the end of our adventure Ammo was happy to go home. He had a LONG weekend and was all too thrilled when a pile of clean laundry was waiting for him at home. I can’t wait for our next camping adventure together!
Weekend Camping Re-cap
I’m back from my mounted games competition in Mullica Hill, NJ. It was a great trip, as I knew it would be, and despite the heat I had a blast camping and hanging out with the ponies all weekend. My team brought home first place in our division with a score of 61 points (second place scored 52 points). I was especially proud of Boomerang, who performed like he had been doing it all of his life. He’s such an easy pony to travel with, infact all of the Chincoteagues are. I look around at some of the wild eyed/crazed ponies that are really upset to be away from home and I’m glad that my boys are so quiet and well behaved. It makes me really appreciate the Chincoteague Pony Breed.
So for today’s post I thought I would share with you some photos from the weekend. And the rest of the week I have videos of the competition, details on how Ammo my dachshund fared on his first camping trip and overnight horse show, and even some training talk as I discuss how I trained while I rode during competition. So be sure to keep checking in the rest of the week!
Chesapeake Boomerang
Ball and Cone Race
Completeing a Flying Dismount
3 Leg Race with my mom and Blitz
Ponies and S’moores
Camping with friends
Today I’m packing up the ponies for a weekend of camping and riding in New Jersey. This is the second thing I look forward to all year with the horses (first being pony penning). Each year in mid-August is held the MGAA Mid-Atlantic #3 mounted games competition in Mullica Hill, NJ. Riders from all over the US (and this year Australia too) travel to NJ with ponies in tow, and tents in the trunk. This is the only competition of the year where pretty much EVERYONE camps. Something about waking up in a tent to the smell of hundreds of ponies is amazing. And to top it off we get to compete!
I’ve always LOVED camping. S’moores around the camp fire, hot dogs on a stick – I love every second of it. This year is doubly special because I get to bring my little Dachshund, Ammo. This will be his first camping experience, and I have to say I’m a little worried his guard dog instincts will kick in while we’re inches away from the outdoors and the sounds that accompany it. He may be relegated to the horse trailer if he can’t control himself.
Minnow and I competing at the Mid-Atlantic in 2004
What also makes this competition special is that I get to ride on a team with my mom and my sister. Usually my younger sister and I play in the masters division, while my mom who prefers a slightly slower speed (despite being an exceptional rider) competes in the fossil division. But this year since my pony is still green (as is my mom’s) and my sister is due for another knee surgery and has to take it easy, we have opted to play with my mom in the fossil division. I think this is the very first time all three of us will have played together. Amazing considering we’ve been playing since 1998 (11 years).
Me after my fall from Blitz at the Mid-Atlantic 2008
Not only that, but this is Boomerang’s first overnight competition. Last year at the Mid-Atlantic #3 I brought Blitz, as it was his first overnight, and as I had just purchased Boomer the week before, he stayed home. (so I guess this also marks a year of me owning Boomer as well). Boomer I’m sure will take to the overnight with ease, nothing seems to ever bother him – I’ve actually never met a pony so unfazed by everything. So I’m basically just thrilled to put our months of training to use and see how he really performs.
So I’ve decided to share with you some videos from last year’s mid-atlantic competition when I competed Blitz – this was actually his very first competition ever.
I look forward to sharing our trip with everyone when we get back! If you find yourself in NJ be sure to stop by!
I’m not a Dog
So I’m starting to think that my Dachshund, Ammo, doesn’t know that he’s a dog. Lately I’ve been taking him to the dog park along with my parent’s Labrador/Austrailian Shepherd mix, Trooper. Trooper, like most normal dogs, romps around and plays with all of the other dogs at the park. Ammo (which I know he’s small) prefers to play by himself in the water (there is a neat stream that runs through the dog park). When other dogs approach him he sucks into a ball and gets very submissive – not only towards bigger dogs, but small dogs too. As soon as they turn their back he starts to romp towards them in a playful manner, but if they turn around again he’s right back to being submissive. Now again, I know he’s small – and I’m sure he’s not the only dog to do this, and I’m not going to force him to play with other dogs if he’s scared – so you may be asking yourself then, why do I think he doesn’t know he’s a dog?
I’ll tell you why. Ammo won’t play with other dogs, but he will play with the trick ponies and the barn cat, Cricket! Very odd considering that the ponies especially should be even scarier to a small Dachshund. Anyway, luckily you don’t have to take my word for it. Just watch these two videos I took the other day.
From Beach to Barn
So I’m back from the beach (a little early) – and I know you all missed my posts on the blog. Well have no fear – I’m back in action. I haven’t been out to the barn yet as we got in late last night, but I will surely be out there after work! I did get to pick up our Dachshund, Ammo, from my parent’s house and he greeted us with a very enthusastic HELLO! This was the first time we left our 9 month old puppy somewhere …I think he was very glad to be home in his own bed. He did get to have a lot of fun with my parent’s dog Trooper however. I felt a little bit like a mom going away on vacation without their child for the first time – I missed him terribly. I don’t know how I will do it again when I leave for Chincoteague, Virgnia in 2 weeks for pony penning – atleast Ammo will get to stay home with my husband.
Family Photo with my in-laws
Now you may notice that today’s post is not about the trick ponies (afterall I’ve been away from them for almost a week) because there isn’t much to report. I did however do some beach reading of my newest clicker training book. So I have lots of ideas floating in my head. I even picked up some beach toys for Minnow so that he can learn some new tricks before pony penning. So stay tuned as all that develops next week! And hopefully these few photos from my beach vacation will satisfy you – I even threw in a photobooth strip (I have a complete obsession with photobooths and I swear one day I will own one in my own home).
Ammo glad to be home in his bed
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
