From last year's winner to Bests In Show throughout history, you can learn more about the greatness in these champion dogs -- and in YOUR dog -- using Pro Plan's Great Dogs app. And by clicking through our slideshow!
Blog Posts by Purina
If you've ever wished the Olympics featured events for dogs as well as humans, you'll love the Incredible Dog Challenge, airing January 14 at 5 PM ET on NBC. The Incredible Dog Challenge showcases canine athletes from around the world in a variety of sports, including racing, diving, and the dog equivalents of slalom and Ultimate Frisbee. Some of these talented hounds (and their handlers) even surf!
For more info, links, and fantastic pics of the pooches in action, click on!
Read More »from Get ready for the Incredible Dog Challenge!5 things you didn't know about the National Dog Show
By Purina | Pets – Wed, Nov 16, 2011 4:48 PM EST
The National Dog Show Presented by Purina celebrates its 10th
anniversary in 2011 – don't miss the telecast this Thanksgiving Day, right
after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on NBC.
And don't miss the chance to impress friends and family with facts and lore about the National Dog Show, including these five things you might not have known about this canine institution…
There are six new American Kennel Club breeds competing this year: the American English Coonhound, the Cesky Terrier, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, the Finnish Lapphund, the Norwegian Lundehund, and the Xoloitzcuintli (that's pronounced "show-low-itz-quint-lee" – now say it five times fast!).
An Irish Setter, Grand Champion Windntide Mr. Sandman, took home Best in Show honors last year – but to date, a breed has not won Best in Show two times at the National Dog Show.
Visit the National Dog Show Best in Show Hall of Fame
2008's Best in Show winner, a Pointer named CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry (and
Read More »from 5 things you didn't know about the National Dog Show
Halloween is a fantastic time of year – but the costumes, candy, and parties we love can turn into horror movies for our furry friends.But fear not! Our list of safety tips will keep you and your pet safe until All Saints Day.
Dress up for success (or not at all). A pet costume can seem like a fantastic (and cute!) idea…to humans. Your pet might feel differently! Give costumes a test run before Halloween to see how your dog or cat reacts; if he's unhappy or afraid, consider a lower-key ghost-themed bandanna or collar instead, or skip it altogether.Your pet may love dressing up, but make sure his outfit is safe and comfortable, and made from a non-flammable material. Costumes should allow him to see, hear, and breathe normally; avoid attire that covers his eyes and ears, and if his bark (or meow) sounds muffled, loosen or rethink the costume. Remove parts that he could chew or choke on (drawstrings, loose sequins, et cetera), and ensure that there's nothing hanging off the
Read More »from 6 Halloween pet safety tipshello, just wanted to see if the yellow treatment works
There are celebrations honoring the ugliest dog, fashion shows for haute felines, costume-laden pet parades and ornate animal expos. With all this animal adoration, there's no doubt about it. People love to celebrate their four-legged friends - and pet festivals are popping up all across the nation to prove it.
Read More »from In Celebration of Our Four-Legged Friends
Here in St. Louis, we've got a few big events, but none can rival the annual Beggin' Pet Parade - a celebration that includes intricate animal costumes, "tail" gating and the ever-popular wiener dog races. Seem a little over-the-top? Maybe, but it's an absolutely barking good time. And not just because of great costumes like this.
There's no better place than a pet festival to witness the extraordinary bond between animal and owner. Look around and you'll find hundreds of people toting pets of all different shapes and sizes. You'll see tails wagging. You'll see people smiling. And you'll witness overwhelming evidence that pets can - and do - truly enrich our lives.
And that,Choosing a pet is a big decision, and one that needs a lot of careful thought. So if you're thinking about adopting an animal, consider these ground rules and guidelines - and ensure that your furry friend is nothing less than the perfect fit for you and your family.
Read More »from 5 Rules for Picking a Pet
Don't adopt on a whim. Adding a pet a part to your family isn't something to take lightly. And while puppy eyes, twitching whiskers and tiny paws can be incredibly convincing, do your best not to give in to an impromptu adoption. Take the time to think about the kind of pet that's right for you. Do your research, and make sure you know the pros and cons of adding a four-legged family member to your household.
Honestly evaluate your lifestyle. Every pet has his own personality, and you need to make sure that it's compatible with yours - and with the life you lead. If you're often away from home, you need to choose a pet that's ok on it's own for certain stretches of time. If you like to be lazy, a high-energy pet probablyI never really cared about the old adage, you can't teach an old dog new tricks, until our old dog met my new couch. Gunner had historically been allowed to lounge alongside of us on our old college-weathered furniture, until last month when I got my long-saved-for beautiful, new couch. Gunner's black fur and big paws wreak havoc on the upholstery, but he doesn't understand why we are now requiring him to be confined to the floor. So it's been a month full of "No!" and "Down!" followed by looks of confusion and bewilderment from him (and feelings of guilt for me). I know it's our fault that long before the long-saved-for couch, we taught Gunner it was okay to crash on the comfy furniture. But what now?
Googling a solution revealed mats with audible alarms (triggered when the pet jumps up onto the furniture) and mats that emit small static-charged shocks to create an aversion to the area (all deemed harmless to the pet, of course). They tout high-success rates, but didn't feel
Read More »from Old Dog. New Couch.The summer heat is hard on our four-legged friends. I look at Gunner and Ike and think to myself, not only are they wearing fur coats 24-hours-a-day, but they also only have sweat glands in their paws. That's right; they can't even cool down with a good, full-body sweat. The most relief they can find from the heat is through panting, and during these days of soaring temps that's just not enough to keep them cool and healthy.
In the past, Michael and I have found it fun to be inventive; doggy wading pools, ice-cube treats and even sprinkler games have made for entertaining K-9 cool-down techniques. There are many fun ways to stay cool on hot summer day, and keeping your pets safe in the heat is pretty simple if you follow the basics of summer pet safety:
· Never leave your pet alone in a standing or parked car. Temperatures can rise quickly leading to sickness, stroke and even death from over-heating.
· Keep plenty of fresh water readily available for your pet.
·
Read More »from The Dog Days of SummerIf you're a pet owner, you already know that dogs and cats are pretty extraordinary. But do you have any idea just how extraordinary? Fluffy and Fido actually have some super cool abilities - and senses that put our human skills to shame.
Read More »from Animal Super Senses
Extraordinary Ears. The typical human range of hearing is around 20 - 20,000 Hz. Dogs' ears can pick up double that, taking in sounds as high as 40,000 Hz. To put it it into perspective, you can probably hear a dog bark as far as about 100 yards away. A dog can hear that same sound from a distance of a quarter of a mile. Think that's impressive? Cat's can hear up to 60,000 Hz. And their ears can rotate independently of one another (up to 180 degrees!) - kind of like furry, uber sophisticated satellite dishes.
Serious Sight. Dogs and cats may not be able to see the same range of colors that we can, but they can scope out movement with uncanny precision. And cats can see in 1/5 the light that humans require - due to a reflective layer of cells in their
