Our Day at the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge

Rocco and I had a blast at the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge in Atlanta last weekend.  We got the chance to participate as agility forerunners, which means that we ran the agility course before the competitors. It's a way to warm up the crowd and the announcer, and to help educate the audience on what to look for in each run.

Take a look at our run!

For some reason we were really nervous before our run -- much more nervous than when we compete -- so it took an obstacle or two for us to really get in the groove!

Now that we've done it once, we'd love to do it again! It's such a fun day with dogs competing in dock diving, disc dog, Jack Russell racing, agility and more.

Here's a look at a few other competitors.

It was a beautiful day to come out and watch the event and we'd like to thank the nice folks at Purina Pro Plan and Carson Events International for inviting us to be agility forerunners!

The Atlanta event was the Eastern Regional. The Western Regional is coming up in Huntington Beach on June 10-11.  It's a fun day to go out and watch if you're in the area.

You can also catch the events on Livestream or TV; Check out the schedule for TV listings in your area.

So what was Rocco's favorite part? ...

He was obsessed with the bowl of Purina Pro Plan Savor with yummy chicken chunks that sat on top of this table. He came back several times for snacks!

What fun activities do you have on tap for this weekend?

Let us know in the comments below!

2 Ways to Win With Purina Pro Plan: Incredible Dog Challenge & Photo Contest!

You could be here

Earlier this year, Rocco and I got the chance to attend the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Eastern Regional finals in Atlanta.  We had a blast watching all the agility, dock diving, disc dog action and more!

Today, we have a special sweepstakes to tell you about where YOU can win an all expense paid trip to the Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regionals in Huntington Beach, California! Wow! We'd love to go there!

And, we also have a fun photo contest where you show "what makes your dog great" for a chance to win Purina Pro Plan dog food, formulated to help you bring out the full potential in your dog.

Read all the way down to learn how you have two ways to win with Purina Pro Plan!

But first, a few more fun photos we took at this year's regional final in Atlanta.

Incredible disc dog!

Incredible agility dog!

Incredible dock diving dog!

Two Ways to Win!

1. The Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Sweepstakes

Enter to win an incredible prize that includes: 

• 2 round-trip plane tickets to Huntington Beach, CA for the Incredible Dog Challenge® Western Regionals
• A 3-day, 2-night hotel stay
• Ground transportation and spending money
• Plus a $500 PetSmart® gift card
• LINK TO ENTER: https://petsmartproplan.ryan-adsi.com/
• Enter by Noon ET on December 30, 2014 (details and complete rules)

2. What Makes Your Dog Great Photo Contest

Two steps to enter. Three winners will each receive a Purina Pro Plan coupon valued at $17.99.

1. Post a photo showing why your dog was great in 2014 on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (your choice!). Be sure to tag your social media submission with hashtag #GreatDog2014 
2. Tell us why your dog is great via our Giveaway widget below. 

Enter by Thursday, December 25.

Good Luck!

Purina is providing the prizes for this giveaway. All opinions expressed herein are our own.

Entry-Form

Watch the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Finals on NBC This Saturday! #greatdog

Jack Russell hurdle racing at the PIDC finals last October. 

Each year, the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge features some of the most athletic dogs from around the country competing in agility, disc, diving and racing events. This Saturday, January 12 you can catch all the action from the 2012 finals on the national broadcast on NBC at 5 p.m. EST.

I attended both a local qualifier in Atlanta last year and also the 2012 finals at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Mo., last October. The events are fabulous fun for the whole family, and if you ever have the opportunity to attend a local event or the final, I highly recommend it! And even better yet, the events are free AND you can bring your own dog to watch all the action!

Jennifer and True qualified from our local qualifier in Atlanta last year, and they earned a spot on the winner's podium at the finals!

The dock diving dogs at Purina Farms were spectacular!

Watch Saturday for all the action including events in Diving Dog, Freestyle Flying Disc, 30-Weave Up-and-Back, Jack Russell Hurdle Racing and Agility. You can also follow the fun on twitter using hashtag #greatdog.

And because I love a good tear-jerker (in a good way) of a commercial, I leave you with this... because inside every good dog is a great dog!

I can be great!

Purina in Pictures: Meet Purina Blogger Tour

I spent a couple of days this week at Nestlé Purina PetCare headquarters in St. Louis for "Meet Purina," a tour hosted by Purina for 16 fabulous (!) dog and cat bloggers.  I had a terrific time meeting with brand teams and internal experts, touring the headquarters campus and Purina Farms and learning how Purina strives every day to enrich the lives of pets and the people who love them.

More details will be coming later, but I wanted to share a quick peak at our experience! Tomorrow, we head back out to Purina Farms for the finals of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, and I can't wait!

Want to see the action yourself?

Tomorrow starting at 9 a.m. CT, you can watch the Incredible Dog Challenge live via livestream at the Purina Pro Plan Facebook page!

Now here's a sneak peak at our trip this week!

We toured the lovely campus, where dogs and cats can come to work everyday! 

 We met a few resident cats, including Ava.

And a few of the employee's dogs!

We dined at the Purina Culinary Center...

... where human recipes inspire new dog and cat food creations! 

After hearing an overview of Purina's programs and taking a tour of the R&D center, we met with the folks from Purina's brands including Purina Dog Chow, Purina Beneful, Purina Pro Plan, Purina One and more! 

We viewed exhibitions of amazing dogs and trainers at Purina Farms.

Yes, even the cats performed. We've got some great cat agility footage coming!

And we saw the dock diving dogs getting ready for tomorrow's action!

Tomorrow, we'll see the finals of the Purina Incredible dog challenge, including agility, dock diving, Jack Russell hurdle racing, 30-Weave Up-and-Back and freestyle flying disc. And more photos will be coming!

And stay tuned for more details from our trip!

Disclosure: Our trip was paid for by Purina. All the opinions expressed herein are my own.