As outdoorsmen know, there are few experiences as peaceful as walking the uplands with your dogs. Watching the mist rise over the fields at dawn, and listening to the birds and wildlife begin to awaken, takes us to a place that we have always known. A place that calls to us when we are away and welcomes us when we return.
This deep reverence for the outdoor lifestyle is not only understood but lived by the field team at Purina. It’s the inspiration behind Pro Plan Sport Performance formulas that keep dogs strong and energized in the field, and it’s the foundation of trust shared among the field team, fellow outdoorspeople, trainers, and competitors.
As the food of choice for the most sporting dog champions, including National Bird Dogs and National Retrievers, the secret to Pro Plan’s fervent following is rooted in two pillars: nutritional expertise and real, on-ground sporting experience from both researchers and field members.
No one understands this dual responsibility better than Purina Senior Research Scientist and champion dog musher, Dr. Arleigh Reynolds, DVM, PhD, D.A.C.V.N. Dr. Reynold’s research in Alaska has directly informed the development and optimization of many of the Pro Plan Sport formulas, as well as Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements like FortiFlora.
Dr. Reynolds explains, “Like fellow competitors, we want our dogs to be their best, and we need them to be in order to compete at the highest level. I’ve fed Purina Pro Plan for 25 years and raised close to 1,000 dogs, many of whom ate it their whole lives. The nutrition is outstanding, the quality of ingredients is really high, and people trust it because it’s always consistent.”
The combination of expertise and experience runs through every aspect of Pro Plan’s work in the sporting dog world. That’s why a field team of experts—many of whom have competed and finished nationally in their segments—not only talk the Pro Plan talk but walk the walk themselves. And they thrive on sharing ways to help sporting dogs be their best in the sports they love the most.
Karl Gunzer, Purina Director of Sporting Dog Programs and a national champion trainer, sums up the field team’s passion and impact perfectly. “Purina’s culture of excellence in nutrition and support of Sporting Dog events allows me to give back to the sporting dog world which has been such a big part of my life for the last 30 years.”
Today, you’ll meet the Pro Plan field team at every major national event, including the Retriever Nationals. In between the introductions, the familiar handshakes, and the exchange of tips and tricks, they proudly speak to the always-advancing nutrition of Pro Plan and celebrate the wins fueled by it. It’s a passion that lives in the hearts of each member and a purpose that will continue to drive them today, and for decades to come.
