A Look at How Good Canine Athletes Really Are
How much do you love watching the canine athletes of the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge on TV? A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend the finals near St. Louis, and you guys, I don’t think I could’ve been more pumped up about it if it had been the Olympic Games. (It would at least be close.) I love witnessing the close bonds between the dogs and their owners — the celebrations they have after every competition, regardless of performance, warms the cold cockles of my heart.
(FYI, this year’s National Finals actually just took place on October 1, so keep an eye out for news about when the footage will air!)
As an athlete, though, I always wonder just how athletic these dogs are. I got a chance to see how tough the agility course was when I attended, but Misty May-Treanor one-upped me (like that three-time gold medal winning beach volleyball record setter is always doing — darn her!) when she went head to head with a few of the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge competitors to see how humans compared to canines in agility, speed and power.
The interspecies competition resulted in some rad Incredible Dog Science videos explaining the science behind the strengths and weaknesses of both Misty and the canine athletes. If you have any interest in body mechanics, dogs or just cool fitness facts, all three videos are well worth your time. (Of course, there’s a bit of an ad for Purina Pro Plan dog food in there, but that doesn’t make the rest of it any less fascinating!)
What’s your favorite Incredible Dog Challenge event? I am SO into dog diving. —Kristen