Man vs. Dog - Who's The Better Athlete? New York Football Champion Eli Manning Goes Head-to-head With Top Dogs In "Purina Pro Plan MANning vs. DOG Challenge"

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogs are natural athletes with the ability to rival some of the world's top performing humans. For example, world-champion sprinter Usain Bolt, often referred to as the "World's Fastest Man," holds the current record for the 200 meter race at 19.19 seconds*, while a Greyhound can run 200 meters in 11.2 seconds**. To help make sure active dogs stay at the top of their game, Purina® Pro Plan® brand dog food has introduced PRiME and ReFUEL nutritional supplement bars as part of its SPORT product line.  Football great and world-class athlete Eli Manning helped introduce PRiME and ReFUEL at the "Purina Pro Plan MANning vs. DOG Challenge" Wednesday, January 29th, at Running Paws canine athletic club in New York City.

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"I've been an athlete all my life and have maintained strict training regimens that include high-quality nutrition products that allow me to perform at my best," said Manning, star New York quarterback. "I'm also a lifelong dog owner and have seen first-hand what amazing athletes dogs are. Purina Pro Plan PRiME and ReFUEL nutritional supplement bars help active dogs not only perform at their best, but help them recover quickly so they can get back outside again tomorrow and enjoy the activities they love to do with their owners."

Manning and other human athletes were pitted against athletic dogs in a variety of physical challenges, including flying disc, weave pole races and speed races, at the "Purina Pro Plan MANning vs. DOG Challenge."  Zanghi, one of the key developers of the PRiME and ReFUEL nutritional supplement bars, appeared at the event to discuss proper canine nutrition and how PRiME and ReFUEL can be used to help active canines perform at their best.

The PRiME bar is a nutrient-dense protein-rich bar that can benefit dogs during exercise. In order for the PRiME Bar to work optimally, it should be fed half an hour before exercise, which gives the dog a chance to digest the bar and have key nutrients present in his blood stream when starting an activity.  As soon as the dog starts exercising, he doesn't need to take nutrients from stores within his body because they are already present, and he will be able to do what you want him to do for a longer period of time and can feel better doing it.

Fed within 30 minutes post-exercise, the ReFUEL Bar helps replenish muscle energy stores and promotes muscle rebuilding after activity. Dogs experience muscle breakdown, fatigue and depletion of energy stores, just like humans do. ReFUEL is formulated with rapidly digested ingredients that help reinvigorate tired muscles.

"Purina Pro Plan understands that highly active dogs need high quality nutrition to perform at their best, and the PRiME and ReFUEL nutritional supplement bars are ideal for dogs that participate in everything from daily jogs to high-intensity athletics," said Dr. Brian Zanghi, Nestle Purina Canine Sports Nutrition Researcher.  "Dogs are naturally great athletes with very unique nutritional needs, and by feeding the proper food – a diet high in fat and protein to increase metabolism and endurance – you can actually improve a dog's athleticism."

The Purina Pro Plan SPORT category offers four dry formulas with optimal protein-to-fat ratios for dogs of different activity levels.  These bioavailable formulas deliver optimal nutrient absorption for benefits like sustained energy, resilience, a healthy coat and lean muscle mass.  Purina Pro Plan dog food, and the new PRiME and ReFUEL nutritional supplement bars, are available exclusively at pet specialty stores.

"We believe Purina Pro Plan is the first pet food brand to offer a comprehensive sport performance product line," said Heather Gettys, brand director, Purina Pro Plan. "We are dedicated to helping dogs of all activity levels excel through performance nutrition and expert resources."

In addition to performance nutrition, Purina Pro Plan has given dog owners access to expert training in the palm of their hand with Purina Pro Plan P5, an innovative, free mobile app revolutionizing the way active dog owners train and play with their pets.  The P5 app is the next generation of dog training technology that offers dog owners of all breeds and sizes specialized mobile lessons in agility, dock diving, flying disc, obedience, running and strength training. It is available for free for iPhone, Android and Google Play devices. 

About Purina Pro Plan
Purina Pro Plan's goal is to give your dog the nutrition to be his absolute best, helping him to be energetic and resilient, and maintain an ideal body condition, healthy skin and a stunning coat.  Because being the best he can be means something different for every dog, Purina Pro Plan's wide range of dry and wet foods, snacks and supplement bars, sold exclusively at pet specialty stores, can be found in four specialized categories formulated for a dog's unique needs.  For more information, visit www.proplan.com.

About Nestle Purina PetCare
Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri. Nestle Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A. -- the world's largest food company. For more, visit www.purina.com.

Source:
*Usain Bolt – 19.19 seconds– World Record Set at IAAF Berlin 2009 World Championships 200m
Source: BMJ – British Medical Journal, via EurekaAlert.org. "Even Usain Bolt can't beat greyhounds, Cheetahs….or pronghorn antelope," 2012, Public Release/ Website. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-07/bmj-eub072612.php

**Greyhound – 11.2 seconds– BMJ-British Medical Journal. Source: BMJ – British Medical Journal, via EurekaAlert.org. "Even Usain Bolt can't beat greyhounds, Cheetahs….or pronghorn antelope," 2012, Public Release/ Website. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-07/bmj-eub072612.php

SOURCE Purina Pro Plan