Purina Pro Plan Captures Spirit of Agility in Videos

Clips from 2024 Cynosport featuring high-achieving teams.

Beautiful blue skies against a backdrop of sunlit Catalina Mountains presented a picturesque venue for the 2024 Cynosport^® World Games Presented by Purina^® Pro Plan^® in Tucson, Arizona. The elite championship of the United States Dog Agility Association Inc.^® was also an ideal setting for Pro Plan to shoot a series of four videos featuring high-achieving agility teams.

The feature videos include: Roger Ly, of San Jose, California, and his hard-driven 6-year-old male Belgian Tervuren, Firefly (ADCH IWAC Haute Volée’s Can’t Take The Sky From Me); and Heather Venkat, DVM, of Surprise, Arizona, and her fast-moving 4 ½-year-old female Borderpap, Lyla (ADCH MACH MeNMy Shades of Magic RI FDC MXB MJB MXF T2B ACT1 ACT2J DCAT SWN SENE RATS CZ8B CGCA CGCU TKA VHMP VSWI FITG FTA SSN BID).

Roger Ly and Firefly (Lou Bopp photo)

Heather Venkat and Lyla (Lou Bopp photo)

Rounding out the foursome are: Christine Brew, of Montara, California, and her beloved 8-year-old female Pumi, Indi (ADCH MACH IWAC3 Mayalu's Daeira MXB PAD MJB MXF T2B); and Kate Moureaux, of Simi Valley, California, and her mother-daughter Border Collies, Prize (ADCH MACH IWAC WCSS Excel Eye On The Prize MXS MJS XF TKP), 8 years old, and Lightsaber (Excel Light On Her Feet AX MXJ OF IND SSN), 4 1/2 years old.

Christine Brew and Indi (Lou Bopp photo)

Kate Moureaux and Prize (Lou Bopp photo)

The action-packed videos can be found on YouTube. USDAA plans to stream the videos during the 2025 Cynosport World Games October 15 to 19 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and to feature them on its website and Facebook page and groups. 

The 30-second vignettes blend snippets of dogs racing through tunnels, barreling in and out of weave poles and flying over jumps with handlers talking about the secrets of their success. It was their first time to be featured in an agility video, and notably, all the dogs were their handlers’ career highest-achieving dogs. 

“It was fun being filmed and photographed and to showcase my relationship with the dogs,” Kate said. “They both love the game of agility.”

"We wanted to produce these videos so others could see the love the handlers have for their dogs and the sport,” said Sherry Bresnahan, Pro Plan senior brand manager. “Their enjoyment is contagious and certainly an inspiration for anyone wanting to try agility with their own dog. These handlers and their dogs truly represent the best of Pro Plan nutrition.” 

“The Pro Plan videos are special to us because they represent outstanding examples of the sport and some of the top teams who are committed to their dogs and being mentors to others,” said Ken Tatsch, founder and president of USDAA, of the videos created by the organization’s title championship sponsor since 2024. “The videos tap into the energy, drive and love of dogs required to do well.”

The handlers’ experience in dog agility ranges from 7 years for Heather to 30 years for Kate, who counts Prize and Lightsaber as her fourth and fifth generations of homebred agility Border Collies. Heather and Roger are featured with the first agility dogs they have trained from a puppy to the Masters level.

The accomplishments of the featured teams are noteworthy. Three represented USDAA as members of Team USA at the International Federation of Cynological Sports World Agility Championships in June 2025 in Switzerland. Roger and Firefly are three-time members of the team. Kate and Prize and Chris and Indi were chosen for the second year. All the teams have headlined multiple podium appearances at the Cynosport World Games.

The breeds selected for the videos include two that are common to dog agility, the Border Collies and Borderpap, and two that are among the less-common breeds, the Pumi and Belgian Tervuren, both originally bred to be herding dogs.

“There are not a lot of Belgians that compete in agility and not a lot at a high level. It is humbling to be featured with an off breed in agility,” said Roger, who explains that Firefly’s drive matches his own drive, which makes him a great competitor.

The most compelling hint of what it takes to be successful lies in the hugs, playful moments and jumping-for-joy moments the handlers share with their dogs. The handlers say their bond with their dogs adds tremendously to their performance. 

“A lot of it is that bond and relationship,” said Heather, of her quick-learning, spotlight-adoring Borderpap, Lyla. 

Chris agreed. “The reason Indi does agility so well is the relationship we have,” she said, of the Pumi she began working in pre-agility classes at 8 weeks old. “She is my heart dog, the one who always has to be near me. She is like my shadow.”

Kate has a similar bond with her Border Collies. “Prize and Lightsaber have tons of heart, and they love working for me and working with me,” she said.

Nutrition stands out as an important part of the dogs’ training program. All are fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 dog food, which contains 30 percent protein and 20 percent fat to support their high-energy needs.

“I have to make sure Indi has good muscle mass, lots of energy stores and her body is healthy. I trust Pro Plan to do that,” Chris said.

“Nutrition is super important because I am fueling athletes,” Kate said. “My dogs are competing at the top of the sport, and I want to be sure I am feeding them the best food so they are at their best.”

Reflecting on how her video may enlighten others, Heather said, “I hope the video inspires others by showing the partnership I have with Lyla and by bringing out how equally important it is to have respect and sportsmanship at every level.”

“I would like the video to encourage people to see agility as a lifelong sport that you can do with multiple, or numerous, dogs,” Kate said. 

It would be amiss if the videos did not convey the fun of agility.

"I tell Lyla to have fun every time before she goes in the ring,” Heather said. “Having fun is 100 percent.”

“Indi’s happy place is working together and being with me.” Chris said. 

So, take a couple of minutes and watch the Pro Plan videos. The best takeaway is likely to be getting some great ideas to improve your journey with your own dog.