Purina's Dog Chow brand is marking its 100th anniversary with a consumer contest offering a $100,000 grand prize, while highlighting the brand's role in shaping the modern pet food industry.
Running May 1 through June 26, 2026, the "Giving You 100" contest asks dog owners to submit stories about their dogs in five categories: Most Athletic, Most Entertaining, Most Unexpected, Most Heartwarming and Most Life-changing. An independent panel will select one finalist per category, and the public will vote via the myPurina app Aug. 10–21, 2026, to determine the grand prize winner. The four non-winning finalists will each receive a year's supply of Dog Chow.
"For 100 years, from farms to the family room, dogs have been giving us everything and Dog Chow has been right there with them," said Brent Gleckler, chief marketing officer at Nestle Purina Petcare. "Dog Chow has given our 100% commitment to every dog, every day, in every bowl, and the 'Giving You 100' Contest is our way of thanking dog owners for trusting us to provide high-quality nutrition for the dogs they love."
Launched in 1926
Dog Chow launched in 1926, when Purina founder William Danforth began applying scientific research to canine nutrition as Americans increasingly brought dogs into their homes. The brand credits itself as the first to employ scientists focused on canine health and to introduce what it describes as scientifically complete dry dog food.
During World War II rationing, when canned dog food became scarce, Dog Chow developed the extrusion process used to produce modern kibble — a format that remains the global industry standard, noted the company.
"When Dog Chow launched in 1926, many dogs were still surviving on table scraps as they evolved from working animals into indoor family pets," said Purina archivist Susan Anderson-Bauer. "Kibble became the nutritious, shelf-stable, and affordable option — putting quality dog food within reach of every American family and transforming the family dog from a backyard fixture into a cherished member of the household."
More information on the contest is available at dogchow.com/100contest. Information on kibble production and Purina's manufacturing processes is available at PurinaInstitute.com.
