Hard-working, highly active dogs need food that delivers the nutrition to give them the stamina to do their jobs. Pro Balanced Performance Formula and Big Red Endurance Formula are two that dog owners and trainers swear by.

The high protein in Pro Balanced is what keeps H.L. Meyers of Fayetteville, Ga., coming back for more. "I wouldn't feed my dogs anything else," says Meyers, a dog owner who works and hunts with his dogs day in and day out. As a captain in the county sheriff's office, he uses a Black Lab named Ruby (left) for narcotics detection and a red bloodhound named Boomer for tracking. The work these dogs do under the stress of emergency situations is very demanding.

Meyers requires the same or even better performance from his hunting dogs. The star in his home kennel is a World Show Champion black hound with a list of titles an arm long. At home Meyers calls him Jet and hunts him regularly. That is, when Jet isn't competing in hunts and shows to add to the dozens of trophies he's won.

Jet has been on the Pro Balanced Performance Formula for 10 of his 11 years. His black and tan son Beau is fed the same and has started out with a bang on the hunt and show circuit. He was crowned "Best Male in Show" at the 2002 UKC Winter Classic hunt and show in Albany, Ga.

Beau, a black and tan hound, is the son of Meyers' Jet, a World Show Champion black hound. Beau is proving to be of similar championship caliber.

The managers at Southern States Cooperative hear nothing but praise for the Pro Balanced Performance Formula. The special mix, which is 26% protein and 18% fat, delivers the high-protein, high-energy diet needed for dogs involved in hunting, racing, shows, guard duty and other stressful activities.

Neal Johnson, a trainer and guide at Parches Cove Preserve in Marshall County, Ala., buys Pro Balanced at the Arab, Ala., store. He conducts corporate hunts, using eight English pointers and setters to hunt quail and pheasants. He also has a Lab for flushing the birds. "It's very demanding work for the dogs," he says. "They run all the time."

During peak season, Johnson hosts several groups of hunters a day and rotates the dogs so he won't overwork them. "They pick up and retrieve constantly," he explains, "and they spend a lot of time in the water, requiring even more energy."

The Pro Balanced Performance Formula allows Johnson to maximize his dogs' qualities and training. "At one time it was suggested that I put my dogs on a lower protein maintenance diet in the summer," Johnson says. "But I swim with my dogs in the summer and exercise them, and they weren't performing as well as I thought they should. I went back on the high-protein food. That experience sold me on the value of the high-protein Pro Balanced food."

Johnson has been feeding Pro Balanced Premium for about five years and recommends it to others who come for the hunts. One client from Illinois started using it after he brought his field trial club members and their dogs down for a trial and saw the edge the Pro Balanced food gave Johnson's dogs.

When H.L. Meyers is not showing or hunting with his dogs, chances are you'll find him working with one in his job at the county sheriff's office.

Elmo Londeree is so sold on Big Red that he buys it by the ton. "I've used a lot of dog food," he notes, "but Big Red is No. 1 for me."

With about 150 English and Llewelyn setters and Brittany spaniels, the dog enthusiast from Scottsville, Va., says he counts on Big Red to deliver the nutrition needed to help them grow and produce strong litters. Although he has a full-time construction business, Londeree and son, Joey, spend several hours a day feeding their dogs and cleaning kennels.

He says a not-so-minor side benefit of Big Red is that it produces a firm stool, making kennel cleanups easier.

Londeree sells dogs to pleasure hunters as well as for pets.

But dogs aren't just a business, he notes. In his leisure time he loves to hunt with his dogs, enjoying the time and effort he puts into raising and caring for them.

Most dog owners want only the best for their dogs. That's why Pro Balanced Performance Formula and Big Red Endurance Formula are so popular with dog enthusiasts.

The key to the nutritional performance of any pet food is taste, because it won't do any good if your pet won't eat it. Pro Balanced Premium Pet Foods are backed with the Ultimate Taste Guarantee.

If for some reason your dog doesn't take to it, just return the unused portion to Southern States and receive a full refund.

Help and a Guarantee You Can Count On

Feed Pro Balanced Performance Formula or Big Red either dry or moistened with one part warm water, milk or broth for every four to six parts dog food. Determine the size proportions according to your animal's age, weight and level of activity. It's important to make sure there's plenty of fresh water available.

If you have a question about which food is best for your dog, simply visit our Dog Food Advisor online. Fill in the required information including your state, price group (value or premium) and the age of your dog. In the optional categories for activity level and special concerns, you can personalize it for your dog's needs.