Is Blackhawk good for puppies
Black Hawk Dog Food Review
Black Hawk Dog Food Review
As Aussies we love to buy Australian products. We also want the best for our dogs on a sensible budget, without breaking the bank.
Is that you?
I find Black Hawk dog food hits that sweet spot, being better than many, and more affordable than others. Its also made in Australia using ingredients sourced locally.
Caveat is, since the brand was taken over by New Zealand company Masterpet many moons ago, some Aussie consumers have had some negative stuff to say. But should you be concerned? More on this later
Related: Comparable brands can be found on the affordable dog foods page or the Aussie dog foods page, so it may be worth checking those out as well.
Where to buy Black Hawk Dog Food
Black Hawk Dog Food Review
What the marketing says
It seems Black Hawk Pet Care topped the charts for best-rated dog food in Australia 2021-2022 on Canstar Blue, with pet owners who took part in the survey rating it highly for overall satisfaction and value for money.
Black Hawk came second in the pet enjoyment category to Eukanuba, which also pipped the post for variety / range along with Hills Prescription Diet.
You may choose to buy Black Hawk for your dog based on such glowing stats, but what do the ingredients really say about this dog food and how appropriate it is for your dog?
And whats the negative stuff I keep hearing from consumers? Lets dig a little deeper!
What the ingredients really say?
Im always skeptical of surveys. Most of the time they dont offer a professional or knowledgeable insight into a product.
People can feed their dogs utter rubbish, and in the years before it starts taking a real toll on the health of their pets they will rave about the food and think its wonderful because their dog eats it enthusiastically.
Kids eat sweets enthusiastically! Does that make them nutritious and healthy?
Should you feed you kids lollies every day for breakfast, lunch, and tea, based on the metric kid enjoyment?
Nope, probably not!
Thankfully the ingredients in all the Black Hawk dog foods are pretty good, which is a much better metric for deciding if a dog food is right for your dog!
I find the Adult Lamb & Rice formula the best in terms of protein (25%) and fat (17%), which also means its the lowest carbohydrate formula in the Adult range thats a good thing, as your dog will benefit more from proteins and fat, especially those from animal ingredients.
Looking at the list of ingredients it would seem there are five main ingredients. By main I mean each one will be 10%+ of the formula, likely more. These are lamb meal, chicken meal, fish meal, ground rice, and oats. Possibly in equal amounts.
A meal is a pre-cooked version of a meat ingredient which comes as a powder. The upside is its protein dense, which assures us the protein in the food comes from meats (big tick), but on the flipside theres some negativity about quality (which really depends more on the meat quality) and the fact its cooked multiple times to create those nuggets we call biscuits.
When it comes to dog foods, if you want assurances on meat quality, then youre limited to premium raw or fresh diets which use human grade meats, rather than pet grade in kibbles.
A little sidetrack do you know why Americans call kibble kibble and Australians call them biscuits? I dont know the answer, but I suspect biscuits is the better marketing term as it sounds more appealing to us!
Back on track, its good to see three meat ingredients, and rice and oats are decent grains in moderation. Many dog owners are against grains, but usually the real issue is missed i.e. a dog food not having much meat, being mostly a cheap grain OR a load of potato or tapioca.
Grain free formulas tend to have better ingredients, which is also a reflection of their higher price tag.
Fish meal is a little ambiguous, and it would be better to see a named fish like salmon. But thats really my only quibble with the main ingredients.
When you consider Black Hawk dog food comes at an affordable price, especially in the big 20kg bags, the ingredients are still really good. Even the smaller less significant ingredients are decent, with a range of veggies, oils (canola, fish, and emu oil), plus chondroitin and glucosamine for joint support.
These are the reasons you should buy Black Hawk dog food, especially if youre currently feeding one of the many dog foods full of wheat and cereal grains. If thats you, consider Black Hawk an upgrade!
Grain or grain-free? Does it matter?
Theres a decent variety in the Black Hawk range, including grain-based, grain-free, and formulas for puppies, senior dogs, large breeds, and also a really good working dog formula which I find far better than others in that category.
Although I focus on a grain formula in this review, consider the grain-free formulas a little better in terms of ingredients, but a little pricier as well.
Grains in moderation can provide nutritional benefits for dogs, especially decent grains like the rice and oats in Black Hawk formulas, and the added benefit is a lower price for these formulas.
If youre struggling to decide whether to go grain or grain-free, then I have an easy solution rotate between formulas!
What consumers say about Black Hawk dog food
When I review a dog food I aim to be pragmatic and focus the review on what the ingredients and analysis really say about the product, and tell you what the manufacturers and retailers dont want you to know.
Secondary to that, I receive a great deal of feedback from Australian pet owners on how theyve found a product.
With Black Hawk theres been some negativity, and I feel I must mention that to make this review complete.
Over the years Ive seen many consumer reports of gas and indigestion from dogs fed Black Hawk dog foods. Ive also seen many positive reports, which suggests only a few have had this smelly problem.
If you want to read more on those reports, then the comments section below is a great source of feedback from other dog owners.
If you decide to feed your dog Black Hawk, and your dog seems to get a lot of wind or belly ache, then my advice would be swapping to a different brand these ones are in a similar price bracket.
Do you already feed Black Hawk to your dogs? Let me know your experiences in the comments!
Found this review helpful? If it has, please take the time to share it, leave a comment, or spread the word about how wonderful Pet Food Reviews is as a resource. Thank you!
Black Hawk Products (Original)
The Black Hawk dog food products covered by this review:
If grains arent your thing, heres the review of the Black Hawk Grain Free formulas.
Black Hawk Dog Food Review Summary
Feeding a dog, for many, can be expensive. In truth the real cost can be from feeding many of the terrible quality foods which eventually lead to huge vet bills and heartbreak.
Hopefully Black Hawk dog food offers many a somewhat affordable base diet which can always be supplemented with fresh meats, offal, and species appropriate bones to really boost overall health.
Black Hawk isnt the best dog food reviewed on this website, but its still better than many.
Black Hawk Ingredients
The ingredients of Black Hawk Original Adult Chicken & Rice dry dog food:
Chicken Meal, Ground Rice, Oats, Fish Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols [source of Vitamin E], Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract), Field Peas, Beet pulp, Kelp, Canola Oil, Salt, Essential Vitamins & Minerals, Natural Antioxidants, Emu Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Tomato Powder, Carrots, Dried Blueberries, Dandelion, Peppermint, Rosemary, Cranberries.
Black Hawk Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis of Black Hawk Original Adult Chicken & Rice dry dog food:
| Protein | 25% |
| Fat | 17% |
| Crude Fibre | 4.5% |
| Carbohydrates | Estimated 38% |
Black Hawk dog food recalls
There are no known Black Hawk dog food recalls at the current time.
Previous Black Hawk dog food recalls:
- January 2020 Various Black Hawk dog food formulas recalled due to mould. Voluntary recall. Affected formulas: Black Hawk Adult Chicken and Rice (3kg, 10kg and 20kg), Black Hawk Adult Lamb and Rice (3kg and 20kg), Black Hawk Adult Large Breed Chicken and Rice (20kg only) and Black Hawk Puppy Large Breed Chicken and Rice (20kg only).
PROS
- Decent protein and fat content from meats
- Well selected grains (oats are a good choice)
The Black Hawk Dog Food Review: Tested & Evaluated 2024
Written By Eloisa Thomas| Double M.A in Anthropology.Edited & Fact Checked ByRenae Soppe| Double B.A Journalism & Science.Last Updated: 7th January 2024
Wondering how to provide the best nutrition for your dog while keeping costs down?
Then maybe Black Hawk dog food is right for you. This affordable brand has a fairly clean ingredient list and comes in large bags so you can save even more when buying in bulk. We know all owners want to give their dogs the best, with their wallet sometimes the only restriction. This brand might provide a budget solution without sacrificing nutritional value.
In todays Black Hawk dog food review, well cover everything you need to know about the brand so you can decide if youd like to give it a try. We teamed up with canine nutritionists, veterinarians, and doggy parents alike to come up with this guide that tells you everything you need to know about Black Hawk dog food so you can make the most informed decision for your pup.
- Black Hawk has both grain-free and regular dry dog food available at a lower price than other premium brands.
- The first ingredient in all their recipes is always animal protein.
- They use animal protein meal instead of whole cuts.
A Timeline of Black Hawk Dog Food
Black Hawk Pet Food was founded by an Australian breeder concerned with the ingredients in dog food. The brand set out to use Australian products and be locally manufactured.
Previously Australian-owned Black Hawk is purchased by Kiwi company Master Pet, in turn owned by EBOS Group. EBOS is specialized in medical, pharmaceutical products and animal care, and is the largest distributor of pharmaceutical material in Australasia.
Black Hawk launches first marketing campaign urging dog owners to join the real food movement for dogs
A recall was issued on the Grain Free Salmon dog food after customers reported bloody diarrhoea among their pups. Black Hawk promptly ceased production and distribution of all salmon recipes.
Black Hawk Australia issues a voluntary recall for 5 types of puppy and adult dog food recipes due to mould growth. Recalled products have a best before date between February 2, 2021 and June 4, 2021. No dog illnesses were reported for this recall.
Quick Pick - Our Best Rated Dog Food
Our Number 1 Pick -Petzyo Dog Food
- Ethically sourced Kangaroo, Chicken or Salmon, sweet potato & superfood extras
- Iron-rich & low fat proteins
- Three Omega 3 and 6 rich oils with a well balanced 11% fat content
- Made in Australia
Australia's Black Hawk Dog Food Review
Black Hawk - Overall 3.5 Star Rating
- Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground Oats, Chicken Fat, Beet Pulp, Vegetable Oil, Chicken Flavour, Fish Meal, Egg Powder, Emu Oil, Linseed, Carrots, Blueberries, Peppermint, Rosemary and Vitamin D3. List of contents is not exhaustive, if you have concerns about allergies, contact the manufacturer.
- Named Protein First:No (but chicken meal is OK).
- Dog Food Type: Grain Inclusive & Grain Free.
- Recipe Range: Kangaroo, Sweet Potato & Superfood Extras or Salmon, Ocean Fish & Green Lipped Muscles or Chicken, Turkey & Superfood Extras or Petzyo Raw Food Range.
- Suitable For: Chicken or Australian Lamb or Tasmanian Salmon or Kangaroo or Ocean Fish + More.
- Cost: $$$
- Australian Owned: Yes.
Taste 4/5
Most pups absolutely love the taste of Black Hawk dry kibble. In fact, as my dog is one of the many that do, I can honestly claim that my pets scoff down his entire bowl as soon as it hits the floor. Since the main ingredient in all recipes is animal protein, its no wonder dogs like the flavour.
Nevertheless, since they have limited protein options available, this brand might not be the best choice for picky eaters. With my dachshund, Im all too familiar with the polite sniff and, No, thank you. If your pup turns their nose up at chicken, fish, or lamb, then you should consider another brand.
Due to the relatively low variety, compared to other brands available in the Australian market, were taking off 1 star.
Ingredients 3/5
In general, our expert panel agrees that Black Hawk dog food ingredients are pretty good, with plenty of nourishing extras to round out your pups nutrition. The main ingredient in all their flavours is always an animal protein, and among the first five ingredients, theres usually an extra animal protein source like chicken fat. Another good sign is that the ingredient list comprises foods youve likely seen before.
According to the experts at VCA hospitals,
Select diets with real, recognisable, whole-food ingredients. If the majority of listed ingredients is unfamiliar to you, find another diet - VCA hospitals [5]
Although they use familiar ingredients, keep in mind Black Hawk has changed its recipes in the past without warning. For example, the lamb flavour previously only had lamb, and now it has chicken this was never clearly advertised on the front of the bag. These changes were accelerated by the purchase of the company by New Zealands Masterpet. If your dog cant eat or is sensitive to certain ingredients, its important you check the ingredient list carefully before purchasing a new bag. This is key even if youve been feeding them the same brand for a while!
While Black Hawks ingredients are healthy enough, our expert team is taking off 2 stars for the impromptu changes to recipes and the fact they dont use whole animal protein sources, instead choosing a lesser quality meal-type protein.
Protein content 3.5/5
This dog food has a very high protein content, just above 30%. This is in line with official American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommendations that prescribe 18% minimum crude protein for adult dogs. Therefore, you can be sure your furry friend has adequate nutrition to stay strong and healthy.
However, keep in mind not all of this comes from animal sources and instead is supplemented with protein-rich veggies. All of Black Hawks grain-free flavours have peas within the first five ingredients, sometimes even placing second just below animal protein overall. While peas are healthy, they might account for a good chunk of the protein content.
Surprisingly, some products from their original line show three different animal proteins as the first ingredients [3], followed by rice and oats. Our panel is taking off 1.5 stars because of the high amount of peas in all grain-free flavours.
Additives 4/5
Despite their straightforward flavours, Black Hawk has plenty of extra goodies that make sure your pup gets all the micronutrients they need. Many of their dry kibble flavours contain salmon oil, blueberries, emu oil, dandelion, spinach, yoghurt powder and even peppermint tea!
We especially like the emu oil. According to PetMD, emu oil can help to keep their skin supple and irritation-free [1]. This is something especially important to me as the parent of a dog with sensitive skin. Not many dog food brands add it to their recipes, so Black Hawk stands out for this.
[] more people are recognising the benefits of emu oil for pets for reducing inflammation or joint pain, moisturising skin & coat, soothing irritated skin, healing flea bites, and relieving allergy symptoms Jeffers Pet [4]
Even better, this brand stays away from sulphites. These compounds were traditionally used in pet-grade food, but nowadays experts advise against them. In fact, RSPCA Australia states that sulphites cause dangerous vitamin B1 deficiencies and can even result in death.
With such high risks, you should avoid them at all costs. Luckily, you wont have to worry about sulphites with Black Hawk since they use naturally occurring tocopherols and rosemary extract to preserve the food.
PRO TIP:Remember to only buy dog food without sulphites, and those that strictly use human-grade proteins.
The only detail we dont like, and were taking a star off because of it, is the listing of "natural antioxidants" as an ingredient, without specifying what those are. Its important we know everything going into our dogs system!
Variety 3/5
As our research team soon discovered this brand has two main ranges: original and grain-free. On top of that, they offer a limited range of wet food, although their staple product is traditional dry kibble.
While many of their products are chicken-based, Black Hawk also has recipes based around lamb, salmon, kangaroo, ocean fish and beef. Nevertheless, if your dog has intolerances to these mainstream proteins, Black Hawk might not be the best option since they dont offer more niche flavours like venison or sardines.
Despite this, the brand is still a good choice when tailoring your dogs diet to their size. Our expert panel wants to remind you that the nutritional needs of large and small breeds are vastly different, and we like that Black Hawk offers options that cater to those specific needs.
Both their original and grain-free lines have options for small and large breeds, albeit limited. Keep in mind that Black Hawk grain-free only has one flavour available for small and large breeds, the trusty chicken. If your dog doesnt like chicken or is allergic, you wont have a grain-free option tailored to their size. On the other hand, their original line only has lamb and rice available for small breeds, while large dogs get chicken and rice. Again, if your dog cant eat those ingredients, youll have to look elsewhere.
Finally, this brand also produces a special variety for working dogs, containing a higher protein and fat content than the rest of Black Hawks products. However, there is no grain-free option available. It also only comes in one flavour, so your border collie or Australian cattle dog had better enjoy the taste of lamb!
Considering their limited flavours, especially when it comes to specific age, size and working dog options, our panel has decided we're giving Black Hawk 3 stars in this category.
Price 5/5
Black Hawk is one of the more affordable quality dog foods in Australia, which I appreciate as a dog parent with several pups! Their puppy food is a particularly sweet deal when compared with other brands. This brand is also a great choice if youre looking for an affordable grain-free option for your dog that doesnt break the bank, which is a reality in my household. Plus, for the price, our experts all agree that it has a superior ingredient list to other dog foods within the same price range.
If you want to save even more, we recommend buying in bulk and through online retailers, as it will be easier to shop around and compare prices. Since this is still an affordable brand, and its available in large bags, were giving Black Hawk 5 out of 5 in this category.
Black Hawk Puppy Food Review
Our Black Hawk dry dog food review wouldnt be complete without looking at their puppy options. Plus, since Black Hawk was one of our choices in our best puppy food roundup, I think its vital that we dive deeper into the brands puppy kibble options!
Black Hawk Puppy Flavours
Their original line has three puppy options available: all-breeds, small breed and large breed. The all-breeds puppy food comes in two flavours, lamb rice and chicken rice. In contrast, their size-specific puppy kibble only has one option per breed size: large breed puppies have chicken and rice, while small breed puppies have lamb and rice.
On the other hand, our testing panel was dismayed to see that their grain-free line only has one puppy option, ocean fish for all breeds. This is quite a small selection, especially if your puppy has an extra-sensitive stomach and cant have lamb, chicken, or fish, or the flavour on offer doesnt match with their size.
Ingredients and Recipe
Aside from their limited flavour options, I like the composition of their original large-breed puppy recipe. While it does contain rice, its also packed with other goodies that fit the needs of large and giant puppies. For example, it has both glucosamine and chondroitin to keep their joints healthy, and its also highly calorific to keep up with their fast growth.
All in all, our team of experts agree that Black Hawk puppy food is great if youre looking for an affordable kibble for your large- or giant-breed puppy.
Black Hawk Dog Food Vs Royal Canin: How Do They Compare?
If youre wondering if you should buy Black Hawk or Royal Canin dog food, its important to understand their similarities (and differences).
The main difference between Black Hawk and Royal Canin lies in their ingredients. While all Black Hawk products have animal protein of some kind as the first ingredient, Royal Canins first ingredient is always a carbohydrate, like rice or oats. Our team of canine nutritionists and vets were also quick to point out that Black Hawk always indicates the specific protein source like chicken meal, or lamb meal while Royal Canin simply mentions generic animal fats, animal protein or poultry protein.
PRO TIP:Royal Canin doesnt specify their animal protein sources, and this can be a problem if your dog has allergies to certain proteins.
On the flip side, I appreciate how Royal Canin has an incredibly large flavour and nutrition profile variety. I have been able to find anything from breed-specific foods for example, for rottweilers or retrievers to age-specific options. They also have flavours made to keep their teeth healthy, lighter options for overweight dogs, hypoallergenic foods, and everything in between. However, I was disappointed to learn that they dont have any grain-free options.
Despite the larger variety, Black Hawks protein sources are healthier, and they offer grain-free options if you want that for your pup. For this reason, our team of researchers recommend it over Royal Canin.
Do Not Buy If
While Black Hawk is a good option for many pets, our canine pros point out that you might want to choose another brand in some circumstances. This is not the right choice if you:
- Would rather feed your dog actual meat instead of protein "meals". Instead of plain protein cuts, Black Hawks main protein sources come in meal form. However, the choice between protein meal and pure meats is a bit controversial among pet owners. We want to give the best to our dogs, and that usually involves offering high-quality proteins. According to our team of experts, a good rule of thumb is looking for plain protein as the main ingredient (For instance, chicken, lamb, or kangaroo). Protein meal isnt necessarily bad. However, you must ensure the fat to protein ratio isnt off.
- Want dog food thats 100% Australian;while still being an Aussie company, as of October 2020 Black Hawk has been owned by Masterpet in New Zealand. While the brand originally stated their recipes wouldnt change, owners have reported major differences, such as swapping sweet potatoes for tapioca and regular potatoes.
- Have a diabetic dog;Black Hawks dog food recipes list peas, tapiocas, and potatoes within the first 5 ingredients, which means they form the base of the food. However, while healthy, all three of these veggies have a relatively high glycemic index. If your pup is diabetic or needs to control their glucose levels, our experts suggest that you should focus on finding a kibble that uses sweet potatoes or chickpeas as the food base instead.
- Have a pup with sensitive stomach; in January 2020, Black Hawk voluntarily recalled several products due to mould concerns. While no dogs were reported to be severely ill, several owners complained of mould appearing in brand new packages and some pups suffered from bloody diarrhoea and vomiting. All products concerned displayed a best before date ranging from 2nd February 2021 to 4th June 2021. While only this specific batch was affected, you might want to stay on the safe side if your dog is prone to diarrhoea.
The Verdict
As you can see, Black Hawk is an excellent choice for those with a smaller budget that still want to give high-quality nutrition to their dogs. Of course, our panel of expert vets and nutritionists want to highlight the fact that there are other options on the market with even better ingredients and nutritional profiles, but they come with a hefty price tag.
If you have several dogs, a pup with a big belly to fill, or have a limited food budget, this brand is a great option to keep your dog healthy and nourished.
We hope todays Black Hawk dry dog food review helps to inform your choice according to your personal needs!
Want to read more dog food brand reviews? Check out the below:
References
- Curley, Kendall. May 8, 2018. How to Care for Your Wrinkly Dog. PetMD. Retrieved January 28, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/grooming/2how-care-your-wrinkly-dog
- Rao, Shoba. January 16, 2020. Black Hawk issues voluntary recall on pet food in Australia. Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 28, 2023. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/home-garden/black-hawk-issues-voluntary-recall-on-pet-food-in-australia/news-story/df0f498642edcab4d3ea09e49f13467f
- Black Hawk. Original dog food lamb and rice. Ingredient list. https://blackhawkpetcare.com/au/dog-food/original-dog-food/dog-food-lamb-and-rice
- Jeffers Blog. October 7, 2019.What is Emu Oil? Jeffers Pet. Retrieved January 28, 2023. https://www.jefferspet.com/trending/content/what-emu-oil
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Nutrition - General Feeding Guidelines for Dogs. Retrieved January 28, 2023. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nutrition-general-feeding-guidelines-for-dogs
- https://www.nzx.com/companies/EBO/announcements/257073
- https://www.masterpet.com.au/our-story/our-history/
