What are the ingredients in Black Hawk puppy chicken and rice
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)
Chicken & Rice
Description
Black Hawk Chicken and Rice contains a deliciously lean and highly digestible chicken-based protein source, packed with amino acids which are essential for building strong bones and muscles.
The recipe is formulated specifically with ingredients that matter, like Australian grown oats, and rice a source of energy for the body and brain, blueberries and cranberries as natural antioxidants that can help control free radicals, as well as natural prebiotics to support digestion and gut health. This recipe also contains emu oil which may support joints, providing complete and balanced nutrition for your pet.
Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Rice, Oats, Field Peas, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols [source of Vitamin E], Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract), Beet Pulp, Chicken Digest, Fish Meal, Canola Oil, Essential Vitamins & Minerals (see tables), Kelp Meal, Chicory Root, Salt, Brewer's Yeast, Natural Antioxidants, Emu Oil, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Tomato Powder, Carrots, Dried Blueberries, Dandelion, Peppermint, Rosemary, Cranberries.
Analysis, Vitamins & Minerals
Black Hawk pet food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profile for the maintenance of adult dogs.
| Protein (min) | 22% |
| Fat (min) | 12% |
| Fibre (max) % | 4.5% |
| Ash (max) | 9% |
| Calcium - Ca (max) | 1.54% |
| Phosphorus - P (max) | 0.85% |
| Moisture (max) | 10% |
| Metabolisable Energy | 3590 kcal/kg |
Essential Vitamins
Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K
Essential Minerals
Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Iron, Magnesium, Selenium and Iodine
Amino and Fatty Acids
DL-Methionine, Tryptophan, Carnitine and EPA/DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Daily Feeding Guide
Feeding quantities may vary by breed, age, activity level and climate, so the following information is a guide only. Adjust to suit your pet's needs.
| Weight | Grams Per Day | Cups |
| Up to 5kg | 20 70g | - |
| 5 10kg | 70 110g | - |
| 10 15kg | 110 150g | - 1 |
| 15 25kg | 150 250g | 1- 2 |
| 25 35kg | 250 350g | 2 - 2 |
| 35kg+ | Add 100g per 10kgof body weight | Addper10kg of body weight |
*Approximate measurement1 Metric Cup = Approximately 125g
More information about standard dog breed's adult weightshere.
Important feeding information
Make sure fresh water in a clean bowl is available at all times.
Pregnant and nursing dogs may need food available at all times.
Black Hawk Puppy Chicken & Rice Large Breed Dry Dog Food
New Black Hawk Original Chicken & Rice for Large Breed Puppies has been formulated by pet nutritionists and vets to help your puppy thrive and reach their potential for growth and development.
Made with Australian chicken, a highly digestible lean protein source packed with essential amino acids for strong muscles, healthy bones, and vitality. This balanced high-quality diet also contains green-lipped mussel that may support healthy joints and sweet potato, a rich source of fibre to support digestive health and nutrient absorption. A blend of Australian sourced rice and oats helps provide energy to the developing body and brain.
Chicken meal, rice, oats, chickpeas, faba beans, chicken fat, hydrolysed chicken protein, chicken digest, turkey meal, beet pulp, fish oil, plant cellulose, essential vitamins and minerals (see tables), sweet potato, pumpkin, chicory root, natural yeast extracts, sea kelp, tomato, Yucca schidigera extract, natural antioxidants, algae -glucan, green-lipped mussel, D - glucosamine, emu oil, chondroitin sulphate, blueberries, carrots, cranberries, dandelion, peppermint and rosemary.
