Blackwood Dog Food Review 2024: Best Slow Cooked Pet Nutrition?

The Blackwood brand of dog food offers slow-cooked pet food products that are made in small batches to ensure quality and nutritional integrity.

This company has been family-operated for three generations and they have never wavered in their commitment to providing the highest-quality, natural pet food products on the market.

Not only does this brand use premium ingredients, but their recipes are carefully formulated and their products meticulously tested. They don’t use any artificial additives and their products are all hand-crafted and manufactured in the United States.

This pet food brand understands that quality nutrition is the key to a long, happy, and healthy life for pets, so that is exactly what they provide. Their pet foods belong on the top shelf at the pet store, and that is exactly where you are going to find them.

Manufacturer Information

The Blackwood Pet Food company was founded more than twenty years ago by a father-son team, Robert Golladay and his son, Jim. The company continues to be family-owned and -operated to this day with their headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ohio.

This brand slow-cooks their products to preserve the nutritional integrity of the raw ingredients and they make everything in small batches to ensure safety.

This brand takes the quality of their products very seriously which is why they haven’t changed their cooking methods or made significant alterations to their formulas – they found something that works and they are sticking to it.

Blackwood Dog Food Reviews

If you look online, you’ll find that most Blackwood dog food reviews are very positive. Not only does this brand made super-premium products, but they use premium-quality ingredients as well.

Every recipe is loaded with real meat and other wholesome ingredients to keep them all-natural and nutrient-rich for your dog.

They don’t use any corn, wheat, or soy ingredients and they offer a variety of grain-free options as well. Keep reading to view our Blackwood reviews for one dry food and one wet food recipe.

1. Blackwood Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe
2. Blackwood Buffalo Meal & Field Pea Recipe
3. Blackwood Everyday Diet Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
4. Blackwood 2000 Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Recipe
5. Blackwood Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe Puppy
6. Blackwood Lean Diet Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe
7. Blackwood Whitefish Meal & Oatmeal Recipe
8. Blackwood Chicken & Chicken Liver With Pumpkin
9. Blackwood Beef Liver & Salmon Oven Baked Dog Treats
10. Blackwood Chicken Breast, Blueberry & Pumpkin Treats

 

Dry Dog Food

Sensitive Skin & Stomach

Doggos with sensitivities need a little extra care for their skin and tummy. They need food that won’t trigger allergies or upset stomachs.

The Blackwood Sensitive Skin & Stomach range features carefully crafted meals that have these considerations in mind to deliver optimal nutrition in an easy-to-digest package.

1. Blackwood Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Salmon Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Oat Groats, Ground Grain Sorghum

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

A great source of omega fatty acids leads the list of ingredients in this recipe for sensitive dogs of all life stages. It’s salmon, and it’s packed with omega fatty acids that help decrease inflammation, make hair and coat shiny, and support the immune system.

Salmon is protein-rich, and it’s an often-used animal meat in high-quality dog food brands. It has a subtle taste but which is distinctive and enticing to dogs. The salmon here takes the protein content of the meal up to 24.5%, a good amount that’s over the AAFCO standards for adult dogs and puppies (18% and 22.5%, respectively).

Several healthy grains make their debut in this recipe. There’s brown rice, millet, oat groats, and sorghum. Why grains? These are all full of natural fiber plus a good number of nutrients. Take for example, brown rice. Brown rice contains lots of vitamin B and D as well as iron, calcium, and riboflavin.

Sorghum has protein and carbs. Millet has protein and fat. And ats have linoleic acid and vitamin B. Grains are far from being fillers. They’re very nutritious, and since dogs are omnivores, easily digestible too. Plus, for dogs prone to upset stomachs, grains are often prescribed because they are gentle on the tummy.

Remember that dogs are omnivores? They thrive on a balanced diet that’s not just made up of meat. For this recipe, there’s a whole lot of vegetables and fruits to naturally provide your pup with all the antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals he needs. Let’s count them.

You can find carrots, beets, celery, parsley, lettuce, watercress, spinach, cranberry, apple, and pumpkin here. A bunch of herbs are also included, such as rosemary, cumin, and thyme, to mention a few. All of these act to bring your dog the optimal nutrition he needs for optimal wellness.

We’re used to seeing one or two veggie and fruit combinations, sometimes even up to six or so, but these many? It’s a nicely surprising discovery, and we’re heavily in favor of it.

Because it’s important that dogs get ample fat in their diet, you can also find canola oil and chicken fat here. Canola oil’s inclusion is a bit controversial because it is more processed than other types of oil, although there is nothing intrinsically wrong with it.

In fact, it contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and hair health and the vitamins E and K for heart and bone health. Chicken fat is much the same except that it also brings an enhanced palatability to the food.

With so much flavor to tickle a dog’s discriminating taste buds and plenty of nutrition to meet his daily needs, we’re giving this recipe a highly recommended rating.

The probiotic boost is another thing we like, because we believe that digestive health (especially for canines with sensitive tummies) is of utmost importance.

Other Sensitive Skin & Stomach formulas include:

• 5000 Catfish Meal & Pearled Barley
• Lamb Meal & Brown Rice

Grain-Free Diet

Some dogs thrive on grain-free diets, particularly if they are on weight loss maintenance or control diets, sensitive to grains, or on special diets prescribed by vets.

2. Blackwood Buffalo Meal & Field Pea Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Buffalo Meal, Field Pea, Chickpeas, Lentils, Chicken Fat

Rating: 5/5 stars

Created for all canine life stages, this recipe (despite the absence of grains) provides all of a dog’s nutritional needs without ingredients that commonly trigger allergic reactions.

The first ingredient is buffalo, and this makes up a large volume of the formulation. Buffalo is considered a novel protein because of its rare occurrence in dog food. (Don’t confuse it with bison!) For dogs that are prone to food sensitivities, much of the cause is either beef or poultry.

Buffalo is not only novel, but its meat is even lower in fat (70-90% less) and calories when compared to its beefier cousin. (Ideal if you have a dog that needs to lose or maintain his weight!) It has higher iron levels than beef, more protein, and better when it comes to omega 3 and 6 fatty acid content.

Because a little more protein wouldn’t hurt, a healthy serving of whitefish meal accompanies the buffalo. It’s a fish that isn’t as oily as salmon but still contains a happy helping of Omega 3 fatty acids, phosphorus, selenium, and niacin.

Menhaden fish oil and chicken fat are also key sources of omega 3, which are helpful in preventing heart diseases and other chronic ailments. Aside from the omega fatty acids they contain, these two (and particularly the chicken fat) improve the taste of any pet food and make it more palatable to dogs.

Since there are no grains here, alternatives to grains must be included so your dog still gets his daily dose of fiber and carbohydrates. These are: field peas, chickpeas, and tapioca starch. Unlike a common misconception that dogs don’t need carbs, they in fact do.

Opponents of carbs in dog diets say that it’s not a dietary requirement. And they are right. A dietary requirement means that dogs’ bodies can produce it on its own. (They can’t produce carbs.)

However, not being able to produce it only means that they have to get it somewhere else. Carbohydrates aid in maintaining and replenishing the glycogen stores of the body. It is also an important energy source.

Like with most of Blackwood’s dry recipes, this one is packed full of fruits and vegetables. It’s a good thing in our opinion, because vitamins and minerals that occur naturally in food are much better than any supplements.

There is so much flavor packed in these kibbles. We’re loving the super blend of fruits, vegetables, and high-quality protein. If you’re looking for plentiful nutrients for your dog, then this is the recipe you need. Your dog’s skin, fur, bones, joints, and immune system will be fully supported by this well-crafted formulation.

The other Grain-Free recipes are:

• Chicken Meal & Field Pea
• Salmon Meal & Field Pea

Everyday Diet

Food with wholesome ingredients and superior nutrition should be a part of your dog’s regular routine. That is what Blackwood’s Everyday Diet is about. The range delivers flavorful meals that contain all the nutrients dogs need for their day-to-day activities.

3. Blackwood Adult Dog Everyday Diet

First 5 ingredients: Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Oat Groats, Chicken Fat

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

This Adult Dog Everyday Diet is the ideal everyday diet for adult dogs of all breeds. It features 24.5% protein with 14% fat and 3% dietary fiber. This recipe features protein-rich chicken as the primary ingredient with wholesome whole grains for carbohydrate support.

It is nutritionally complete and balanced for dogs in all life stages, though it is marketed as an adult dog food recipe. It contains no corn, wheat, or soy ingredients and is free from artificial additives.

You’ll also be glad to know that it is supplemented with both prebiotics and probiotics to support your dog’s healthy digestion as well as a balance of omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.

The first ingredient in this Adult Dog Everyday Diet is chicken meal. Before you worry about the word “meal” here, keep in mind that meat meals are simply a more concentrated source of protein than fresh meats.

Take fresh chicken for example – it contains up to 70% moisture by volume so, when the final product is cooked, most of the moisture cooks out leaving the final volume much lower than the original.

Chicken meal, on the other hand, has already been cooked down to 10% moisture which makes it a highly-concentrated source of protein. Chicken meal is also an animal protein which means that it contains all of the essential amino acids your dog needs in his diet. This ingredient is supplemented with menhaden fish meal as a secondary protein source as well as egg product.

In terms of carbohydrate, the main sources of carbs in this Adult Dog Everyday Diet are brown rice, millet, and oat groats. Though these are not grain-free carbohydrates, they are gluten-free which helps to improve digestibility and reduce the risk for food allergies or sensitivities.

These ingredients provide carbohydrate energy as well as dietary fiber and essential nutrients. This recipe also includes several supplementary sources of fiber such as ground grain sorghum, dried plain beet pulp, ground flaxseed, and an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Though there are a number of supplementary fibers, the total fiber content of the formula is only 3% – this is within the recommended range of 1% to 5% for adult dogs. Too much fiber in a dog’s diet can actually contribute to digestive issues.

The remaining ingredients in this formula consist primarily of fats, flavors, fresh fruits and vegetables, and supplements. The main source of fat in this recipe is chicken fat, a highly nutritious ingredient and an excellent source of essential fatty acids for your dog.

This ingredient is supplemented by ground flaxseed and menhaden fish oil to ensure a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. The fresh fruits and veggies in this recipe provide some dietary fiber but, more importantly, they act as natural sources for key nutrients.

This recipe does still need synthetic supplements for balance, but several of the minerals are chelated which helps to improve uptake. It’s also good to see dried fermentation products included for probiotic support.

Overall, this Adult Dog Everyday Diet is an excellent product for adult dogs. This recipe starts off strong with chicken meal as a concentrated source of animal protein and it stays strong with three digestible sources of gluten-free carbohydrate to follow. Loaded with healthy animal-based fats, this recipe is a great source of concentrated energy and nutrition for your dog as well.

It contains plenty of prebiotics and probiotics for healthy digestion, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables to provide natural sources for important nutrients. The only downside to this recipe is the inclusion of some ingredients that some dog owners consider questionable – dried plain beef pulp and brewer’s dried yeast. All in all, however, the good greatly outweighs the bad.

There are other recipes in the Everyday Diet range such as:

• Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
• 1000 Chicken Meal with Oats

Active Diet

Dogs who are constantly on the go or at play need more protein and energy to fuel their activities. Blackwood’s Active Diet promotes and maintains an active and healthy lifestyle for dogs by packing in lots of premium protein and fat for energy.

4. Blackwood 2000 Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Chicken Meal, Ground Corn, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat, Oat Groats

Rating: 4/5 stars

This recipe takes the active diet seriously by starting off with chicken meal. Fresh chicken contains a lot of protein, but when you remove most of the moisture and then weigh it by volume, you can get even more protein.

To support the chicken meal and boost the protein levels even higher, menhaden fish meal and egg product were included. Because of the strong showing of animal meat products, the level of crude protein is pegged at 26% — a good amount for both pups and adults alike.

Grains are extremely nutritious and are gentle on the stomach. They make perfect complements to a meat-based dish for a truly balanced diet. For this reason, Blackwood included several kinds, such as corn, brown rice, oat groats, and wheat germ. Since most of these are commonly-used in dog food, let’s just focus on oat groats and wheat germ.

Oat groats are one of the healthiest grains you can find, and they are minimally processed too. Unlike ordinary oats, oat groats have only had their outer hull (inedible part) removed, so they have all of their natural nutrients intact.

Wheat germ, meanwhile, is a natural source of Omega 3s, which are responsible for helping your dog’s body fight against allergies, boosting his immune system, and easing itchy skin.

One other ingredient you may wonder about, and which we don’t see everyday in dog food, is cheese meal. Cheese is nutritious for humans, but not all that great for dogs since dogs don’t have significant amounts of lactase to help them break down dairy. However, in tiny amounts they can be useful in supplementing your pet’s calcium needs and there is only a small amount here.

There aren’t any fruits or veggies here unlike other Blackwood dry food lines, well aside from the dried beet pulp. Most of the nutrition comes from supplemental vitamins and minerals instead.

There is, however, a good helping of probiotics to aid your pooch’s digestion. All Blackwood 2000 recipes contain ground flaxseed, yucca schidigera, and brewer’s yeast.

Why are these three important? Flaxseed contains essential fatty acids (omega 3), lignans, and both soluble and insoluble fiber. Brewer’s yeast is rich in 7 B vitamins plus lots of minerals like chromium, zinc, selenium, and manganese. Lastly, yucca schidigera supports joint health and reduces odor in waste.

Probiotics, premium chicken, and an abundance of essential nutrients define this Blackwood formulation. We’re happy about the plentiful grains and the nutritionally complete meal. However, we’d prefer a bit of fruit or vegetables for a more natural source of vitamins and minerals.

We’re also a bit on the fence about the cheese meal. There’s only a small amount, but this is supposed to be for a full meal given regularly. It would be different if the cheese meal was an ingredient in a doled out dog treat. Dogs aren’t really equipped to digest dairy products and there are other ways to give dogs their calcium requirement.

Puppy Growth Diet

Puppies are all about play and being on the move. They have faster metabolism and require lots of fuel for energy. Blackwood’s Puppy Growth range has enough protein and fat to help your active little buddy. It is also complete with all the nutrition pups need for their developing bodies and brains.

5. Blackwood Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Ground Grain Sorghum, Chicken Fat

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Puppies have specific dietary needs because their developing bodies consume so much more energy and nutrients than adult dogs. They need food that is able to provide all of their daily requirements so that they grow up healthy and smart.

Blackwood’s Puppy Food raises up the level of nutrients to support growing pups. For example, the protein content is much higher than what you can usually find in their adult range. At 27%, it is 4.5% higher than AAFCO’s protein standard for puppy chow.

The protein comes from chicken meal, the main source of animal protein here. As the first ingredient, it makes up the most volume in the kibbles. To make sure that the protein level is high, chicken meal is further supported by the addition of millet (a grain that’s loaded with protein), menhaden fish meal, chicken cartilage, and egg product.

There are a few kinds of grains here aside from the millet. They are brown rice, sorghum, and rice bran. Grains are not fillers. They are excellent for balancing a meat-based diet, and they contain valuable nutrients such as fiber, minerals, essential fatty acids, and vitamins. It’s also a proven fact that grains can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases in pets.

Contrary to popular misconception that grains are the main cause of allergies in dogs, it’s actually the animal protein that is the main culprit. Grain allergy is very uncommon, and even then, your dog is likely to be allergic only to one kind and not all.

You might wonder about the inclusion of fish oil, canola oil, and chicken fat. What are these for, precisely? Well, fish oil is considered an important dietary supplement for dogs because it supports heart health.

The fish oil also contains Omega 3 fatty acids that help balance out the Omega 6 fatty acids in the grains. (Too much of either is not good. The body needs balance to function properly.) The fish oil, chicken fat and canola oil offers Omega 3 fatty acids as well as a good dose of Omega 6.

These two fatty acids are especially crucial in a puppy’s diet because one of their benefits is supporting brain development. The Omega 3 can also aid in reducing hyperactivity in pups and improve their immune system.

There is a bit of controversy around canola oil, though. Those who oppose its use do not like that it’s one of the most processed kinds of oil. However, canola oil is not in any way harmful to dogs. So if that’s your concern, put that worry to rest.

With this formulation, Blackwood brings back what we love most about the brand. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables to act as natural sources of vitamins and minerals. To enumerate, it has celery, beet, carrot, parsley, spinach, watercress, beet pulp, mustard, cranberry, apple, and pumpkin.

Because pups do a lot of growing up fast, they need their bones and joints to be fully supported. We’re happy with the inclusion of glucosamine and chondroitin for this reason. These two offer pups better mobility while helping repair joints and keep pooches in peak condition.

Lean/Senior Diet

Seniors have slower metabolism compared to younger pups. And overweight dogs tend to be less active. With the Lean/Senior Diet, these canines will have yummy easy-to-digest meals that take their inactive lifestyles into consideration. There is less fat content but more fiber and probiotics to aid in digestion and waste movement.

6. Blackwood Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Millet, Ground Grain Sorghum, Oat Groats

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The emphasis in this recipe is on a lean and wholesome diet for not-so-energetic pups. Chicken meal starts the recipe off to a good start with its suitable amount of proteins. 

Sometimes, the main animal protein will need some support to reach the ideal levels. In this case, the grain millet, the egg product, and the menhaden fish meal offer up their own protein content to help the mixture reach 20.5%, which is more than enough for adult dogs (18% is the standard). 

If you read the content label, you’ll see plenty of grains. Brown rice, millet, sorghum, oat groats, pearled barley, and rice bran. Don’t be alarmed.

The trend about grain-free diets is really just that  — a trend. Many pet owners mistakenly believe that grain-free is better, but that is rarely the case. There are situations where grain-free food is suitable for dogs but most of the time, it’s the vets that determine this.

A common misconception about grains is that they cause allergies. While some dogs may truly be allergic to grains, grain sensitivity is highly uncommon. And if your pet is allergic to one kind, it doesn’t mean that he can’t eat any other grain at all. 

Surprisingly, in many instances that pooches are allergic to food, it’s not the grain that’s the culprit. It’s usually the animal protein. So before you steer away from grains, do remember that these are highly nutritious food that are excellent at balancing a diet. In fact, food that is rich in whole grains is excellent at managing bowel diseases and upset stomachs in dogs.

Now let’s go on to the herbs. You may have noticed that this Blackwood recipe carries rosemary, thyme, cumin, mustard, and chili pepper. Can dogs consume these? Yes, they can and should!

Many herbs and spices contain vitamins and antioxidants, and they can aid the body in fighting against some diseases. For example, thyme can reduce symptoms of irritable bowels; rosemary is high in calcium and iron; cumin can give senior pups a boost of energy; mustard contains a significant amount of manganese and zinc; and chili pepper contains vitamins C and A. 

*Just remember, in crafted dog food such as these, the herbs and spices are strictly measured. If you’re going to make dog food by yourself, please keep in mind that too much herbs/spices may cause digestive problems.

One other thing that might have caught your eye in this recipe is chicken cartilage. It only makes sense for this particular ingredient to find its way here.

Cartilage contains plenty of glucosamine that supports bones. Inactive and aging bones will find relief from pain and your pups may experience more mobility from getting a regular supply of glucosamine.

We’re happy about the Blackwood Lean/Senior formulation. The brand pulled out all the stops to make sure our beloved seniors get the proper amount of support and nutrition that they need. Overweight dogs will have enough energy for their activities but without too much fat or calories to make them pile on more weight.

There are no filler ingredients, and it’s well-packed with omega fatty acids. As you know, the older dogs get, the more luster they lose from their coats. The fatty acids keep the shine in hair and the health in skin. Overall, we find this recipe highly recommendable.

Large Breed

Large breed dogs have heavier frames than regular or small-breed dogs. Their heavy weight puts more strain on their bones and joints, which can lead to pain and less mobility if not given the proper attention. Blackwood’s recipes intended for Large Breed dogs contain a suitable amount of glucosamine and chondroitin to support bone health.

7. Blackwood Whitefish Meal & Oatmeal Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Whitefish Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Ground Grain Sorghum

Rating: 5/5 stars

Our big buddies need special care too, and Blackwood’s Large Breed Whitefish Meal & Oat Recipe gives them just that.

It starts with whitefish meal, a type of fish that’s low in saturated fat and empty calories. It’s not as oily as salmon, but whitefish still contains an abundance of Omega 3 fatty acids, phosphorus, niacin, and selenium.

And let’s not forget that whitefish is an excellent source of digestible protein, which reaches a total of 24% minimum in this recipe. But what is whitefish, exactly?

It’s not a specific name for a fish, rather it refers to many bottom-dwelling fish that have white flesh. Examples of whitefish are hake, halibut, whiting, haddock, and Atlantic cod.

Dogs with allergies to common animal proteins (like beef, for example) may do well with whitefish-based recipes. Because this recipe’s supporting protein ingredient is duck meal (another novel protein), there is little chance it could trigger an allergic response to food-sensitive canines.

Then there’s the requisite grains. This formulation, like many of Blackwood’s recipes, are chock full of healthy and wholesome grains, such as oatmeal, pearled barley, brown rice, sorghum, millet, and rice bran.

Dogs are not carnivores. They are omnivores, and thrive with starches, vegetables, and fruits in their diet alongside meat. Don’t believe the hype that dogs can’t digest grains easily. They can, and grains balance out a meat-based dish very well.

The benefits of grains to canines are long, but let’s highlight a few of the really good ones. Grains contain a lot of fiber, which are crucial to a healthy digestive system. They also offer up a lot of protein (and minerals and vitamins), and they’re an important part of a diet for dogs who are prone to chronic illnesses.

Since grains aren’t the only natural sources of nutrients, there’s also a long list of vegetables, fruits, and herbs here to add more nutrition to this diet. And while naturally-sourced nutrients are best, a plethora of supplemental ones certainly can’t hurt, which is exactly what this formulation is offering your pooches.

You have premium novel animal proteins, an abundance of nutrients (naturally-derived and supplemental), a long list of wholesome grains, and a nice blend of flavors and tastes. We definitely think this formulation for adult big breeds is worth recommending.

Made for a large dog’s everyday diet, you can be confident that all of your pet’s needs, from skin to bone and digestive health, are being taken care of.

Wet Dog Food

All Blackwood wet canned foods are grain-free.

8. Blackwood Chicken & Chicken Liver With Pumpkin

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Pumpkin, Agar-Agar

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

While dry food has its advantages (texture, crunch, long life even when opened, and so on), wet food has a distinct lead on dry food when it comes to giving dogs food ingredients that are as close as possible to their natural state.

This recipe keeps it simple by sticking to one main animal protein — chicken. There is just one other type of meat here, which are mussels, but their inclusion mostly has to do with their chondroitin and glucosamine content. But let’s talk about that later.

Chicken is one of the most popular meats in dog foods, and it’s no wonder. This poultry meat has a distinctive and flavorful taste that both humans and dogs go wild over. But it’s not all about taste. Chicken is an excellent source of protein, zinc, copper, choline, iron, and Vitamin B12.

So we’re talking about nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, but what exactly do the abovementioned do?

Zinc, for one, is crucial to the functions of the thyroid and the immune system. Copper is responsible for the pigment in your dog’s hair and the absorption of iron, to name a few.

Choline restores normal brain function, Vit. B12 is involved in the formation of blood cells, and iron is essential in carrying oxygen in the blood cells throughout your pet’s body.

Protein, of course, is what most dog foods focus on because it is important in almost all bodily functions. It is crucial in repairing cells, supporting the immune system, and manufacturing antibodies, enzymes, and hormones.

Now back to the ingredients. After chicken comes chicken broth and chicken liver. Chicken liver isn’t that popular among humans, but dogs? They simply love it. In fact, chicken liver is sometimes prescribed by vets for picky eaters because the liver enhances a food’s palatability. It’s also high in protein, vitamin A (for eyesight), and fat.

You can also find a good amount of veggies here, such as pumpkin, peas, and carrots to provide a strong showing of fiber and antioxidant content.

Lastly, as mentioned above, this recipe includes dried New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussels. These provide a ton of omegas for a healthy skin and coat. The mussels also have significant levels of chondroitin and glucosamine, a compound and amino sugar respectively. These two keep your dog’s joints flexible and his bones strong.

We’re happy with this wet food recipe from Blackwood. It has a nice protein level of 9.5% (This is a good amount for wet food), a suitable fat content of 9%, and an average fiber level at 1.5%. It’s a straightforward recipe that’s mostly made up of chicken, veggies, and lots of supplemental vitamins and minerals.

It’s a holistic and all-natural formula that will serve and support adult dogs of all breeds well.

The wet canned food range also offers other formulations such as these:

• Blackwood Lamb & Liver with Pumpkin
• Chicken & Salmon with Pumpkin
• Turkey & Liver with Pumpkin

Dog Treats Reviews

Oven Baked

Baked treats are always welcome and these oven-baked ones for dogs will have them making puppy eyes at you for. The Oven-Baked range by Blackwood features two canine favorite flavors in one. They contain real protein as the first ingredient but no wheat, soy, or corn.

1. Blackwood Beef Liver & Salmon Treats

First 5 ingredients: Beef Liver, Barley, Sweet Potato, Oats, Rye

Treat rating: 4.5/5 stars

While pups enjoy a sweet treat every now and then, what really gets them excited are the savory ones. These oven-baked nuggets offer them the perfect rich-tasting reward that’s healthy too.

There are just a few ingredients in this recipe. Just eight to be exact, and they are all natural ones — even the preservative!

The formula starts with beef liver. If you’re new to dog ownership, canines go wild over liver. Even more so than they do over muscle meat. And if you have a finicky eater, livers can entice them to chow down.

There are three grains in this mixture. Barley, rye, and oats. Barley is a wholesome grain that’s low in cholesterol but abundant in fiber.

One of the main things that most dog foods promote aside from the protein content is the fiber level. It’s because a healthy digestion is crucial to a pup’s overall wellbeing, and fiber helps a lot with that. Fiber also aids the colon in recovering from injuries and speeds the elimination of wastes.

Rye and oats are somewhat similar in profile to barley when it comes to fiber content. Oatmeal is especially good when it comes to soluble fiber, which can help aging dogs deal with bowel irregularities.

Although not a grain, sweet potatoes (third ingredient) also contribute to the fiber content. And carbs as well, which serve as fuel for energetic bodies.

The rest of the ingredients are made up of sunflower oil, salmon, and pumpkin.

These treats contain 20% protein, 8% crude fat, and 4.5% crude fiber. Not bad for food that is meant only to be given as a reward or snack. The ingredients are all wholesome, and we can’t complain about the preservative used (sunflower oil). More than a preservative, it is also a superb source of omega 6s. Plus, it improves the palatability of the treats even more.

Overall, we give these treats a recommended rating.

Other Oven-Baked flavors include:

• Bacon & Peanut Butter
• Chicken & Parmesan

Grain-Free

Pups with sensitivities need treats too! Blackwood’s Grain-Free range offers protein-packed and antioxidant-rich treats that dogs of all ages will love.

2. Blackwood Chicken Breast, Blueberry & Pumpkin

First 5 ingredients: Chicken Breast, Chickpea, Coconut Glycerin, Pumpkin, Blueberry

Treat rating: 4/5 stars

This is a protein-packed recipe that combines a premium-quality meat with a superfood and veggies. The recipe starts off to a great start with fresh chicken. And not just any part of the chicken. It uses chicken breast, so you can be assured that the quality of this canine treat is high.

Since these nuggets are grain-free, alternatives to grains must be found. The chickpeas serve this purpose. They contain, like grains, enough carbohydrates to sustain a dog’s energy needs. They also have protein, dietary fiber, and a minimum amount of fat.

Pumpkins and blueberries provide a significant amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Both have a high concentration of nutrients that your furry pal needs for his overall wellbeing.

The rest of the ingredients are made up of coconut glycerin, coconut oil, citric acid, vinegar, mixed tocopherols, and rosemary extract.

Coconut glycerin doesn’t offer much nutritional value. It works here as a safe binder agent. The coconut oil makes your canine buddy’s hair and coat sleek and shiny.

Citric acid acts as a natural antioxidant and preservative. Vinegar can help in balancing a dog’s pH levels. And rosemary extract enhances the taste of the food.

Last are mixed tocopherols. They’re simply vitamin E, and they’re used to prevent rancidity.

We’re giving this dog treat recipe a thumbs up. It has a tasty flavor that dogs beg for, essential vitamins and minerals, a holistic formula, and enough fiber to maintain a healthy digestive system.

Just a note of warning, though. The caloric content is pretty high for each little nugget, so make sure to stick to giving just one or two pieces occasionally.

Other grain-free treats include:

• Catfish, Chickpea & Kale
• Duck, Chickpea & Sweet Potato

 

Made in the USA?

All of Blackwood’s products are handcrafted in small batches in the family-operated facility located in Ohio. That means that this brand is indeed made in the USA. The company’s headquarters are located in Lisbon, OH and has been since the very beginning.

One thing you should note about this brand is that some of their canned foods may be imported from New Zealand – there is a note at the bottom of the page for each individual canned food recipe stating this fact. This shouldn’t be cause for concern, however, since New Zealand is one of the safest places for manufacturing pet foods outside the U.S.

Ingredient Sourcing

The Blackwood company uses only the highest quality ingredients available including premium proteins, wholesome carbohydrates, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Their recipes are also supplemented with ideal levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, plus beneficial supplements for nutritional balance.

This brand produces all of their goods in company-owned facilities located in Ohio, but they don’t provide specific information about where their ingredients come from. Because this is a U.S.-based company, however, you can assume that most (if not all) of their ingredients come from the United States as well.

Blackwood Recall History List:

The Blackwood brand is dedicated to the care and keeping of pets which is why they are so meticulous when it comes to the development, testing, and manufacturing of their products.

They hold themselves and their products to the highest standards and they deviate from the tradition held by many pet food manufacturers to slow-cook their products in small batches in a company-owned facility.

Because this brand is so careful with their products, you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that there aren’t any Blackwood recalls in recent history. This is not always a guarantee of quality for a pet food brand but, in this case, it support’s the brand’s claims regarding the quality and safety of their products.

How Expensive Are Their Products?

As one of the higher quality brands on the market, Blackwood pet foods are a little pricey. This brand uses fresh, premium-quality ingredients and their recipes are hand-crafted and made in small batches in U.S.-based kitchens.

Though this brand may be a little expensive, keep in mind that, with their recipes, you are paying for quality. For a 30-pound bag of kibble from the Grain-Free and Sensitive Diet line you’ll pay between $60 and $100 while a 30-pound bag of one of their original dry food recipes will cost closer to $50 to $60.

For a 12-count pack of canned food (13-ounce cans), you’ll pay between $35 and $42 which averages to about $3.20 per can.

List of Current Products Available:

Blackwood dog food products can be divided into three different product lines – Everyday Recipes, Original Recipes, and Grain-Free or Sensitive Diet Recipes. The Everyday Recipes lineup includes five products for dogs in different life stages, including puppy, adult, and senior recipes as well as a large-breed adult formula.

The Original Recipes product line includes three dry food and four wet food recipes, including Blackwood’s 1000 Everyday Diet and their 2000 Active Diet. The final product line includes six dry food recipes that are grain-free and ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Every recipe that this brand offers is made with premium proteins, wholesome carbohydrates, and other healthy ingredients without the use of artificial additives.

Dry Products

Most of the products that this brand has to offer are dry foods, with many developed from the brand’s original products (named according to numbers starting with 1000).

Not only does this brand continue to offer their original recipes, but they also have an assortment of products that were developed from those products.

They now also have a number of grain-free options as well as formulas for dogs in specific life stages from puppy to senior dog. Here is a list of their dry recipes:

Everyday Recipes:

• Adult Dog Everyday Diet
• 3000 Everyday Diet
• Lean/Senior Adult Dog Diet
• Adult Dog Large Breed Diet
• Puppy Food Growth Diet

Original Recipes:

• 1000 Everyday Diet
• 2000 Active Diet

Grain-Free & Sensitive Diet Recipes:

• Catfish Meal & Pearled Barley Recipe
• Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe
• Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe
• Chicken Meal & Field Pea Recipe
• Buffalo Meal & Field Pea Recipe
• Salmon Meal & Field Pea Recipe

Wet Products

The Blackwood pet food company offers a fairly limited selection of products when compared to many other top-shelf pet food brands. They currently offer only four wet food formulas.

These recipes come in large 13-ounce cans and they are made with the same premium ingredients as the brand’s dry food formulas. Here is a list of their wet recipes:

Wet Products:

• Chicken & Chicken Liver with Pumpkin Recipe
• Lamb & Liver with Pumpkin Recipe
• Turkey & Turkey Liver with Pumpkin Recipe
• Chicken & Salmon with Pumpkin Recipe