Hmm, where do I start?

You’ll find Be Frank dog food has different ranges – “CORE”, “Limited Protein Diet”, and “Native Harvest”.

I’ve had numerous emails about Be Frank now being “peas first”, which is sad to see when our dogs are carnivorous, but it’s worth noting this is generally the case for the cheaper “CORE” range.

The “Limited Protein Diet” formulas have more meat, which is what you want for your dog, and “Native Harvest” is what I consider most appropriate for your dog, being much higher in meat protein and fat to the “CORE” range.

These formulas are much better.

Let’s take a look…

What the marketing says

We’ll skirt over the CORE range and focus more on the better formulas in the range – Limited Protein Diet and Native Harvest. These cost more, but they’re the formulas you’ll want to look at.

If the CORE range is your preference based on budget, then consider supplementing the food with some tasty raw meats/offal/raw meaty bones as well which you can often find reduced in Woolies, Coles, Spud Shed and the like – or your local butcher who may sell affordable pet mince.

All formulas in the range are “Aus Made & Owned”, which I’m sure appeals to most Aussies, but it’s the amount of animal ingredients you should really care about. For understandable reasons, these aren’t kindly publicised on the CORE range, but you’ll find percentages ranging from 39% to 68% on the Limited Ingredient range, and 70% to 84% on the Native Harvest range – let this be your guide!

For this review, we’ll focus on the Limited Protein Diet Turkey & Duck Grain Free Adult Chicken Adult Dog formula. The reason I’ve picked this for the review, is because it has the highest animal ingredient content (68%) of the Limited Ingredient range, which is available in 2.5kg and 15kg bags.

Although the Native Harvest range look better, at the time of writing this review they’re only available in 2kg bags.

What the ingredients really say

The first ingredient in the Limited Protein Diet Turkey & Duck Grain Free Adult Chicken adult dog food formula is what we would hope to see – turkey (in this case turkey meal, which is a protein-dense dried powder form of turkey).

When it comes to meats in meal form, we should note they’re cooked twice, but the upside is the quoted 39% in the ingredients is more representative of how much turkey there is in the formula (i.e. many manufactures list “chicken” first, without accounting for it whittling down to very little once cooked into a kibble and all the moisture has evaporated).

The duck content within this “turkey and duck” formula is much less, stated at 5% (meal form), which is below peas, chickpeas, faba beans, some other stuff, and even beet pulp. So, the duck content is fairly insignificant, right?

You’ll note the above ingredients aren’t overly “carnivore”, but that’s the nature of dry dog food – all manufacturers need to find a happy medium between ingredient costs and what they can sell it for, and facts are facts, Orijen as one of the only mostly meat kibbles sold in America has very few people willing (or able) to pay for it.

I would argue it’s better to feed your dog a kibble made of meat and legumes, rather than a kibble entirely made of wheat or other cereal grains (which if you read my other reviews, you’ll see is far more common than it should be).

The Limited Protein Diet Turkey & Duck boosts 30% protein, which despite being from meat and legumes, is much higher than the norm, and should be considered respectable.

15% fat is okay. Personally I’d favour more fat, because more protein and fat equals less unnecessary carbohydrates, but it’s not a major point of concern, and some dogs can’t cope with higher fat kibbles.

When we consider the Limited Ingredient Turkey & Duck formula is higher in protein than most, fairly low in carbohydrates (listed 38% max), and all ingredients have nutritional value, it has to be given a good rating.

Ingredients

The ingredients of Be Frank Limited Protein Diet Turkey & Duck Grain Free Adult Chicken Adult Dog:

Turkey meal (equiv. to 39%), Peas, Chickpeas, Faba beans, Chicken oil (with mixed tocopherols & rosemary extract), Chicken meal, Chicken gravy, Beet pulp, Duck meal (equiv. to 5%), Sea salt, Prebiotics (chicory) with Probiotics (Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus Licheniformis), Vitamins & minerals (including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, Vitamins A, C, D3, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, choline), Fish oil, Flaxseed oil, Sunflower oil, Chicory extract, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Turmeric, Kelp powder, Yucca schidigera, Sweet potato, Carrot, Spinach, Pumpkin, Kale, Broccoli, Tomato, Apple, Rosehip powder, Alfalfa, Chia seed, Cranberry, Blueberry, Rosemary, Parsley, Green tea.

Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis of Be Frank Limited Protein Diet Turkey & Duck Grain Free Adult Chicken Adult Dog:

A quick note on Be Frank CORE range

You’ll note the Limited Protein Diet Turkey & Duck ingredients above have 39% turkey as the first ingredient, whereas the Adult Chicken CORE formula has just 1% less at 38% (see ingredients below).

However, despite peas being first on the ingredients (which doesn’t read well, does it?), you’ll also note a significant difference in the protein amount (22% vs 30% in the Limited Ingredient range), and a slight different in the fat content – this makes quite a difference with the amount of carbohydrates (50% in CORE Adult Chicken vs 38% total max in the Limited Ingredient Turkey & Duck). That matters more when you consider you’ll feed the food daily, and usually for more than one meal a day.

The benefits of the CORE range over many you’ll find in the supermarkets, is you’ll be feeding your dog a combination of meat and legumes, which I see as a better option to kibble’s made mostly of grains and marketed as meaty despite having barely any animal ingredients whatsoever.

If you can afford the Limited Ingredients Range, do that. It’s the better option for your dog.

If you have a small dog, or money to burn, definitely have a look at the Native Harvest range.

Ingredients of Be Frank CORE

The ingredients of Be Frank Adult Chicken CORE dry dog food:

Peas, Chicken meal (equiv. to 38%), Brown rice, Chickpeas, Faba beans, Chicken oil (with mixed tocopherols & rosemary extract), Chicken gravy, Beet pulp, Sea salt, Prebiotics (chicory) with Probiotics (Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus Licheniformis), Vitamins & minerals (including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, Vitamins A, C, D3, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, choline), Fish oil, Flaxseed oil, Sunflower oil, Chicory extract, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Turmeric, Kelp powder, Yucca schidigera, Sweet potato, Carrot, Spinach, Pumpkin, Kale, Broccoli, Tomato, Apple, Rosehip powder, Alfalfa, Chia seed, Cranberry, Blueberry, Rosemary, Parsley, Green tea.

Guaranteed Analysis of Be Frank CORE

The guaranteed analysis of Be Frank Adult Chicken CORE dry dog food:

This list of dog food recommendations has changed significantly over the years, and below you’ll find it’s been refreshed especially for 2026!

We’ll start with the best-of-the-best. Compared to kibble these may feel pricey, but they’re fabulous, and you can feed them as part of your dogs diet to really boost their nutrition and health!

After that we’ll cover dry dog foods (aka kibble or “biscuits”), as for most of us this will be a go-to diet which helps keep things affordable.

Wet dog foods aren’t covered, but any highly rated dry dog food will have an equally as good wet food option (unless otherwise stated).

Lastly we’ll cover BARF (biologically appropriate raw foods) which are an excellent – and natural – addition to your dog’s diet – which I’m sure they’ll love!

If this guide to the best Aussie dog foods helps – please help me by telling others!

Thanks to this wonderful community which you’re a big part of, pet food in America is much better today than it was when I started this website. We have better brands, better options, and healthier pets.

This is very much a community, so please comment on reviews, give feedback (positive and negative), and share the reviews with your social media communities.

Don’t forget to join the mailing list for updates:

The Best of the Best Dog Foods in America (2026)

The recommendations below are what I consider the best available in America today for the health and wellbeing of your dog.

If these are affordable for you, that’s fantastic, but if you’re a “normie” like me you’ll probably need to balance the cost with a kibble, wet food, homemade, or raw as well – variety is a good thing, right?

It’s not just me who recommends these dog foods. I’ve had amazing feedback from other dog owners as well, so consider them highly recommended!

Lyka

I’m a huge fan of Lyka as one of the few top quality “fresh dog foods” in America.

At the time of updating this page, they’re also offering a whopping 50% off your first order – well worth taking advantage of (you can use the link above).

Lyka is like Hello Fresh, but for your dog, and it’s a much healthier way of feeding them compared to kibble (which is essentially a processed convenience food) or even wet/canned (which usually isn’t as glamourous as the marketing makes out).

The downside of Lyka is you’ll need freezer space, but if that’s not an issue you’ll be able to feed your dog fresh meals packed with raw meats, organs, bones, and veggies – all the healthy stuff which will truly benefit them as a facultative carnivore rather than a junk food disposal unit.

Lyka is very slightly cooked (which you may prefer to full raw), and delivered right to your door. Easy!

Read the full Lyka review here.

Frontier Pets

If you’re short on freezer space, then Frontier Pets is another superbly healthy option for your dog.

Frontier Pets are a wonderful company to deal with, and it’s understandable why their range of freeze dried dog foods have gained such a loyal following over the years.

Freeze dried offers two perks – a long shelf-life and convenience of kibble, just far healthier nutritionally as the manufacturing process keeps nutrition intact.

Frontier Pets is simply fantastic, and Diana and her team in Evans Head are absolute pioneers in American dog food (and cat food).

You just add water and let the freeze-dried pieces soak a while before feeding your dog. Easy!

Read the full Frontier Pets review here.

Eureka

Most pet owners have heard of ZIWI Peak, one of the most notable air-dried raw dog foods sold in America. As a flagship New Zealand brand it’s really good, but here in America we have another brand equally as good (if not better) – Eureka.

Our dogs are more carnivorous than the pet food industry like to admit. Most kibbles are high in carbs (and fillers) which your dog doesn’t really need, whereas they thrive more off a diet mostly of raw meat, organs, and bones. That’s exactly what Eureka is.

Eureka is essentially a raw diet combined with really beneficial superfoods, but with the convenience of being air-dried. You can feed it as easily as kibble, but it’s far more digestible, and far healthier for your dog.

Read the full Eureka review here (you’ll also find a link which gives you money off your first purchase).

The Best Dry Dog Foods in America (2026)

Most dog owners feed kibble. I do too, for the simple reason I couldn’t afford to feed the above super premium brands all the time – I have a mortgage, and I need to eat myself.

A good approach I take is variety, something I consider very important in our dog’s diet, and of course our own.

Below are what I consider the best dry dog foods in American in 2026 based on formulation (are they meat based, high protein, quality ingredients and so forth), and also based on manufacturer reputation and feedback from Aussie dog owners like us.

If you want a recommendation for a good retailer with good prices, Vet Supply and Pet Circle have been very proactive in selling the dog foods I recommend. They also have regular offers, so always worth checking to save a few bucks!

Below are what I consider the best dry dog foods in American in 2026:

Best Big Brand American – Black Hawk

Having invested a whopping $80+ million on a brand new American manufacturing facility, Black Hawk dog food has proven to be a great Aussie option over the past couple of years.

Being readily available, you’ll find regular deals at Vet Supply or Pet Circle which makes Black Hawk a very sensible choice indeed.

Whether you want a regular formula, grain free, high meat protein, or even air dried (at a reasonable price), Black Hawk seems to have an option for you.

Worth considering if you’re looking for a decent, reliable Aussie dry dog food.

Read the full Black Hawk dog food review.

Best Affordable American – Petzyo

The Petzyo dry dog food doesn’t have the same astounding animal content of Orijen (below), but it doesn’t have the crazy price tag either.

For many this would be a much more realistic choice.

I find Petzyo great value for money, a great company to deal with, and they’re American made and owned, made from local produce.

The recent addition of raw dog food (BARF) shows they’re moving in the right direction for the health of our dogs, so it’s worth checking out the patties as well as the dry food.

You can only buy Petzyo direct from their website, and that benefits us because they cut out the cost of the “middle man” retailer (some retailers take a 40% cut!)

If subscription isn’t your thing, you may prefer the next pick below – Taste of the Wild.

Best All-Rounder – Taste of the Wild

Taste of the Wild dog food is sold worldwide, with an excellent reputation worldwide.

As a dry dog food you have a range of grain and grain-free formulas to choose from, with assurances in quality, and decent formulas to boot. It’s a brand I’ve recommended for many years, and I’ve know many itchy scratchy dogs to have a fantastic turnaround in health when switched from many brands of kibble to this.

All formulas are a balance of meat and other ingredients, and considering the affordability makes Taste of the Wild a very good choice for most dog owners.

When it comes to hypoallergenic diets, for when your dog seems to react to other dry dog foods, then also take a look at Taste of the Wild PREY which is a limited ingredient dry dog food of great quality.

Read the full Taste of the Wild dry dog food review.

Best Premium – Orijen

Orijen is very expensive and can be hard to get hold of in America, but it’s the absolute benchmark in dry dog food.

It may suit you if you have a smaller breed, or if you feed some kibble alongside other types of food like fresh or raw. If you have a large or hungry breed of dog you may find feeding Orijen can get a bit pricey, but read the ingredients and you’ll see what you’re getting for your money.

Read the full Orijen dog food review.

If the above dry dog foods are still too much for your budget then don’t worry, as the guide to more affordable dog foods in America may help, and a guide to the best budget dog foods in America.

The Best BARF Dog Foods in America (2026)

BARF has been a sensation worldwide as a way of feeding our dogs raw with the convenience of little meaty patties.

BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding and was invented by a true blue American veterinarian Dr Ian Billinghurst, author of Give Your Dog a Bone.

As great as BARF is for your dog, I see it as having one flaw. It’s a flaw of most dog food in general, including dry dog food, air/freeze-dried dog food, rolls, and especially wet mushy dog food – it does very little for dental health.

I consider raw meaty bones the best in preventing poor dental health, plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease in dogs, or if you’re not keen on feeding your dog raw bones then choose a decent chewable dried meat treat as an alternative.

I also highly recommend the book Work Wonders : Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones by American vet Dr Tom Lonsdale – if you read one book about dog nutrition, for the sake of your dog’s health, then let that book be it.

Back on track, here are what I consider the best BARF dog foods in America, in 2026, in no particular order:

Big Dog BARF

Big Dog BARF has been around almost quarter of a century – how crazy is that! As one of the original BARF patties in America it continues to be a brilliant option.

The other original BARF patty was Dr B’s BARF (originally made by Dr Ian Billinghurst himself, but later sold to Aussie pet food manufacturing giant The Real Petfood Co). The difference between the two is Big Dog uses human grade ingredients, which is far better than pet grade in terms of quality.

You will find Big Dog in most pet food retail stores. If you can’t find it, you’ll likely find the next option instead – Proudi.

Proudi

Like Big Dog BARF, the Proudi BARF patties also use human grade ingredients. That’s a great thing.

The small different between Big Dog and Proudi is Big Dog have a small amount of veggies included, whereas Proudi is full carnivore – meat, organs, bones.

Personally I consider both of brands of BARF very good, so will leave it up to you to decide. BARF patties are well worth considering as part of your dog’s diet, such as alongside a dry dog food, and you could always rotate between Big Dog and Proudi.

Featured dog foods

If you haven’t found your perfect dog food as yet, then here are some more great options:

Orijen Dog Food Review

72

Zignature Dog Food Review

15

Eureka Dog Food Review

81

Lyka Dog Food Review

71

Frontier Pets Dog Food Review

94

Petzyo Dog Food Review

45

Black Hawk Dog Food Review

221

ZIWI Peak Dog Food Review

175

Open Farm Dog Food Review

10

Click here for all dog food reviews.

Some of these brands are available direct from the manufacturer. You should find many of them in good pet stores on independent pet shops. I know Pet Circle are very proactive in stocking decent dog foods, as are My Pet Warehouse   – both competitive on price.

Are dog foods really that different?

The difference in quality between some dog foods and others in America is astounding. Some dog foods tell you exactly what they’re made from, usually because they’re made from ingredients which are good for your dog.

But…

*Most* dog foods sold in America do their best not to tell you the truth.

I have a copy of the American standards for Manufacturing and marketing of pet food (AS 5812:20127) which is available here, but you’ll have to pay $118.76 AUD for the privilege. How’s that for transparency?

The standards, if you do read them, will give you the impression they were written by the pet food industry, for the pet food industry.

On in other words, not for the benefit of you or me as the consumer.

Seasoned American vet Dr Tom Lonsdale, author of Raw Meaty Bones and Work Wonders, refers to it as “the junk pet food industry”, having witnessed first hand the harm caused to our dogs from commercial pet food, for decades.

Dr Lonsdale, unlike most vets, records data on what dog foods were fed to the sick dogs and cats who go through his veterinary practice daily. He attributes most conditions, such as itchy skin, rotting teeth and gums, and other serious illnesses to commercial pet foods.

Needless to say, he has a great deal of credibility on the subject, and those two books are eye-opening.

I’ve found the marketing of many brands of dog food so skewed it’s amazing it’s legal. I find highly questionable brands benefit from 5 star ratings on various websites, simply because the owner thinks it’s good because their dog eats it.

Many of those people will readily say it’s the best dog food in America to any social media group who’ll listen or ask for recommendations!

How often do people recommend Supercoat as the best dog food, ever? Lot’s of cereal by-products, wheat, corn, sorghum, or barley in that food for essentially meat-eating dogs.

Just saying.

Your dog will eat a Big Mac – they’ll probably love it – but is that good for your dog? Should Big Macs be rated 5 stars as a dog food?

Alternatively, would you rate broccoli 1 star because your baby refuses to eat it?

Nope.

Hopefully my experience with dog food over many years, combined with gathering so much information and feedback from other dog owners, will help you make a better decision when choosing a dog food in America.

Lastly, before I get to some interesting misconceptions about dog food, I want you to take part in helping other dog lovers learn.

We’re in this together.

What dog food do you feed? What experiences have you had? What have you learned from others?

Every review has a comments section, and it’s totally free to use!

Misconceptions about dog food which will change your mind forever!

If you’ve got this far, thank you – it’s clear you really want to know what’s best for your dog!

Here’s not one, but two misconceptions about dog food in the world today! In fact, they’ve been misconceptions for decades.

When searching for the best food for your dog, always keep these misconceptions in mind. They’ll guide you towards the right decision.

#1 misconception about dog food

You’ll be forgiven if this surprises you. We fall victim to clever marketing, and pet food marketers are up there with magicians – they know how to trick us.

Most commercial dog foods are grain-based, not meat-based.

Walk down the dog food aisle in any supermarket across the world, and spend time looking at every packet of dog food. What pictures are on the front? What claims do they make?

Ask yourself – how many say “Rich in Wheat!”, “Grain is the first ingredient!”, “Packed with rice your dog will love!”, or “Made with real corn!”.

Any of them?

Now turn those bags around and read the ingredients. Most commercial dog foods are made from grains!

Don’t be fooled by grain-free slogans either. They usually swap grains for potatoes, tapioca, or other starchy high-carbohydrate ingredients. They’ll still market it as meaty.

When you read my reviews you’ll find that’s not the only trickery they use to make a dog food appear like the best dog food in the aisle.

Even claims like “meat first ingredient” doesn’t mean there’s much of it in the product, so don’t be fooled by that one either.

#2 misconception about dog food

If you’ve read the first misconception about dog food, then this second misconception might not come as a shock.

But sit down, and take a deep breath.

Most commercial dog food is, quite likely, unhealthy.

This may sound like a crazy thing to say, and I hope you don’t think I’m crazy for saying it.

People have said to me, many times, “If it wasn’t healthy, they wouldn’t sell it”.

Personally I think that’s crazy, especially given the amount of junk food you can buy.

In 2021, a leaked document from Nestlé claimed the majority of it’s portfolio is unhealthy.

The document, meant for internal use only, was a presentation acknowledging more than 60% of products did not meet ‘recognised definition of health’ – cited from an FT article here.

Did you know Purina is a brand of Nestlé? They’re one of the biggest sellers of pet food in America!

Nestlé brands in America include Supercoat, Purina One, Felix, Fancy Feast, Pro Plan, Friskies, Lucky Dog, Bonnie, Pro Plan Veterinary Diets, Dentalife!

In fact, according to Statista, Nestlé made an incredible US $15,422,000,000 with their Purina range of pet foods in 2021.

That’s around 30% of all pet food sold worldwide.

Nestlé aren’t the biggest pet food manufacturer either. The biggest player, making a whopping US $18,085,000,000 in 2021, was Mars.

How many dog foods have you seen with “Mars” in big letters on the packaging, like you get with the Mars bar?

None?

Fascinating, isn’t it?

Yet most of the dog foods in the supermarket aisles are brands by Nestlé or Mars.

Go to your local vets and look at the dog foods they recommend. Read the ingredients. Do you think they’re much better?

Most of those brands are also Mars, or Colgate-Palmolive.

When you read my reviews for many of these brands, and others, you can decide for yourself if you’re feeding the best dog food.

Oh, and before you turn to an American brand instead of one of those big American brands, just keep in mind America’s regulations for pet food are worse, with even less guarantees of honesty, quality, or even safety.

Why choosing the right dog food is vital for the health of your dog

You’ve probably got the gist of it already, but what we feed our dogs is vital for their health.

Let me give you some examples…

I’ve spoken to hundreds of dog owners over the years who didn’t realise their dog’s itchy skin or rashes were related to diet. It’s actually very common, but not really considered.

Most of the time those dogs will be taken to the vet and prescribed some form of medication or expensive “prescription diet” – usually Hills Science Diet, Hills Prescription Diet, or Royal Canin.

Those prescription diets work because they don’t contain common allergens – namely wheat or cereals. If you don’t believe me, compare the ingredients between a dermocare formula and another formula of the same brand.

Those medications merely cover up the issues without addressing the real problem.

In most of those cases any grain free dog food would do the trick, and these are often cheaper.

There are many diet-related illnesses our dogs suffer, and it’s rarely considered cheap dog foods are the culprit.

Cancer, arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, IBS, allergies, dermatitis, ear infections, urinary crystals, pancreatitis…

All of these can be attributed to diet, which is why choosing a decent dog food is vital for the long term health of our dogs.

How the list of best dog food in America is chosen

All the dog food reviews are written firstly as an overview of the ingredients and analysis, but there are many other factors taken into account. Many brands of American dog foods actually come from the same manufacturer. There are many American brands of dog food, yet only a handful of manufacturers.

I monitor trends with each manufacturer, so if you find your dog has a reaction to a dog food, or you have any issues, then make sure you say so in the comments.

American Pet Owners Group (APOG) have an issue log for most brands of dog and cat food sold in America, and it’s well worth researching any pet food you feed on their website.

With some leading American manufacturers I’ve gathered many reports of sickness or diarrhoea. For other pet food manufacturers, hardly any at all.

The dog foods on the “Best Dog Food in America” list will change over time, either as formulas change, or feedback and other factors change.

Dog foods I have rated highly in the past have at times been bought up or switched manufacturers and shown drastic changes in quality – very sad considering the consumer loyalty which has been built up.

If you’ve had a positive or negative experience on a dog food in America then let me know, add a comment, or through the Facebook page.

Varying your dog’s diet is something I see as a good thing, so keep that in mind as well.

Your dog doesn’t need to be fed a single brand of dry dog food any more than we would eat a single brand of breakfast cereal for every meal day after day.

In fact, my guide on how to feed a dog (or cat) may offer some guidance!

What about the worst dog food brands?

Some of the worst dog food brands in America are actually the most well known. What ads have you seen recently on TV featuring a cute dog apparently “loving” some brand of dog food?

The reason for this is the big players in dog food make the some of the worst foods. It’s why they make so much profit – selling a cheap formula with impeccable marketing is a business strategy which works.

Those companies have huge budgets for marketing their products, and not just for ads either – by influencing breeder communities, dog shows, University sponsorships and endorsements.

If you’re feeding one of those best-selling dog food brands, then read the review on this website, or at the very least look at the ingredients – what does it really say about the product?

Don’t stick to dry dog food

There’s such a belief a dog should eat the same food from the day he’s weened until the day he dies.

Why?

Imagine if we were told to eat a commercial dry biscuit for the rest of our lives?

Always keep in mind dry dog food is a processed product. Yes, it’s designed to meet the insanely complex nutritional needs of our dogs as one complete package, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.

Rotate, add variety, and mix in some wet, BARF, or fresh ingredients. These reviews are mostly dry dog foods, but if you want the best wet dog food in America then many of the top rated dry foods have a corresponding wet food.

There isn’t a best supermarket dry dog food page on this website, but there’s a list of more affordable dog foods which is a balance of price and quality.

Nutrition analysis of the best dog foods

All the foods on the best dog food in America list must meet my stringent criteria.

In a nutshell, here are a few:

• Must have sufficient protein and fat.
• Must have sufficient meat ingredients.
• Must not contain any nasty or ambiguous ingredients.
• Must avoid allergenic or problematic ingredients.
• Must have a long standing reputation and good consumer feedback.
• Must conform to AAFCO standards to offer a complete & balanced diet (only applicable to dry/wet dog foods, not applicable to raw dog foods/patties).

I care what you think!

It’s taken me a great deal of time, and huge amounts of research to put these reviews together. I’ve spent a great deal of time finding research studies, picking through them, and doing my best to ensure they’re not biased, not influenced, and provide valuable facts.

Pet Food Judge takes up more of my life than I care to admit, but the ultimate goal is for us to have happier, healthier pets, who have the best chance of living a long life.

I can’t do that alone. I encourage you to be involved, to add comments, discuss, get in touch, and share the knowledge you’ve learned with friends, family, and social media groups.

If your dog’s allergies clear up, they become more buoyant, more active, or show a new lease of life based on the information on these reviews, then let me know!

And let others know!

The “Best dog food in America” list depends on your ongoing feedback.

The links on the reviews to pet food retailers are also affiliate links, so any time you click and buy a dog food a small percentage will help keep Pet Food Judge up, running, and up to date – thank you!

“What is the Best Dog Food in America?”, updated 2026.

I’ve avoided it until now because most budget dog foods aren’t very good at all, so it’s hard for me to recommend them.

But I should be more helpful, right!?

Let’s go about this keeping in mind budget tends to mean lower quality, and there’s no legal requirements in America for a dog food to meet even the bare minimum in quality.

With that in mind, I’ll make recommendations in ascending order of price (so the top recommendations will be cheapest, and the further you get down the list the better the food should be for your dog).

Best budget dog food

We’re covering dry dog food here (kibble aka “biscuits”), as most of the time this is the cheapest way to feed a dog.

I’ll skirt over wet foods later, but they tend to cost more, don’t go far, and can be money poorly spent.

Let’s start with a popular brand most Aussies have heard of…

Purina Supercoat

Keeping in mind Supercoat is the cheapest recommendation on this list, I must state the truth – the bag may say “ADULT With Chicken” (or whatever meat recipe), but all formulas are more grain (fillers) than meat.

However, Supercoat is undeniably a popular budget dog food, and Purina tend to have good manufacturing and quality control. Apart from the ingredients lacking in meat, it’s a safe bet compared to other budget American brands (I say this based on consumer reports and feedback).

Another benefit of Supercoat is the big 18kg bag sizes – very cost effective if you have a big dog to feed, and more so if you take advantage of the further 10% auto delivery option at a retailer like Pet Circle.

You can offset the amount of carbs from grains in Supercoat by feeding offcuts and healthy table scraps as well, but if you don’t know much about nutritional balance (most dog foods are “complete and balanced”) then keep offcuts and table scraps to around 20% of your dog’s diet.

Optimum

Optimum isn’t much more expensive than Supercoat, and is definitely a step up.

Even though I’m not a fan of Mars Petcare brands of dog food, they tend to be better than Purina (which is a Nestle brand). Whereas I may not see the ingredients as optimal for your dog, it has to be said the manufacturing facilities and quality control are good.

I could recommend the Mars brand Pedigree, but I really don’t want to (it’s similar to Supercoat), and Advance as the next step up will cost you more than the best recommended dog food on this page (and I don’t think the formula is as good).

I feel Optimum is a better option for your dog than Supercoat simply because it has higher protein (although from both meat and corn). It won’t cost you that much more either, especially with the big 18kg bags.

Hypro Premium

Hypro Premium is a fair bit more expensive than Supercoat, but the formula is leaps and bounds better.

Lot’s of dog foods in America are “private label”, which means they’re manufactured by one company who take a cut, then the private label company who take a cut, then the retailer who take another cut. Hypro is actually a manufacturer, which means their dog food can be sold a little cheaper by skipping the “middle man”.

(Petzyo on the best rated list are similar, but they sell direct to you which saves the big cut a retailer would take).

20kg bags are the cheapest option per kilo, and it’s fairly comparable to Black Hawk (recommended next) as a dog food I like to use as a solid recommendation for most Aussie dog owners.

Black Hawk

I realise Black Hawk is a big jump in price to Supercoat listed first, but the meat protein, fat, and better balance of nutritious ingredients in Black Hawk means you’re getting much more for your money in terms of health and appropriateness for your dog.

To flip it the other way – Supercoat may be cheaper, but most of what you’re buying is pointless and I would say unhealthy for your dog.

Another benefit of Black Hawk dog food is it’s made in a brand new $80+ million American manufacturing facility, and the improvement in quality has been noticeable.

If you can afford Black Hawk, it should pay you back in better health for your dog. Question is, does it blow the budget? (Let me know in the comments)

What to look for in a budget dog food?

When looking at budget dry dog foods there are a few things to look out for.

Firstly, make sure the food is labelled complete and balanced. Most dry dog foods are, but in America few aren’t. This means they don’t cater for the bare minimum nutrients your dog needs to survive.

Adult dog foods can be cheaper than puppy formulas, because they have less nutrition. Never feed an Adult recipe to a puppy or senior dog.

Avoid artificial colourings (often listed as “food colourings” or just “colours”). Good Os was one such example, but lots of cheap supermarket brands use artificial colourings. They’re unhealthy, your dog doesn’t care about them, and they’re often used to make otherwise brown nuggets look pretty to you.

Protein and fat are way more beneficial to your dog than carbohydrates which are mostly redundant, often unhealthy filler. Compare the protein and fat percentages of budget dog foods as higher tends to be better, although reading the ingredients will help you determine if it’s protein and fat from animal (good), legumes like peas (mediocre), or grains like corn (budget protein).

Buying larger bags often works out cheaper per kilo. It won’t work for small or toy breed dogs as you really want to get through a bag in 4 weeks or less (dog food spoils, even with artificial preservatives or antioxidants as another thing to watch out for in budget dog foods).

Repeat delivery options offered by retailers like Pet Circle will also help keep costs down, and hopefully allow you to buy a slightly better dog food.

Why are dry dog foods better budget options than budget wet dog foods?

Wet (or canned) dog foods are more expensive, and budget wet foods don’t tend to be very good.

Dry dog foods cater for tighter budgets, and offer you a “go to” dog food with a long shelf-life which allows you to buy “in bulk” with larger bags.

Given how poor some budget wet foods are, you’re probably better off feeding your dog real meats, organs, and breed-appropriate raw meaty bones as well – these are often just as cheap as budget wet dog foods which don’t tend to be very good at all (sorry My Dog, this includes you).

Cheap wet dog foods tend to be mostly moisture – so you’re often paying for “water sufficient for processing” – which won’t fill your dog up, and will cost you a lot more. They also, often, have questionable nutritional content, grains, or cheap cuts.

Fair enough, feed some wet dog food as part of your dog’s diet, but try taking a step up in quality with a better brand as a nutritious treat or special meal.

Yes, you can chuck a bag of Supercoat in the back of the ute and done with it, but will a dog food made mostly of grains keep your big dog’s joints in check until they reach old age?

In this guide to choosing a large breed dog food (or large breed puppy food), I’ll do my best to recommend foods which are decent, available in larger bag sizes (which work out cheaper per kilo), and most importantly won’t have you running down to Commonwealth Bank begging to extend your home loan.

I’ll split the recommendations into the following sections:

• Affordable large breed dog foods (I’ve ruled out the absolute best based on price)
• Large breed puppy foods
• American made large breed dog foods (in case you’ll only buy American!)

Please note I’m sticking to dry dog foods for the sake of keeping these recommendations “short”, but keep in mind you can feed other types of dog food as well – fresh, BARF, wet, raw etc, or a mixture of all the above!

Yes, you could pick one of the following dry dog foods as a good base diet, then feel free to experiment with other types of food as well. Variety – at least species appropriate variety – can go a long way.

Affordable large breed dog foods

#1 Black Hawk Large Breed

Black Hawk had a major upgrade to their manufacturing facilities in 2022, forking out over $80 million bucks. That’s a huge commitment to the American pet food industry, and since then it has been very clear the quality of Black Hawk dog foods has ramped up significantly.

When it comes to a kibble formula, the Black Hawk Large Breed formulas are a mix of meats, better grains, and legumes, but it’s a good balance and definitely helps keep the costs down of feeding larger dogs.

As a base diet, a recipe like Black Hawk Large Breed Chicken & Rice is hard to knock, and you can throw them some tasty raw meaty bones as well.

You can choose the grain or grain free range (they aren’t much different), which are available in cost-efficient 20kg bags.

Where to buy:

#2 Instinctive Bite Large Breed

Instinctive Bite is only available at Pet Circle, and works out a little cheaper than Black Hawk, although the largest bags are 15kg.

It doesn’t have as much protein (58% meat wet weight), and potatoes are a significant ingredient, but as a whole the ingredients are still decent and it’s nice to see a varied mix.

It’s a decent affordable choice, but if you can stretch to a formula with a little more meat check out the next recommendation.

Where to buy:

#3 Taste of the Wild

You won’t find a large breed specific formula from Taste of the Wild, with the reason being their formulas cater for all breeds and sizes.

Taste of the Wild has been around for many years with excellent reliability and consumer feedback. It’s a very good balance of ingredients and affordability, which makes it a great base diet for your large breed.

Some formulas benefit large breed owners with the 18.1kg bags. Kibble size is regular, but otherwise it’s a great option with a great range of meats and other ingredients. It’s a brand which has proven to work really well with dogs who suffer itchy skin or allergies, which is testament to the quality of the food.

At around 70c per 100g it’s definitely one of the most affordable and decent dog foods I can recommend.

Where to buy:

#4 SavourLife Large Breed

I find SavourLife hits a sweet spot – it’s under 70c per 100g in a 15kg abg, with a decent amount of meat content. It doesn’t have the emphasis on potatoes as Instinctive Bite does, instead opting for peas as the second ingredient.

Your dog should benefit more from a higher protein, lower carb food, so I feel the ingredients in SavourLife are a good balance, and consumer feedback is good. There’s also a few different formulas for large breed puppies which you can rotate between.

Where to buy:

#5 Diamond Naturals Large Breed

What you’ll love most about Diamond Naturals Large Breed is it comes in a whopping 18.1kg bag at approximately 58c per kilo at the time of writing. That makes it the most affordable of all these brands!

The manufacturer has a great reputation for reliability and quality, and if you’ve heard of Taste of the Wild then that’s another brand of food by the same company (and also one of my best rated dog foods).

The reason it’s cheaper than the others is it’s a grain formula, but it’s a good mix of grains (rice and barley) which are better than cereals or wheat. If the grains bother you, there’s no reason you can’t use Diamond Naturals as a solid base diet then mix in a more expensive brand, BARF, or fresh foods as well!

Where to buy:

Large breed puppy foods

#1 Orijen Large Breed Puppy

Yes, Orijen large breed puppy is the most expensive dry puppy food in America, but it’s also the absolute best, particularly for the long term health of your growing pup.

It’s the only kibble sold in America made from whole-prey ingredients – various meats, fish, and wonderfully nutritious heart and liver which should really boost your dog’s health.

It’s a brand with an excellent reputation worldwide, and I’ve know many dogs to absolutely thrive on it.

Highly recommended if you can afford it (and it doesn’t need to be their entire diet).

Where to buy:

#2 Black Hawk Large Breed Puppy

I’m sure you’re crying at the cost of Orijen, but don’t worry – Black Hawk Large Breed Puppy is much more affordable and still a good choice.

For the same reasons Black Hawk was listed earlier as a practical large breed adult dog food, the Puppy formula is even better.

Black Hawk will suit you (and your puppy) if you’re looking for a decent American made dog food which won’t have you selling your car to pay for it. Since they upgraded their manufacturing facility a couple of years ago the quality of the food has been very good.

Recommended.

#3 Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy

Diamond Naturals is my best budget tip. It’s much cheaper than Orijen, but as it’s made by the same company behind the highly regarded Taste of the Wild brand it benefits from an excellent reputation for quality and reliability.

It comes in a large bag – 18.1kg – which also helps save money for feeding a large breed, working out at under 60c per 100g at the time of writing. That makes it one of the cheapest large breed dog foods.

The downside is it’s formulated with meat and grains (possibly with a greater emphasis on the grains), but overall it’s a good, varied mix of ingredients with a lot of positives.

You could feed Diamond Naturals as a good, affordable base diet, then mix it in with another brand or style of food as well.

#3 SavourLife Large Breed Puppy

My third recommendation is American brand SavourLife. The large breed puppy food comes in about 20c more expensive per 100g than Diamond Naturals, but in return you’re buying a food with a greater emphasis on meat proteins rather than grain.

SavourLife donate 50% of the profit of every bag to help save rescue dogs, so you can feel good about feeding it to your dog.

What about other large breed dog foods?

I’ll skirt over some other popular brands of large breed dog food in America, which should give some idea why they didn’t make the recommended lists above.

Eukanuba Large Breed Dog Food & Puppy Food

Eukanuba is incredibly popular in large breed circles, and you’ll often find it endorsed by breeders and at shows.

What many of us fail to realise is it’s one of the many brands of dog food by Mars.

At the beginning of this guide I mentioned my view of dogs as essentially meat-eating mammals, which they are, so lets take a quick looks at Eukanuba Adult Large Breed to see if it “fits”.

First off, in big letters on the bag they claim “Poultry 1st ingredient”, which makes you think it’s a meat-based dog food.

But take a look at the next four ingredients – maize (maize is corn), wheat, maize flour (so more corn), and barley.

That’s a lot of grains, and those four ingredients will significantly outweigh the meat. That’s just one of the reasons I wouldn’t recommend Eukanuba large breed dog food (or large breed puppy food), and I’m sure you can understand why.

Wheat has shown to be problematic in dogs for various reasons, and I often find it a cause of weight gain and skin rashes.

Supercoat Large Breed Dog Food & Puppy Food

I find Supercoat highly recommended all over social media, usually by people who feed it to the dogs, and often based on the metric “my dog eats it so it’s good”.

It’s also popular because it’s cheap, and makes the large breed foods listed above appear expensive.

But when you consider the ingredients – one part ambiguous meat by-products to three parts grains – you start to see why it’s cheap. You get what you pay for after all.

They’re also some of the worst grain inclusions. Cereal by-products, wheat, and some unknown combination of sorghum, corn, and barley.

It wouldn’t surprise me if feeding Supercoat large breed dog food to your puppy or adult dog leads to joint and other health issues in later years. It may take several years for symptoms to show, and by then you’ll possibly think it can’t be the Supercoat as you’ve fed it for years without any visible problems.

Or perhaps you’ll put it down to bad luck or old age?

Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Dog Food & Puppy Food

Hill’s Science Diet is vet recommended, and much more expensive than the Supercoat and Eukanuba large breed dog foods mentioned above.

So would you be surprised to learn this one doesn’t have much meat either?

In fact, despite chicken being the first ingredient (weighed before cooking off around 70% moisture), the next ingredients are wheat, barley, sorghum, corn, and corn gluten meal.

Doesn’t that tell a different story? All those grains for an animal with the instincts, dental structure, and digestive system of a carnivorous animal.

It makes you wonder why vets recommend it, doesn’t it?

Pro Plan Large Breed Dog Food & Puppy Food

Another brand you’ll often find recommended by dog owners is Pro Plan, with this one being a product of Nestle.

Again, it’s surprising how well endorsed it is given this large breed dog food uses the same cunning formulation as the other brands mentioned above.

Just like Hills Science Diet Large Breed, we find chicken as the first ingredient, listed first because it’s wet weight (inclusive of around 70% moisture which gets cooked off in the kibble making process).

That makes the next ingredients the main bulk of Prop Plan Large Breed – brewers rice, wheat, oats, and barley.

Doesn’t that mean you’re feeding your dog, an animal who depends on animal ingredients for optimum health, a diet mostly of high-carbohydrate grains which turn to sugars?

Pro Plan large breed puppy isn’t much different, so doesn’t feel to me like a good choice for such a vital stage in your large breed puppy’s growth phase.

Why I recommend these large breed dog foods

If you’re on my wavelength, you’ll view your dog as an animal who thrives off a meat-based diet rather than stuff like corn, wheat, and ambiguous cereals – the stuff which keeps production costs down but probably isn’t optimal for your dog.

Like any dog, a large breed also needs a balanced diet with a focus on animal ingredients and fat. Perhaps even more so, and joint support is an absolute must.

With large breed dog foods you often hear calories mentioned, and concerns with calcium to phosphorous ratios ensuring your large breed grows correctly. Although large breed formulas differ slightly from regular formulas in these respects, note they detract from what a large breed formula should really be made from – animal proteins, fats, and quality ingredients.

For example, many large breed dogs claim calories and calcium to phosphorous ratios beneficial to your dog, yet the ingredients are mostly grains, with proteins from grains or legumes which your dog won’t readily digest.

Also, while researching consumer feedback I often find many complaints are about the kibble size not being large enough, rather than what a food is actually made from.

Feel free to add any useful information in the comments. I’d love your feedback on any of these brands, or other brands you’ve had success with. This helps me keep this information current, and helps other large breed dog owners too!

Some final thoughts on large breed dog foods in America

I bet if you’ve just read the last section about “popular” brands of large breed dog foods in America you’re scratching your head a little.

How can so many large breed dog foods and puppy foods be so full of cheap grains and by-products, and still be so popular?

To quote Glen Richards, founder of Greencross, the largest pet care company in America, most consumers buy the cheapest possible products.

You’ll also find most consumers blindly recommend the products they buy to anyone who’ll listen on social media.

That doesn’t meant they’re good products.

When choosing a diet for your large breed dog or puppy, keep in mind the following two key points:

1. Make sure you choose a diet rich in animal ingredients, including proteins and fats from animal sources.
2. Don’t be afraid to feed a variety. If dry food is your choice of base diet, why not consider some fresh or wet foods to feed with it?

Lastly, feel free to leave a comment or get in touch!

I hope this guide to large breed dog foods in America helps you choose a healthier diet for your dog!

All large breed dog food reviews

If you want to read the full reviews of any of the above, then below you’ll find reviews for most of them:

• Applaws Dog Food Review
• Black Hawk Dog Food Review
• Earthborn Holistic Dog Food Review
• Holistic Select Dog Food Review
• Ivory Coat Grain Free Dog Food Review

:offers:

:wheretobuy:

If your dog has “itchy skin” or similar symptoms from their current dog food, Taste of the Wild PREY as a limited and novel ingredient kibble will very likely help.

It will also help a great deal more than fancy shampoos, medications, and the expensive supplements many people use when their dog has these issues, because it addresses the root cause – which is the dog’s previous food being made from problematic ingredients.

Let’s take a look at why Taste of the Wild PREY as a limited ingredient dog food is worth trying firat to see if it relieves symptoms such as itchy skin, itchy ears, yeast, belly rash, diarrhea, smelly farts, lethargy, and all the other conditions caused by poor quality dog foods.

Even if your dog is otherwise healthy they may still benefit from this variation of the well respected original Taste of the Wild dog food.

Taste of the Wild PREY review

What the marketing says

The front of the bag is refreshingly simple, with PREY in big letters beneath the brand name Taste of the Wild. We find the formula name, which for this review we’ll focus on the Turkey Formula for Dogs, and at the bottom of the bag “A Limited Ingredient Diet”. With an emphasis on dogs which suffer food sensitivities, a limited ingredient diet can really help get to the bottom of some of the many symptoms which affect far too many dogs fed one of the many terrible dog foods sold across America.

The turkey formula for dogs is advertised as having four key ingredients: Turkey, Lentils, Tomato Pomace, and Sunflower Oil. Given many food sensitivities stem from cereal grains and by-products (wheat, seriously, is #1), or specific meat proteins (chicken, lamb, beef), we’re already on the right track as Taste of the Wild PREY doesn’t have any of these ingredients.

Taste of the Wild PREY is marketed as non-GMO, grain free, with no artificial colours, flavourings, or preservatives. Anything artificial can trigger sensitivities, so it’s really good to see these aren’t included.

What the ingredients really say

Of the four main ingredients we can expect the first two to be the most significant – turkey and lentils. Both decent inclusions in terms of dog food, and given the composition of 30% protein and 15% fat we can assume there’s a decent amount of turkey in the food. That’s great to see, and having such a decent protein/fat content means low carbohydrates/sugars which are often harder to digest and not good for canine health.

Lentils, in moderation, are a great source of nutrients (B vitamins, iron, zinc, and phosphorous) in a dog food. Being anti-allergenic, high in fibre, and low in starch means they’re not only a good inclusion for dogs with food sensitivities but also diabetic dogs. Most of the carbohydrates, as well as some of the protein, will come from lentils.

Tomato pomace will be included as a further source of soluble fibre as well as antioxidants. It’s essentially a by-product from the many tomato-based products we buy in the supermarkets, so the skin, pulp, and crushed seeds of tomatoes. It’s a decent inclusion.

Sunflower oil will round off the main ingredients with a source of omega fatty acids, as well as promoting energy and a healthy immune system. Salmon oil is also worth mentioning as another excellent oil included in Taste of the Wild PREY.

There’s a nice range of vitamins and minerals which have been individually included, plus probiotics to improve gut health.

Taste of the Wild PREY is definitely decent, and if you’re struggling to find out why your dog is itchy or suffering any of the symptoms around allergies, then this is well worth trying for a few weeks to see if those symptoms clear up. Even if your dog isn’t suffering from food sensitivities then this is still a great food and well worth feeding.

Where to buy?

Taste of the Wild PREY is available to buy from VeryPet.

Taste of the Wild PREY dog food products

There are three formulas in the Taste of the Wild PREY dog food range. This review is applicable to all formulas in the range:

• Taste of the Wild PREY Turkey Formula
• Taste of the Wild PREY Angus Beef Formula
• Taste of the Wild PREY Trout Formula

Ingredients

Ingredients of Taste of the Wild PREY dry dog food (turkey formula):

Turkey, lentils, tomato pomace, sunflower oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, salmon oil (source of DHA), salt, DL-Methionine, choline chloride, taurine, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.

Contains a source of live (viable), naturally occurring microorganisms.

Guaranteed analysis of Taste of the Wild PREY (Turkey formula for dogs)

Guaranteed analysis of Taste of the Wild PREY dry dog food (turkey formula):

Taste of the Wild PREY dog food recalls

There are no known recalls of Taste of the Wild PREY dog food at the current time.

Previous recalls:

• None.

In my many years involvement with the pet food industry I can confidently say this – grain free dog foods are usually better than grain-based dog foods.

In fact, some grain-based dog foods are terribly unhealthy for your dog. Dog foods most Americans feed their dogs.

But…

If you want the best for your dog it isn’t really about grain or grain-free. That’s just marketing. Your dog will benefit far more from meat and other animal ingredients, rather than what else is in their food.

When choosing a grain free dog food you want two things – (1) an emphasis on meat, and (2) a balance of decent ingredients.

Let’s take a look:

Grain free dog food recommendations (if you’re short on time)

I encourage you to read the ins and outs of grain free dog food below, but if your time is on a budget then here’s some top picks based on your other budget – money:

Budget friendly: Taste of the Wild

Yes, it’s an American brand and yada yada yada, but the benefit of Taste of the Wild is there are thousands of happy dog owners worldwide who’ve had success on this brand. It’s also, of course, totally grain free.

Taste of the Wild will suit most dogs, and importantly suit an affordable budget. You’ll find dry dog foods with more meat (cough, Orijen and ACANA), but as meat ingredients cost the manufacturer more, they’ll also cost you more.

Taste of the Wild is a great grain-free dog food which won’t break the bank, and it’s a safe bet.

However, there’s a caveat – if you’re currently feeding a supermarket grain-based dog food you may be appalled at the cost, but it makes a lot of sense when you read the ingredients of that dog food and find it’s mostly cereals (or some kind of cereal by-product).

Truth is it costs more to feed a dog properly than you may think, and Taste of the Wild is definitely on the more affordable side.

Related: Taste of the Wild dog food review.

Also budget friendly: Petzyo (Aussie dog food to order)

Petzyo is one of the coolest Aussie dog food companies, and their grain free dry food and BARF patties (also grain free) make an excellent combination.

I receive a lot of positive feedback about Petyzo, and it’s clear the food is made using high-quality ingredients from American sources. Unlike brands which popularity seems unwarranted, Petzyo isn’t made from high-GI ingredients such as wheat, corn, or rice.

Petzyo work on a subscription delivered-to-your-door method which may suit you to a tee, and they’re a great company to deal with.

You can order direct here (with 10% off).

Mid-range and Aussie: Black Hawk

Black Hawk really upped their game a couple of years ago with a spanking new facility, so if you were worried about minor quality issues from before then I’m happy to say I haven’t heard any recently.

This makes Black Hawk a great option considering the ingredients are good, with more meat than most kibbles, and an affordable price considering.

There’s an excellent range of recipes in the Black Hawk range of dog foods, grain or grain free, and it’s worth checking out the new Air Dried range as well.

Related: Black Hawk dog food review

Top end superior nutrition: Frontier Pets, Eureka, Lyka, Proudi, and Big Dog

Quite a 3rd recommendation I know, but when it comes to top-tier dog foods you have options (and money to back them). Truth is they’re not as costly as you may think, especially when you factor in the health of your dog and hopefully saving on vets bills in later years.

I’ve fed all these foods to my dogs (and cantankerous cat) over the years, and they go further than you would think. Admittedly I feed a variety, often including dry food and fresh food, which makes these top end foods last longer (and save me less guilt).

I’ll give a summary with links to the reviews, so you can decide if they’re right for you:

• Frontier Pets – A wonderful and ethical American company, with amazing feedback from Aussie dog owners over the years. As a freeze-dried grain free (raw) dog food it lasts for ages, and it’s top quality.
• Lyka – A fresh slightly-cooked delivered to your door option, essentially a Hello Fresh for dogs. I know I recommend these guys a lot (and Frontier Pets above), but feedback has been excellent.
• Eureka – Another Aussie brand I’ve come to have a great deal of respect for. Eureka are the American equivalent of ZIWI Peak, so if you’ve heard of how legendary ZIWI are then Eureka are on par, and American! They work on a subscription method which takes a bit of work to sign up for, but it’s worth it.
• Proudi – We’re talking BARF patties here, which are not only grain free but grain-free free as well. These are true to nature carnivore raw food patties. They used to be heart-shaped which was great, but they’ve cut that lovey dovey nonsense as your dog doesn’t care about it.
• Big Dog – The original Aussie BARF patty if you forget about Dr B’s BARF (which I don’t find anywhere near as good these days), Big Dog is also grain free, true to form raw dog food, with some beneficial fruits, veggies, and herbs.

Out of the above five, the top three you’ll need to order direct from their websites (so basically you cut out the middle-man retailer), and Proudi and Big Dog are found at most pet stores.

If you can’t afford these top brands, then they’re worth considering as dog food toppers or as part of the diet combined with a decent kibble.

A complete list of grain free dog food (in America)

If you’re interested in a grain free dog food not mentioned above, then hopefully it will be covered by one of the below reviews:

• A La Carte Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Absolute Holistic Dog Food Review
• ACANA Dog Food Review
• ALDI Natural Elements Dog Food Review
• Applaws Dog Food Review
• Balanced Life Dog Food Review
• Balanced Life Enhanced Dog Food Review
• Be Frank Dog Food Review
• Billy + Margot Dog Food Review
• BIOpet Dog Food Review
• Black Hawk Air Dried Dog Food Review
• Bugsy Dog Food Review
• Canidae PURE Dog Food Review
• Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Freeze Dry America 100% Raw Dog Food Review
• Frontier Pets Dog Food Review
• Holistic Select Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Hypro Premium Dog Food Review
• Ivory Coat Grain Free Dog Food Review
• K9 Natural Dog Food Review
• Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Dog Food Review
• Kiwi Kitchens Dog Food Review
• Leaps & Bounds Grain Free Dog Food Review
• LifeWise BIOTIC Dog Food Review
• LifeWise Dog Food Review
• Man’s Best Dog Food Review
• Meals for Mutts Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Nature’s Goodness Dog Food Review
• Nood Dog Food Review
• Nutra Gold Dog Food Review
• Nutro Wild Frontier Dog Food Review
• Optimum Grain Free Dog Food Review
• Orijen Dog Food Review
• Performadog Dog Food Review
• Pet Food America Dog Food Review
• Petzyo Dog Food Review
• Phoenix Dog Food Review
• Providore Dog Food Review
• Pure Life Dog Food Review
• SavourLife Dog Food Review
• Scratch Dog Food Review
• Stay Loyal Dog Food Review
• Stockman & Paddock Dog Food Review
• Sunday Pets Raw Chow Dog Food Review
• Talentail Dog Food Review
• Taste of the Wild PREY Dog Food Review
• Vetalogica Dog Food Review
• Vetalogica Naturals Dog Food Review
• Wellness CORE Dog Food Review
• Whole Hearted Dog Food Review
• Woof Dog Food Review
• Zealandia Dog Food Review
• Zignature Dog Food Review
• ZIWI Peak Dog Food Review

Do you feed one of the above grain free dog foods? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Is grain free better for dogs?

We live in a world of misinformation, most of it sadly missing the point.

For many years grain free dog food began to have an upper hand on traditional dog foods made mostly of wheat. For the record I see wheat as the most problematic grain, causing all manner of health issues, itchy skin, and weight gain in dogs who are unable to efficiently digest it.

The trouble is the manufacturers making that grain-based dog “food” started to lose market share, and that didn’t wash.

In July 2018, an FDA investigation hit the media. An investigation into grain free and “boutique” dog foods causing a relatively unheard of heart condition in dogs known as Canine DCM (Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy).

The investigation was later dropped from inconclusive findings, but not before many leading grain free dog foods were “named and shamed”, and even today I see people post “grain free dog foods cause heart failure – FACT!” from people who are really just parroting what they’ve heard from other parrots.

If you want further verification that I’m right and they’re wrong, then consider these two facts – (1) Dr Lisa Freeman who instigated the investigation has been on the payroll of most global pet food manufacturers selling grain-based dog food, and (2) the two leading grain-free “boutique” dog foods who suffered the most damage from saga, ACANA and Orijen, have now been bought by one of those leading pet food manufacturers – Mars Petcare.

So, is grain free better for dogs?

My answer is, no, meat is better for dogs.

Whether a dog food is packed with grains or grain-free substitutes like potato, sweet potato, or tapioca is not the point.

The point is how much meat has been sacrificed to make the dog food “affordable” or to make the highest profit.

You’re much better off choosing a dog food based on meat content as the first priority, and secondary to that a decent range of back-up ingredients. These can be a decent selection of non-meat ingredients, whether grain or grain-free.

I consider better grains, like oats, barley, and to some extent brown rice, okay in moderation. They have nutritional merit after all.

But only in moderation.

The same goes for potatoes, tapioca, peas, and other legumes. Your dog can benefit from many of these ingredients, as long as your primary focus is on meat (including offal and bones if you can).

If you feel at this point you’re confused about what to feed your dog, spend a few bucks on the amazing book Work Wonders by my friend and highly-experienced American vet Dr Tom Lonsdale.

What are the pros and cons of grain free dog foods?

Considering the above information on whether grain free is better for dogs, we can make a pragmatic evaluation of the pros and cons of grain free dog food.

Pros

• Ingredients of grain free dog foods are often better than grain-based dog foods. But you generally pay more.
• Grain free dog foods tend to work better for dogs with dietary sensitivities, allergies, and intolerances. But, I find most of these issues caused by grain-based dog foods made of wheat, cereals, and artificial colours and/or preservatives rather than other grains.
• Depending on the selection of ingredients, particularly the non-meat grain-free inclusions, a grain free dog food should have better digestibility.
• Where many grain-based dog foods have a significant amount of one type of grain (or grain by-product), in general most grain free dog foods have a more balanced set of ingredients, such as peas, potatoes, lentils, and so forth.

Cons

• Whether grain or grain free, this can mean a lack of meat proteins and fats.
• A grain free dog food is only worth more money if the ingredients are balanced and they have an adequate meat/animal fat content.
• Both grain or grain-free formulas can be high carbohydrate, which is not ideal for your dog.
• Grain free dog foods will often cost more than a grain based dog food, and feeding dogs can be expensive.
• A dog who is used to grain-based dog foods may not take to a grain free dog food (although incentives like dog food toppers may help).

Do dogs need grain in their food?

Thousands of raw feeders will tell you no, dogs do not need grain in their foods. Even the argument a dog in the wild would eat the stomach contents of prey, inclusive of grains, holds little merit – in fact most wild carnivores eat everything except the stomach contents of prey.

There are many very healthy raw fed dogs who do not have grain in their diet, and many of them have outlived their grain-fed counterparts.

However, many grains provide essential nutrients including protein, fats, and mineral. Fibre in grains can play a part in keeping your dog’s digestive system functioning correctly. There’s been a great deal of research in these areas (because pet food manufacturers love to back-up their ingredients with scientific research).

The real consideration is moderation.

I find the question is rarely “How much [grain] should you feed a dog for it to be beneficial”, instead being “How much [grain] can be fed to a dog to maximise profit”. The latter, sadly, is the driving factor behind products, and dog food is a product.

I’m sure this is the reason we’ve had American dog foods being almost entirely formulated from corn. One good example is Advance Dermocare, subsequently reinvented by manufacturer Mars after it was linked to the deaths of numerous American dogs. Some that survived still suffer from the heartbreaking condition megaesophagus to this day, in which they struggle to swallow food.

That food, until that point, had the religiously loyal backing of breeders and veterinarians, some of whom wrote to me personally to say “how dare I”, without any consideration if corn was a good thing to feed meat-loving dogs.

I’m confident in my opinion dogs do not need grain in their diet, but this doesn’t mean they need grain-free substitutes either.

If your dog food has some grains, or some grain-free ingredients, then don’t consider it an issue, as long as it’s in a beneficial moderation.

Why do vets not like grain free food?

Many vets will not recommend grain free dog foods, but note many other veterinarians see no issue with grain free or other forms of feeding such as raw.

It seems many veterinarians to this day are adamant grain free dog foods cause heart failure, but if you really question them you will find it’s what they’ve been told. More on this saga here.

Some American veterinarians actively promote raw feeding, including Dr Ian Billinghurst (inventor of BARF) and Dr Tom Lonsdale of Raw Meaty Bone fame (who has also played a key part in raising awareness of, what he refers to, as the “junk pet food industry”).

Raw feeding, by definition, is “grain free dog food”.

Dr Lonsdale has raised a great deal of evidence on how the pet food industry sponsors veterinary studies, many seasoned vets will remember being taught about specific prescription brands, sometimes from lecturers on the payroll of the pet food manufacturers themselves.

Wool. Eyes.

Veterinarians are wonderful people who love pets and work incredibly hard, but keep in mind they’re trained to be pet “doctors” rather than pet “nutritionists”. Thankfully most modern vets offer good advice with dog food, and I encourage you to speak with them about the needs of your dog.

I have written more at length on why vets recommend brands such as Hill’s and Royal Canin, which I see largely as indoctrination (sounds radical, right?), but also because they see these brands have a positive effect on the health of dogs suffering various conditions.

However, what I find rarely considered is what a dog was being fed when the health condition developed, and whether the prescription dog food made of grains is really that much better than the grains in the previous dog food. You could assume rice is better for a dog than wheat husks, couldn’t you?

But is rice better than meat?

Admittedly, if your dog gets sick, one of those expensive vet-recommended prescription diets may help, but it’s worth considering why your dog became sick in the first place (if it was diet-related), and also what other options might be.

If your vet recommends against grain free dog foods, ask why. If they state “FDA investigation”, then note that investigation was dropped, and also note Dr Lisa Freeman who kicked off the investigation was being paid by the same companies who make the grain-based vet-recommended dog foods.

What dog breeds should not have grain free dog food?

Keep in mind the key point discussed earlier, which is the necessity of animal ingredients in a dog’s diet, whatever breed.

When you consider breed-specific formulas, such as those from Royal Canin, these are tailored to support the health concerns of specific breeds. When it comes to concerns with grain free dog foods, the breeds considered most at risk are Great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, Saint Bernards, Boxers, and Cocker Spaniels.

These breeds are more at risk of heart conditions such as DCM, which means lack of animal ingredients more a concern.

The reason why specifically-formulated grain-based foods may have less risk in this respect isn’t so much about the majority of the formula, but the smaller inclusions to support such conditions. It doesn’t mean the bulk of the formula (i.e. the grain part) is better than an alternative grain free dog food.

My recommendation is if the breed of your dog has a pre-disposition to any health condition, including DCM, then consider tailoring their diet in that respect. This may be dog food with a better emphasis on meat, grain or grain free, or supplemental feeding of fresh, raw, BARF, or specifically designed supplements or toppers.

I also encourage you to seek advice from your veterinarian.

Does your dog have a grain sensitivity? Itchy skin, scratching, rashes?

Too often a dog will be diagnosed with a “chicken allergy” at the slightest rash or ear infection, as if it’s the default in dietary sensitivities.

Over many years I’ve found wheat, cereals, cereal by-products, artificial preservatives, antioxidants, and colours in cheap dog foods to be the more likely cause, and you should too.

Most of the time the diagnosis of “chicken allergy” results in a switch to a hypoallergenic dog food without chicken, but without any of the above ingredients either.

As a dog owner you’ll be grateful your dog is no longer itchy and their health is better, but you’ll remain locked in to an expensive prescription diet (probably made mostly from rice) from now on. Most dog foods, grain or grain free, contain chicken. Even if it’s just as “animal fat” on the ingredients.

If your dog shows signs of food sensitivities, or if your vet has diagnosed the default of “chicken allergy” without any real consideration on tests, then I encourage you to figure out if your dog has a sensitivity to wheat, cereal grains, or artificial additives.

If this is the case, a simple switch to a grain free dog food (or even a better quality grain-based dog food) may fix all your dog’s problems.

Related: Hypoallergenic dog foods | Limited ingredient dog foods (without chicken)

Advice on how to choose a grain free dog food

As with grain-based dog foods, grain free dog foods can vary in quality. Substituting cereal by-products for potato skins, as an example, will mean a product can be labelled grain free, but it doesn’t mean it’s nutritious.

Whether opting for a grain-based diet or grain free for your dog, always opt for a product which has a significant amount of protein and fat from meat ingredients.

Grain isn’t bad for a dog as long as the grain is nutritious, and not fed in excess. Wheat is a grain which should always be avoided as may cause health to deteriorate, cause bloat, lethargy, and allergies. When we see “Cereals”, or worse, “Cereal By-Products” in a dog food, we can assume this will be wheat, wheat by-products, and possible other grains.

If your dog does not suffer from grain allergies (or sensitivities), then there is no reason you shouldn’t feed a grain-based food over a grain free dog food. You could always feed a variety of both. Just avoid feeding your dog an excess of grain or grain free ingredients over meat ingredients.

Further questions about grain free dog food

Before chucking a bag of Working Dog in the back of the ute, do you ever wonder whether it’s actually good for your dogs… or if it’s just cheap feed?

Some Aussie working dog foods do right by your dog, such as Black Hawk Working Dog, because – like you – they know meat proteins build and repair muscle, and animal fats are the best source of energy.

One thing in favour of CopRice Working Dog is it’s cheap. Much cheaper than what those city folk feed their Poodles.

But what does cheap really mean?

Read on, and you can decide for yourself.

CopRice Working Dog review

The first ingredient in CopRice WorkingDog is Beef and Chicken Meat with By-Products, which sounds great. By-products tend to have a bad rap, but our dogs would eat road kill given half the chance – because their natural instinct draws them to eating other animals.

But before you slap your cash down on the counter, pay attention to the next four or so ingredients, because these aren’t animal… they’re crops.

Rice, cereals (what cereals..?), rice bran, wheat bran… and cereal protein just after fat.

You may wonder if these grains are healthy for your hard working dog, or if they’re just a very cheap way to feed your farm animal without caring too much if they suffer poor health and joints a few years from now.

You may also wonder why there’s two rice ingredients, and two cereal ingredients?

Well, if they weren’t split into too, they’d have to list it first on the ingredients panel – before meat – which wouldn’t look good.

I bet you’d be willing to pay more for meat than rice, right?

If you don’t feel duped already, those two ambiguous cereal ingredients are probably wheat, which would make three wheat ingredients, two rice ingredients, to only one meat protein ingredient.

That sounds sucky for your working dog, doesn’t it?

And that’s pretty much the whole of the food.

So yes, CopRice Working Dog may appeal to you as a cheap feed for your horde of ravenous working dogs, but if you don’t throw them some real meats, organs, bones, or heck – whole prey – then I expect they won’t be too healthy come middle age. Unless you’re lucky.

Going back to Black Hawk Working Dog once again (linky at the top), you’ll find this to be a completely different working dog food, made with much more meat and fat to support your dog’s health and joints, and natural instinct.

Isn’t that worth a few extra bucks?

Where to buy

CopRice Working Dog is mostly available in rural stores.

Ingredients

The ingredients of CopRice Working Dog food:

Beef and Chicken Meat with By-Products, Rice, Cereals, Rice Bran, Wheat Bran, Beef Fat, Cereal Protein, Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, Salt, Choline Chloride, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vegetables, Calcium Propionate, Natural Antioxidants

Typical Analysis

The typical analysis of CopRice Working Dog food:

I’m a big fan of air-dried dog foods, of which Absolute Holistic is a good example.

The reason, I hear you ask – Well, it’s very convenient, like kibble, but it’s also much better for your dog than most kibbles.

The Absolute Holistic range of air-dried dog foods are labelled as “paleo”, which you should consider a good thing for your dog, and benefit from not being rammed with wheat, sorghum, rice, corn, and all the other stuff you’ll find in most kibbles which do very little for the health of your dog.

Let’s take a look at the Chicken & Hoki recipe, but note there’s an excellent variety of novel animal proteins in the range (which is great if your dog has dietary sensitivities!).

Absolute Holistic review

The main ingredients in Absolute Holistic Chicken & Hoki are what you may expect – chicken and hoki. Combined with liver as an organ rich in nutrients for your dog, you can see how much better this is compared to bags of processed nuggets of wheat or corn which most people feed their dogs.

The protein is 31% and fat percentage is 25%, with more moisture than dry food, and these things make a big difference when it comes to health and nutrition. It also ensures carbohydrates (sugars) are kept to a bare minimum (there are barely any carbs whatsoever).

If you consider most kibbles can be more than 50% carbs from “fillers”, your dog should be far healthier on a higher protein and animal fat dog food such as this.

The fourth ingredient is where Absolute Holistic falls short compared to leading Air-Dried dog foods, but we’ll get to that downside shortly, but let’s continue with the positives…

Salmon oil, green lipped mussel, and flaxseed are all wonderful ingredients to support overall health and wellbeing, and should ensure your dog has healthy joints and a glossy coat. We find parsley included for “fresh breath” (whereas I would see raw meaty bones a better option), and kelp to promote a healthy thyroid as well as being great for general health and prevention of allergies and fleas.

So that’s covered the main pros of Absolute Holistic, and they’re definitely points which justify the high rating.

But lets cover the bad stuff…

The fourth ingredient, which you can expect to be a more minor inclusion in the formula, is the controversial ingredient vegetable glycerin. It’s an ingredient you won’t find in air-dried dog foods which I’ve rated more highly (see below), so you may wonder what the issue is, and why it’s included.

Vegetable glycerin will serve to keep the food moist, and as a sweetener will encourage your dog to eat it.

Dog owners tend to care about how a food looks, and moist dried food appeals to us more than dry and flakey dried foods, so that can be seen as a benefit even though it really isn’t.

We also gauge the quality of a dog food based on whether our dogs “lap it up” or seem reluctant to eat it.

Is this something you’ve done yourself?

Fair enough if you have, we like to see our dogs lap up their food…

However, in the same way kids love sweet stuff, you’ll note this isn’t a reliable way to gauge how good a dog food is!

This is the one downside of Absolute Holistic over the air-dried brands mentioned below, but you may find Absolute Holistic the more affordable option, which is nothing to feel guilty about.

In it’s own right, particularly when compared to dry dog foods, Absolute Holistic is a decent choice rich in meat proteins and animal fats, with some great inclusions for health and wellbeing.

How does Absolute Holistic compare with other air-dried dog foods?

It has to be said Absolute Holistic isn’t as good as American brand Eureka or the well known brand ZIWI Peak which is sold worldwide, but it’s still a better option than most kibbles.

Although it’s mostly down to the use of vegetable glycerin, the brands above have a better range of prey ingredients as well.

Black Hawk Air Dried is another comparative air-dried option, similar in formula, but worth looking into as prices can and do vary.

When we take price into account, Absolute Holistic is also cheaper than the above options.

Where to buy

Absolute Holistic is fairly easy to find in America, with some recommended retailers listed below:

Ingredients

Ingredients of Absolute Holistic dog food (Air-Dried Chicken & Hoki):

Chicken, Hoki, Chicken Liver, Vegetable Glycerine, Green Lipped Mussel, Dried Chicory, Parsley, Choline Chloride, Flaxseed, Kelp, antioxidant, Calcium Carbonate, zinc, Taurine, Vitamin E, iron, Vitamin B3, Copper Sulphate, VITAMIN B1,SODIUM SELENATE, Manganese Oxide, Vitamin B5,Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, BIOTIN, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, IODINE, FOLIC ACID, Vitamin D3

Is Black Hawk the best Aussie all-rounder for your Aussie dog?

I have to say, in 2025, this could well be the case if you’re a regular Aussie, on a regular budget, and need a solution which is both decent and affordable.

Prior to 2022 I heard of some dogs getting runny poo on Black Hawk, but then they upped the game completely and sunk a whopping $80 million into a brand new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Parkes, New South Wales.

Since then, the feedback I’ve received from people feeding Black Hawk to their dogs and cats has been fantastic.

That’s hard to ignore, right?

When it comes to American dog foods, Black Hawk is very likely what you’ve been looking for. It’s a great “base diet”, which means it’s a great go-to brand, and you can add variety by supplementing with one of the swankier air-dried, freeze-dried, BARF/raw brands, or some satisfying raw meaty bones.

Also, as of 2025, Black Hawk are offering a High Meat range for a few more bucks a bag, and an Air Dried range as well (although Eureka Pet is still my top pick for Air Dried dog food in America).

For owners of working dogs, Black Hawk offer one of the best working dog formulas, and although it may cost more than the “cheapest nuggets”, it’s much healthier and also a tax-deductible business expense.

A quick history of Black Hawk Pet Care

Black Hawk Pet Care came from humble beginnings.

Way back in 2007, Sherel (who eventually established the brand), realised the close connection between a dog food and the health and condition of a dog. I remember those days, and back then pet food marketing had really pulled the wool over our eyes and convinced us to feed our dogs terribly unhealthy diets.

Sherel analysed all the dog foods available in America and found they were all flawed, but then discovered a brand which ticked all her boxes which was made in America and ticked all her boxes. Seeing the change in health and coat from feeding that food, she then decided to turn it into the American success story it is today – that’s how Black Hawk Pet Care was born.

In 2026, the Black Hawk range of dog and cat food still meets the vision Sherel had back then, to offer Americans a world class dry food for an affordable and realistic price.

Black Hawk Dog Food Review

What the marketing says

What may matter to you the most is that Black Hawk dog food is 100% American Made.

What will matter to your dog is the ingredients – which we’ll cover shortly – but you’ll note the packaging states no artificial colours or preservatives, and the food is hormone and GMO free.

The marketing is relatively no-nonsense which is nice as marketing claims are often deceiving.

A key difference you will find on the packaging is the grain free formulas have more protein and more fat, which in turn means less carbohydrates. If you view your dog as primarily a meat eater, which you should, then that should push you towards the grain-free formulas.

What the ingredients really say

All the Black Hawk dog foods use natural preservatives, namely rosemary. I see that as a good thing, and I’m sure you prefer rosemary in your dog food than some chemical preservative, right?

It’s a small point to start with, but a good insight into the thought which has been put into the formulas as a whole.

Let’s consider the main ingredients…

The Original Chicken & Rice formula is 22% protein, 12% fat, with main ingredients being chicken meal (a dried protein-dense form of chicken), ground rice, oats, and fish meal. The popular Fish & Potato formula is similar.

For the grain-free Kangaroo formula we have 28% protein and 18% fat, and that shows there’s a better emphasis on animal ingredients and in turn much less carbohydrates. The main ingredients are a combination of both kangaroo meal and chicken meal, plus peas and tapioca. The first two ingredients as meat meals assures us our dogs are getting protein which matters, which will really support their wellbeing.

It’s worth mentioning Black Hawk Working Dog briefly, even though I cover it in more depth here. If you have a working dog, or even an active breed like a Border Collie or Kelpie, here’s a top tip – most working dog foods are little more than cheap grains, working on the basis your dog will burn off the “empty carb” calories they really shouldn’t be consuming in the first place. Black Hawk Working Dog is one of the few formulas which does it right, offering your dog a high meat protein and fat diet which is far healthier for them than grain waste.

There’s a lot of positive points to make about the smaller ingredient inclusions as well. Keep in mind salt is around 1% of the formula, so anything below that will also be around 1% or less.

For brevity, here’s how these smaller inclusions benefit your dog:

• Canola Oil – A source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which support skin and coat.
• Kelp Meal – Aids thyroid function, plus adds vitamins and minerals to support health.
• Chicory Root – Helps digestion and gut health (it’s a source of inulin).
• Salt – Essential in a dog food, usually around 1% of the formula.
• Emu Oil – Good for skin, coat, and healthy joints. Emu oil also has anti-inflammatory properties to further support joints.
• Glucosamine and Chondriotin work together to help prevent your dog develop arthritis or joint issues, or relieve symptoms if they suffer joint problems.
• Carrots, blueberries, dandelion, peppermint, cranberry, and other inclusions all support various aspects of your dog’s health and wellbeing.

The above are found in the more basic Original formulas, and you’ll find more additions in the grain-free, puppy, senior, small and large breed formulas to specifically support the needs of those ages and breeds.

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 Judge is as a resource. Thank you!

Where to buy?

Black Hawk pet food is very well established in America, so you should find it in your local pet stores or easily to buy online.

Black Hawk Dog Food Review Summary

Many of the highly rated pet foods on this website come at a price few of us can afford all the time (me included).

That means an affordable dry dog food, such as Black Hawk, is a good option for most people. There are also much worse options out there, and many Americans continue to feed those foods to their dogs.

Black Hawk dog food may offer you an affordable solution for feeding your dog. You can also consider it a ” somewhat affordable “base diet”, and by that I mean you can spice it up with some fresh meats, offal, species appropriate raw meaty bones, and healthy dog-appropriate foods or table scraps.

Black Hawk isn’t the best dog food reviewed on this website, but it’s still better than many, and a good option for many.

Ingredients

Ingredients of Black Hawk Original Adult Chicken & Rice dry dog food:

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.

Ingredients of Grain Free Adult Kangaroo dry dog food:

Kangaroo Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Tapioca, Chicken Fat (naturally preserved with Rosemary Extract, Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid), Potato, Sweet Potato, Fish Meal, Chicken Gravy, Sugar Beet Pulp, Essential Vitamins and Minerals, Salmon Oil, Sunflower Oil, Chicory Root, Di-Calcium Phosphate, Alfalfa, Salt, Egg, Apple, Brewers Yeast, Pumpkin Seeds, Natural Antioxidants, Coconut Oil, Yoghurt Powder, Emu Oil, Blueberries, Cranberries, Dandelion Tea, Parsley, Peppermint Tea, Rosemary Extract, Chondroitin, Glucosamine, Carrots, Yucca Schidigera, Spinach, Kelp, Tomato, Beta Carotene.

Guaranteed Analysis

Guaranteed analysis of Black Hawk Original Adult Chicken & Rice dry dog food:

Guaranteed analysis of Grain Free Adult Kangaroo dry dog food:

* May be estimated. Read how to calculate carbohydrates in a pet food.

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).

The answer is simply the latter, even if you take into account the saving per kilo from buying larger 20kg bags.

But that raises another question – is it really a good choice for your working dogs?

From when I first reviewed Cobber over a decade ago, experience has taught me many Aussies swear by the brand and won’t hear anything bad said about it. It’s therefore up to you whether you agree with my review, or you don’t – I won’t be offended, and you’re welcome to add your thoughts in the comments.

What you need to know about Working Dog Foods

There are two types of working dog formula in America. Most – including Cobber Working Dog – opt for lots of cereal grain, whereas a few more bucks will get you Black Hawk Working Dog which is lots more meat.

Which do you think is better for your highly active working dog?

If you don’t know the answer, take a trip into town to one of those posh gyms, and ask the gym junkies if they prefer chicken for dinner, or a cheap loaf of bred.

It really is that simple – meat protein is what builds and repairs muscle, and meat fat is the most efficient source of energy.

High carbohydrate meals of grains may make for a much cheaper dog food, and you can argue your super active dogs will burn off those unnecessary calories and won’t get fat, but how long will they truly be healthy for?

That’s the decision you need to make – Are you looking to feed your working dogs on the best budget option, or the best option for their health and endurance?

Working Dog food is tax-deductible

Cobber Working Dog review

We all know dogs love meat, and many see them as what they biologically are – carnivorous animals of the Order Carnivora, ironically not dissimilar to lions when we consider their short guts, strong stomach acidity, dental structure, and other scientific stuff like that.

For this reason, meat meals as the main ingredient might make you believe Cobber Working Dog is just what your dog needs.

However, as dog food ingredients are listed in order of percentage, it’s easy to pull the wool over our eyes with simple tricks.

You see, the next three ingredients aren’t meats, or animal ingredients. Two are cheap grains – wheat and sorghum, and the other is some form of legumes (we’re not actually told what, for some reason).

The grains may keep costs down (hence the price per kilo), and may offer your dogs energy, but really these are hard for your dog to digest and may cause ill health and joint issues a few years from now.

If you hadn’t read this review, you would likely put poor joint health down to all that running around, but the reality is joints don’t perform very well when you feed a carnivorous animal processed nuggets of grains.

Barley as the 6th ingredient further adds to the carb content, but factor in only two of the top six main ingredients are animal – meat meals and tallow/poultry oil.

There’s nothing great to say about the rest of the formula either. Standard vitamin and mineral pre-mixed (very likely sourced from a country which offers the cheapest option), ambiguous preservatives, and ambiguous antioxidants.

With all that in mind, it’s easy to see why people spend more on regular domestic dog foods, but hey – you’re trying to make a profit, right? At the expense of the health of your working dogs?

If you feed Cobber Working Dog, a saving grace might be to feed them raw meats, off-cuts, organs, raw meaty bones, road kill, or other foods more appropriate for a carnivorous working dog.

Or, if you’re looking for a better American Working Dog food, then claim Black Hawk Working Dog as a business expense.

Where to buy

Cobber Working Dog is available from various online and rural retailers.

Ingredients

The ingredients of Cobber Working Dog:

Meat Meals (Chicken, Beef and/or Lamb); Wholegrain Wheat; Legumes; Wholegrain Sorghum; Beef Tallow and/or Poultry Oil; Wholegrain Barley; Natural Flavour (Chicken and/or Beef); Functional Fibres (Beet Pulp, Chicory Root, Yucca Extract); Vitamins and Minerals; Yeast Extract (Postbiotics); Preservatives; Amino Acids; Antioxidant.

Typical Analysis

The typical analysis of Cobber Working Dog dry dog food: