Blackwood Dog Food 2022 Review, Rating & Recalls
Is Blackwood a good dog food brand?
With so many healthy dog food brands out there, it can be difficult to know which one is best. And, whether or not they’re all that different from one another.
One dog food brand that is healthy and uses unique techniques to get the most out of their food’s nutritional value is Blackwood dog food. In this Blackwood dog food review, we’ll take a more in-depth look at the brand along with their unique slow cooking method.
We’ll also cover…
- Is Blackwood dog food made in the United States?
- Have any Blackwood dog food products been recalled?
- Which flavors and formulas get our top ratings?
Which Blackwood Sub-Brand Is Right for You?
Below, we’ll outline Blackwood’s 4 most popular sub-brands and the qualities that make each one unique, so you can pick the one that best fits your dog’s needs.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Blackwood Pet Food All Life Stages, Special Diet Chicken Meal & Field Pea Recipe
| 10 | Check Price |
Sensitive Stomach  | Blackwood Dog Food Sensitive Skin and Stomach Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe, 30 lb. bag
| 9.8 | Check Price |
Lowest Price  | Blackwood Pet Food ll Life Stages Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe
| 9.5 | Check Price |
Wet Food Variety  | Blackwood Pet Grain Free Wet Dog Food Turkey & Turkey Liver with Pumpkin
| 9.7 | Check Price |
Best Overall
1. Blackwood All Life Stages Special Diet Chicken and Pea Recipe
The Grain-Free for All Life Stages sub-brand includes formulas that contain a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats all without grains. Like all the other formulas, they undergo Blackwood’s classic slow cooking process.
- Nutritionally complete recipe with great taste
- Prebiotics and probiotics are added to maintain healthy digestion and a strong immune system
- Slow-cooked in small batches
- Appropriate for all life stages including puppies, seniors, and adult dogs
- Some formulas include healthy omega fatty acids like fish oil and flaxseeds
Best For Sensitive Stomach
2. Blackwood All Life Stages Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dog Food
The Sensitive Skin & Stomach for All Life Stages sub-brand has a lower than average protein concentration for dogs with food sensitivities. It also contains easier-to-digest forms of protein such as fish.
- Made for dogs with skin and stomach sensitivities
- With a delicious blend of lamb, brown rice, carrots, celery, and spinach
- Recipe free from artificial flavors and fillers
- Free of corn, wheat, and soy to not disrupt food sensitivities
- Most of the included grains are healthy gluten-free ones such as millet, oat groats, and ground grain sorghum
Lowest Price
3. Blackwood All Life Stages Everyday Diet Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
The Dry No Corn, Wheat, or Soy sub-brand was designed specifically for dogs that have particular food allergies to these ingredients. Or, if they have generally extra-sensitive digestive systems. Most of its ingredients are similar to that of the Sensitive Skin & Stomach sub-brand.
- Handcrafted with lamb and brown rice
- A complete and balanced recipe made for dogs of all life stages
- No corn, wheat or soy
- Each recipe contains prebiotics and probiotics for digestive support
- Contains Blackwood’s super-premium digestive aids including lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product
Wet Food Option
4. Blackwood Adult Wet Dog Food with Turkey and Pumpkin
The Wet Grain-Free Canned foods contain similar ingredients to that of the Dry Grain Free sub-brand but in an even easier-to-digest wet formula.
- With real turkey meat and fiber-rich pumpkin for a delicious meal
- Can be served as a meal or as a topper
- Contains New Zealand Green Lipped Mussell for immune and anti-inflammatory support
- Filled with easily digestible protein sources such as New Zealand green mussels
- High water contents ensure that your dog gets enough hydration
Who Makes Blackwood Dog Food?
Blackwood was founded 40 years ago by pet owner Jim Golladay in his hometown of Rogers, Ohio. There, he started crafting dog food cooked with only the best ingredients and a taste that the animals loved. The secret to Golladay’s success was to slow cook the ingredients.
Slow cooking them helped create a higher starch conversion that led to greater stamina and energy in dogs. And, researchers at Kansas State University confirmed those findings. After so much success, Golladay opened a second factory in Lisbon, Ohio. And, after that, he then went on to open up two more manufacturing plants in New York and Wisconsin.
The bottom line on what makes Blackwood different from other healthy dog foods is that they slow cook each formula in small batches. So, not only do they have all the right ingredients, but they go the extra mile in making those ingredients more effective by bringing up their starch conversion through slow cooking.
Has Blackwood Dog Food Been Recalled?
In over 40 years of operation, Blackwood Pet Food has not had a single recall of any of its products, both dog and cat food. To stay up to date on any future recalls, you can regularly check our list of dog food recalls where we continuously update it with any new recalls.
Individual Recipe Ratings
The Blackwood Dog Food product line has a vast array of dog food options. Including grain-free and grain-inclusive formulas, dry and wet options, as well as special diet formulas such as corn, wheat, and soy-free. These products can be found at many in-store locations and are also available through online retailers like Amazon.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of the brand’s current product listings on Amazon along with their star ratings. You can use these links to quickly compare prices and package sizes before ordering your favorites.
- Dry Grain-Free Special Diet All Life Stages – Salmon Meal & Field Pea (5 stars)
- Dry Grain-Free Special Diet All Life Stages – Buffalo Meal & Field Pea (4.6 stars)
- Dry Grain-Free Special Diet All Life Stages – Chicken Meal & Field Pea (4.6 stars)
- Dry Sensitive Skin & Stomach All Life Stages – Lamb Meal & Brown Rice (4.5 stars)
- Dry Sensitive Skin & Stomach All Life Stages – Salmon Meal & Brown Rice (4.5 stars)
- Dry Sensitive Skin & Stomach All Life Stages – Catfish Meal & Pearled Barley (4.5 stars)
- Dry No Corn Wheat or Soy Puppy Food Growth Formula – Chicken Meal & Brown Rice (4.6 stars)
- Dry No Corn Wheat or Soy Large Breed Adults – Whitefish Meal & Oatmeal (4.4 stars)
- Dry No Corn Wheat or Soy Seniors – Chicken Meal & Brown Rice (4.6 stars)
- Dry No Corn Wheat or Soy 3000 Everyday Diet – Lamb Meal & Brown Rice (4.6 stars)
- Dry No Corn Wheat or Soy Premium Adult Everyday Diet – Chicken Meal & Brown Rice (4.7 stars)
- Wet Grain-Free Adult – Turkey & Turkey Liver (3.8 stars)
- Wet Grain-Free Adult – Chicken & Chicken Liver (3.8 stars)
Recipe Ingredient Analysis
The Dry Grain-Free Special Diet All Life Stages – Salmon Meal & Field Pea formula was selected to act as a representative product for our recipe content analysis. This recipe’s ingredients are organized based on their overall weight in the formula.
These weights include each ingredient’s water content. Salmon meal is the first ingredient in the recipe. It is produced by rendering salmon and drying it into a concentrated powder form. Because it has most of its moisture removed, it has a much higher protein content than whole salmon.
Not only is salmon meal an excellent source of protein, but it’s also naturally high in glucosamine and chondroitin. All three of which are essential for good muscle, bone, and joint health in dogs. They’re particularly healthy for active dogs who need more of the nutrients to keep their energy levels high.
The second ingredient is field peas. Peas are a plant-based source of protein. They even have higher levels of protein than some animal protein sources. Yet, peas are somewhat of a controversial ingredient in dog food. Recently, the FDA has been investigating the connection between peas and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), a rare but severe heart condition.
While the link between the two is still unknown, it’s worth noting that peas are worth having some moderate skepticism about. Tapioca starch is the fifth ingredient. Tapioca is a plant similar to potatoes but with a sweeter taste. In addition to adding taste to dog food, it gives the kibble a good texture and packs a solid amount of iron. Iron is essential for carrying oxygen throughout the body via the blood.
The sixth ingredient is canola oil. Canola oil is very high in linoleic acid, an essential acid that is very high in omega fatty acids including omega-3 and omega-6. Fatty acids help with good joint, skin, and coat health. Herring meal is the seventh ingredient.
Another fish-based meal, herring meal has many of the same benefits as a salmon meal. It keeps the protein concentration of the food high to help keep your dog lean and trim. Chicken fat is the eighth ingredient. Although it doesn’t sound appetizing, dogs love the taste of it!
And, dog owners love that it’s high in amino acids. Chicken fat is rendered by boiling chicken meat then skimming the fat off the surface of the water. It’s then added to the kibble to ensure that your dog loves the taste! The ninth ingredient is natural flavors.
Another somewhat controversial ingredient, flavoring in dog food tends to cause a lot of confusion. The AAFCO currently defines natural flavoring as “materials treated with heat, enzymes, and/or acids to form concentrated natural flavors.”
Although they’re somewhat controversial, the AAFCO generally considers natural flavors to be safe for dogs. Although Blackwood doesn’t define specifically what they mean by natural flavoring, we can say for now at least that it’s okay to have in your dog’s food.
The tenth and the final main ingredient is lecithin, a fatty substance derived from animal tissues. When added to dog food, it works as both a nutritional supplement that helps with digestion and as a smoothing agent. Although it may sound unhealthy, lecithin is extremely healthy and a great ingredient in dog food.
We’ve now covered the first ten ingredients in this dry dog food recipe. While these are the most prevalent ingredients and should be your top considerations when choosing food for your dog, it’s also important to consider some of the ingredients farther down the list.
Less Prevalent Ingredients
Following the main ingredients come several supplementary ingredients. While most of them aren’t prominent enough to sway the macronutrient (fats, carbs, and proteins) level of the food, they make great nutritional supplements and shouldn’t be ignored.
The twelfth ingredient is DL-Methionine. For a nutritional supplement, it’s pretty high up on the list. And, we like this because DL-Methionine is an essential amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of the body. Without them, your dog wouldn’t be able to grow strong bones or muscles.
Further down the ingredient list is taurine, a chemical compound created from DL-Methionine. Taurine is found in almost all body tissues in the body including the brain, heart, and blood cells. The combination of DL-Methionine and taurine together is powerful for your dog’s health.
Scattered throughout the ingredient label are several fruits and vegetables including pumpkin, apple, seaweed, cranberries, and blueberries. Each of which is a superfood high in antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your dog from disease-causing free radicals. Without them, your dog would be more susceptible to things like cancer and heart disease.
Also scattered throughout the list are several prominent vitamin and mineral supplements, notably folic acid, niacin, potassium chloride, and calcium carbonate. Folic acid is a particularly good vitamin supplement. It is a form of vitamin b12 that ensures good blood health. The deficiency of folic acid is often attributed to anemia.
While there are many more great supplementary ingredients in this formula, the last most prominent one is yucca schidigera extract. Yucca schidigera is a flowering plant found in the American Mojave Desert. In dog food, it helps support good joint health.
While the leaves of the plant are poisonous, the extract is completely safe. Despite its health benefits, the extract is somewhat controversial because it is highly processed. Although it is not the most natural ingredient, it is still healthy for dogs. And, for that reason, we can’t completely detest it being in the food.
Nutrient Summary
This summary’s nutrient data is based on the product’s dry matter content. We use the Guaranteed Analysis panel to compare the protein, fat, fiber, and moisture content of pet food products. Due to the impact of moisture in these calculations, it’s difficult to compare wet and dry dog food products.
As such, this information should be primarily used in comparison to other dry, kibble-based products. The Dry Grain-Free Special Diet All Life Stages – Salmon Meal & Field Pea formula has a dry matter protein content of 31%, 17% fat, and an estimated 40% carbohydrates.
The protein concentration in this food is above average when compared to other dry dog foods. Thanks to the first ingredient being a protein-rich salmon meal plus several of the other main ingredients being plant-based protein sources. This is great for dogs on the higher end of the energy spectrum as protein is essential for energy production and strong muscles.
The fat concentration comes from ingredients like chicken fat and canola oil. While fat is often looked down upon and seen as unhealthy for dogs and humans alike, fat is truly essential. Without fat, your brain, muscle, and joint health would suffer.
Lastly, carbohydrates in this formula come from several of the main ingredients including chickpeas and lentils. Both of these are excellent grain-free carbohydrates, which are essential for keeping energy levels up.
Our Rating of Blackwood Dog Food
We here at Dog Food Care consider Blackwood dog food to be a higher-grade brand of pet food. This high rating is due to several factors. The first one being their use of high-quality, slow-cooked ingredients. They incorporate a vast array of unique protein sources in their formulas including meat concentrates, real whole meats, and animal hearts and livers.
Each of which is great for dogs. Additionally, they incorporate both grain and grain-free carbohydrate sources that also contain protein. The second factor is not about what they use, but what they don’t use. You don’t see ingredients like fillers and artificial ingredients on their labels.
Third, Blackwood has never been recalled, is produced right here in the US by a family-owned business, and gets great online ratings from customers. There could be a bit of an improvement in some of their ingredient lists, particularly those that use a lot of plant-based protein sources in the main ingredients.
While these are not bad ingredients, they don’t have as high of a biological value as animal protein sources. Hence, Blackwood loses one star for that. With all of these positive factors combined and only a few negatives, we give the brand as a whole 4 out of 5 stars.
What Do Others Say About Blackwood Dog Food?
As of the time of this review, almost all Blackwood dog food products on Amazon and Chewy.com have ratings of at least 4.5 stars. This includes our representative product, the Dry Grain-Free Special Diet All Life Stages – Salmon Meal & Field Pea formula.
Customers love the high-quality ingredients and lack of bad ones such as fillers, artificial preservatives, and animal by-products. And, they report that their dogs love the taste of the slow-cooked ingredients. Here’s an actual buyer review:
“Our puppy was very fussy right off the bat! I luckily found a bag of this brand for her at our local grocery store and altho a bit more expensive than some, she loved it immediately and still does! I love that all the ingredients are so good for her and she is the picture of good health! My thanks to the company who makes this!”
Read more reviews at Amazon.com
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we here at Dog Food Care consider Blackwood Pet Food to be an above-average line of dog food products. Given its great list of ingredients, high levels of safety, and positive customer reviews, we highly recommend you give one of Blackwood’s dog food products a try!
Bonus tip: Blueberries are one of the best ingredients in Blackwood’s dog food. Here’s everything you need to know about blueberries in dog food!
