They offer a variety of formulas for dogs of all sizes, ages, and activity levels; but, their main focus is working dogs, like Golden retrievers, German shepherds, Chesapeake Bay retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Boxers, Schnauzers, and any other dog that needs the right nutrition to fuel their energy levels.
We’ve rounded up a list of what we consider to be the best formulas from Black Gold. Read through the following reviews to learn more about the ingredients and nutritional benefits of each option.
Best Black Gold Dog Food Recipes
1. Black Gold Explorer Original Performance Formula 26/18 Dry Dog Food
Black Gold Explorer Original Performance Formula 26/18 Dry Dog Food will nourish your active dog so that she can enjoy plenty of adventure and a long, healthy life. When you fill your pooch’s dog bowl up with this recipe, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that all of her dietary needs are being met.
Whether she hunts, runs, performs in agility competitions, or she just enjoys taking long walks on her dog harness and playing with her interactive dog toys, she’ll have the energy she needs to keep her going strong all day long.
This Black Gold recipe offers a robust nutritional profile. It contains 26 percent crude protein, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are sourced from beef and chicken, which will strengthen her joints and improve her mobility. The crude fiber content is 3 percent, which will keep her feeling full and improve her digestive health.
Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids will nourish your furry pal’s skin and improve the shine and fullness of her coat. Prebiotics further help to improve digestion and essential oils improve cognitive function and will keep her sharp and focused. It’s also infused with a bevy of essential vitamins and minerals to provide a well balanced meal that your pup will love.
What We Like About It
- Features a robust nutritional profile to strengthen your canine companion
- Promotes healthy digestion
- Supports healthy joints
- Nourishes the skin and coat
- Improves cognitive function
- Supports energy levels for improved stamina and endurance
- Made in the USA
- Free of artificial colors, chemical preservatives, and byproducts
Reasons to Complain
- Some pet parents said that their dogs didn’t seem to like the flavor
Final Verdict: With Black Gold Explorer Original Performance Formula 26/18 Dry Dog Food, your pooch will get the nutrition that he needs to support his active lifestyle and to nourish her entire body, from head to tail.
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2. Black Gold Explorer Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food
Puppies have unique nutritional needs and it’s important to feed them a quality food that contains ingredients that will support optimal growth. If your puppy is ready to make the transition from her mother’s milk or a puppy milk replacer, Black Gold Explorer Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food is a fantastic option to consider. It’s formulated for puppies of all breeds, including West Highland White Terriers, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus, Mastiffs, and Saint Bernards.
A variety of wholesome ingredients are used in this puppy chow. Lean sources of protein will encourage the development of healthy muscles and joints to strengthen her mobility. The infusion of gut-friendly prebiotics improve digestion and ensure that your pup is absorbing the bevy of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are featured in this formula.
Essential oils aide in cognitive development and oatmeal provides long-lasting energy and will keep your puppy full all day long; plus, it’s easy to digest, so even the most delicate stomachs can handle it with ease.
What We Like About It
- Made with antioxidants that are sourced from real fruits and veggies to support immune system health
- Contains omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids
- Promotes healthy cognitive function and vision
- Easy to digest
- Provides plenty of energy
- Free of corn, wheat, soy, byproducts, artificial colors, and chemical preservatives
Reasons to Complain
- A few customers said that the kibble was a little too large and difficult for their puppies small mouths to handle
Final Verdict: Support the development of the smallest and furriest member of your family with Black and Gold Explorer Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food. This recipe is packed with all of the vital nutrition that growing puppies need to help them flourish and grow into strong, healthy adults.
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3. Black Gold Mature 7+ Formula Dry Dog Food
Senior dogs have special dietary needs, and Black Gold Mature 7+ Formula Dry Dog Food is a specially formulated for senior dog food that will ensure those needs are being met. It’s specifically made for senior canines, as it offers all of the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that older dogs need to live their best life.
Oatmeal will keep your pup full all day long and provide him with the energy he needs so that he can get out and enjoy those brisk walks and have fun playing with his puzzle toys for dogs, automatic fetch machines, and all of the other fun toys that he has to play with.
Omega fatty acids, which are sourced from fish oil, nourish the joints and improve mobility. Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids boost cognitive function to help your faithful companion remain sharp. It’s also made with antioxidants, which are procured from real fruits and veggies, to strengthen the immune system so your pooch can stave off a variety of health issues.
What We Like About It
- Fish oil improves joint health and mobility
- Made with omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids
- Prebiotics support digestive health
- Antioxidants promote a stronger immune system
- Corn, wheat, and soy free
- Contains no byproducts, artificial colors, or chemical preservatives
- Made in the USA
Reasons to Complain
- A few customers said that the kibble was too hard for their senior dogs to chew
Final Verdict: Overall, we were very impressed with Black Gold Explorer Mature 7+ Formula Dry Dog Food. It’s specially formulated to meet the dietary needs of older dogs and ensure that they are receiving the vitamins and minerals they need to live their best life.
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4. Black Gold Performance 26/18 Dry Dog Food
Next up on our list of the best Black Gold dog food is their Performance 26/18 Dry Dog Food. It’s a high protein dog food that offers a meat-based protein, so it delivers the amino acids that your canine companion needs to strengthen his joints and improve his mobility. It also gives him plenty of energy so that he can participate in demanding activities with ease.
The addition of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids in this formula help to maintain your dog’s skin and promote a healthier, fuller, and more lustrous coat. Natural sources of chondroitin and glucosamine also help to strengthen the joints. It’s suitable for adult dogs of all sizes; however, if your dog isn’t highly active, do make sure you lower the serving size, as too much protein can lead to health complications.
What We Like About It
- Specially formulated for highly active dogs and canines that participate in high energy activities
- Contains optimal amounts of protein
- Made with omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to support skin and coat health
- Glucosamine and chondroitin support joint function
- Optimal levels of high carbohydrates provide plenty of energy to fuel your dog all day long
Reasons to Complain
- Some customers said that the food they received had a stale smelling odor
- Other’s said that they weren’t very pleased with the quality of the product
Final Verdict: If your canine companion participates in rigorous activities or just has a lot of energy, Black Gold Performance 26/18 Dry Dog Food is an excellent option to consider. It features high levels of protein to strengthen the joints and nourish your pooch with plenty of energy that will keep him going strong all day long.
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5. Black Gold Explorer Game Bird Formula with Turkey and Quail Grain Free Dry Dog Food
The last option on our list of the best Black Gold dog food (but certainly not the least) is their Game Bird Formula with Turkey and Quail Grain Free Dry Dog Food. Since it’s a grain free dog food, there is absolutely no corn, wheat, or soy used in this recipe; therefore, if your dog suffers from allergies or he’s sensitive to gluten, this is an excellent choice for him.
Made with lean sources of protein, this recipe will ensure that your pooch is getting the amino acids he needs to support the growth and development of his muscles and strengthen his joints. Fish oil provides a natural source of DHA, which helps to improve cognitive functioning and vision development. Oatmeal is easy to digest and prebiotics help to improve digestive health so that your pup can maximize the absorption of vital nutrients. Lastly, it contains antioxidants that are sourced from real fruits and veggies, which will strengthen the immune system.
What We Like About It
- Completely grain free; contains no wheat, soy, or corn
- Free of artificial colors, chemical preservatives, and byproducts
- Made with an essential blend of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to support cognitive function and healthy vision
- Prebiotics improve digestion
- Easy to digest
- Offers a tasty flavor that canines seem to love
Reasons to Complain
- A few customers noted that this dog food formula had an odd smell to it
Final Verdict: Black Gold Explorer Game Bird Formula with Turkey and Quail Grain Free Dry Dog Food is made with premium quality ingredients to support your pet’s overall health. It’s also completely grain free, so if your pooch suffers from allergies or has a sensitivity to grains, this formula won’t cause any adverse reactions.
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Black Gold Dog Food Buyer’s Guide
At first glance, choosing a dog food for your pooch might seem like a simple task; however, in reality, it’s actually a lot more complicated than it looks. There are so many different brands and formulas available, from Blue Buffalo dog food and Taste of the Wild dog food, and from freeze dried dog food to dehydrated dog food… so many choice can make it really hard to select the best option to meet you’re the needs of your canine companion.
If you’re on the market for a food for your dog that offers balanced nutrition, is made with high quality ingredients, and won’t break the bank, Black Gold is definitely an option that you should consider.
About Black Gold Dog Food
Black Gold was introduced back in 1995, so it’s been around for quite some time. Initially, it was a family-owned company; however, in 2015, ProPet LLC purchased the name. The headquarters of the company are located in Missouri, and all of their products are made right here, in the USA.
Black Gold is committed to making high quality dog food options that are also affordable; their price point is similar to that of Diamond Naturals dog food and Purina dog food. They make a variety of formulas for dogs of all ages, sizes, and activity levels; however, most of their recipes are geared toward working or high energy dogs that need a lot of protein and other vital nutrient to fuel their energy levels. Until recently, this brand was really only known amongst the pet parents of working and hunting dogs; however, thanks to sites like Chewy.com, it is becoming more widely known.
Benefits of Black Gold Dog Food
So, why should you consider feeding your pooch Black Gold dog food? A few reasons include:
- There are a variety of formulas available to suit the nutritional needs of all canines
- All recipes are made with high quality ingredients
- Their products are made in the USA
- It’s an affordable line of dog food
- Most of the reviews from customers who have used this dog food are positive
The Bottom Line
Black Gold is a reputable manufacturer of a variety of different types of dog food. All of their products are made in the USA from ingredients that are sources from reliable suppliers. They provide a large array of recipes to meet the nutrition needs of all ages and sizes; however, they are primarily made for dogs that have high energy needs. All of the options that this manufacturer offers are high quality, nutritionally balanced, and will keep your pooch healthy and happy.
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