Don't get to wrapped up in what others feel you should be feeding. Everybody situation is unique
and what works for one person will not work for another. There is a lot of options in any method of feeding be it commercial or natural. Some of the things that influence your choice should be weighed - availability - price - preparation -
application etc. It makes no sense to feed chicken if you have a cheaper and better source of beef, (or beaver or turkey etc). If you are
feeding your dog human grade beef and your kids are getting Kraft dinner there is something wrong there. If you are working a full time job and
cooking for a husband and three preschoolers ,you shouldn't feel guilty for feeding a good quality kibble to the dog. Keep in mind that a natural diet done well is very good and a natural diet done badly can be worse for your dog than crappy dog food. Beware of the overinflated advertising
claim of the manufacturers of both the standard commercial biggies and the "natural" types in my opinion both are overated and overpriced. Some
regional dog food producers are much less advertised and produce products that are geared to higher energy working and performance dogs and offer a better product at a more reasonable price.
The bottom line is that you are the one that lives with the dog and can best monitor what works best for the dog and produces the best results. I've ranted on long enough and will probably get flamed good and proper on this one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

never used that brand but use Nutro.
i just make sure the food contains no by-products or corn.

he looks and acts healthy. i can email you pics if you would like. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Renee396,

Tiggy2 hit the nail on the head with this one IMO.
To answer your question, as far as I know from what I was told directly from the manufacturer and from all I have read about it, Blackwood does use humane-grade ingredients, it is holistic, and it does not contain ANY meat by-products or corn.

My dogs have been on this food since I brought them home as pups and I have never had a problem with health, allergies/scratching, or digestion. Their coats are glossy, they have tons of energy, eat well and thrive. I am not trying to say that this food is better than a raw diet, but if you just don't have the means to feed raw, I honestly believe this food is a good second choice.

Blackwood is one of those less advertised companies that is producing a higher quality food geared for working dogs for a lower price.

Good luck with it!

I can understand everyone's position. So I guess the point about this brand of dog food is maybe it's not BARF but it's better than Science Diet or Iams?

Is that the thing?

That's about it. It's the best kibble that I've tried (I haven't tried Innova or California Natural or Canidae because they weren't available in my area), but I think that the raw diet is a much better option unless you are backpacking for weeks on end and not wanting to haul around chickens with you <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> .

Originally posted by wismz:
steroid raised ones from Wal-Mart acceptable?

Its against the law to give chickens hormones now.

Robert Pot is also illegal but people still smoke it

It's against the law to feed chickens hormones... Be that as it may have you noticed how young people (teens, especially) are developping at a much younger rate and growing much taller nowadays. How many 6'0 females have you seen running around lately compared to 10 years ago? 20 years ago?

Anyway thanks for all the support I received and I even appreciate those who slammed the commercial food product. And I apologize if I made anyone have to confess to feeding commercial products that were trying to keep it a secret <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For those of you who are interested the dogs are seeming to prefer the Blackwood to the Iams but it's still early to tell anything more than that.

OOps I for got to sign that last one.
Hugs and Puppy kisses to all
Renee
Renee396@aol.com