Is Black Hawk or Advance better for dogs in Australia?

Both are reputable Australian-made brands. Black Hawk generally uses higher-quality whole-food ingredients — named whole meat (chicken, lamb, kangaroo) as the first ingredient with no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. Advance uses good-quality ingredients but some lines include more processed protein sources and artificial additives. Black Hawk scores higher on ingredient quality in Pet Food Optimizer's algorithm. Advance has a broader specialist range (dental, weight control, sensitive, joint care) at a slightly lower price point, making it useful for dogs with specific everyday needs.

How much does Advance cost compared to Black Hawk in Australia?

Advance is generally 10–20% cheaper than Black Hawk at comparable bag sizes. Advance Adult Lamb & Rice 13kg costs approximately $65 ($5.00/kg); Black Hawk Chicken & Brown Rice 20kg costs approximately $190 ($9.50/kg). Advance is widely available from supermarkets (Woolworths, Coles), PetBarn, and Petstock. Black Hawk has more limited supermarket distribution but strong PetCircle and PetBarn availability.

Is Black Hawk Australian-made?

Yes. Black Hawk is Australian-owned and manufactured in Australia. It was founded in 2013 and is one of the fastest-growing premium pet food brands in Australia. Advance is also Australian-made — it is manufactured by Masterpet (formerly Advanced Pet Foods), an Australian company. Both brands comply with AS 5812:2017 (Australian Standard for pet food manufacturing).

Which is better for sensitive stomachs — Black Hawk or Advance?

Both have sensitive stomach formulas. Black Hawk Sensitive Kangaroo & Brown Rice uses a single novel protein (kangaroo) with no common allergens — it is the better choice for dogs with confirmed food intolerances or allergies. Advance Sensitive uses chicken and rice with prebiotics (chicory root) and is a good option for dogs with general digestive sensitivity without confirmed food allergy. For dogs with diagnosed food allergies, Black Hawk Sensitive Kangaroo is the stronger choice due to the novel protein source.

Black Hawk vs Advance Dog Food Australia 2026

Q: Does Black Hawk have grain-free options?

Black Hawk does not have a fully grain-free line — its formulas use whole grains (brown rice, oats) as carbohydrate sources. This is by design: Black Hawk focuses on whole-grain formulas rather than legume-based grain-free alternatives. Advance has a grain-free line. However, whole-grain formulas are often nutritionally superior to grain-free legume-based alternatives for dogs without true grain allergies, and the FDA has investigated a potential link between high-legume grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Black Hawk

Australian-Owned & Made (est. 2013)

Ingredient Quality★★★★☆

Price ($/kg)$8–11/kg

Specialist FormulasModerate

Novel Protein OptionsKangaroo, fish

Grain-Free OptionNo (by design)

Supermarket AvailabilityLimited

Best for: Ingredient-conscious owners, dogs with food allergies or sensitivities, novel protein needs

Advance

Australian-Made (Masterpet)

Ingredient Quality★★★☆☆

Price ($/kg)$5–8/kg

Specialist FormulasBroad range

Novel Protein OptionsLimited

Grain-Free OptionYes

Supermarket AvailabilityExcellent

Best for: Budget-conscious owners, dogs needing weight management, dental or joint formulas, convenience shoppers

Side-by-Side: Adult Mainstream Formulas

Criteria	Black Hawk Chicken & Brown Rice	Advance Adult Lamb & Rice
First ingredient	Chicken (whole named meat)	Lamb meal
Crude protein	22%	21%
Crude fat	12%	11%
Carbohydrate source	Brown rice, oats (whole grain)	Rice, sorghum
Artificial additives	None	Some formulas contain artificial antioxidants
Price per kg	~$9.50/kg	~$5.00/kg
Daily cost (25kg dog)	~$2.38/day	~$1.25/day
AAFCO statement	Complete & balanced	Complete & balanced
Where to buy	PetCircle, PetBarn, PetStock	Woolworths, Coles, PetBarn, PetStock

Prices current as of May 2026. Advance price based on 13kg bag; Black Hawk based on 20kg bag.

Specialist Formula Ranges

Black Hawk Specialist Lines

✓Sensitive Kangaroo & Brown Rice (allergy)
✓Fish & Potato (novel protein)
✓Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice
✓Senior Lamb & Rice
–No weight management formula
–No dental formula

Advance Specialist Lines

✓Weight Control (calorie restricted)
✓Sensitive (digestive support + prebiotics)
✓Joint Care (glucosamine)
✓Dental (dental care kibble shape)
✓Large Breed Adult / Puppy
–No kangaroo / novel protein formula

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Black Hawk or Advance better for Australian dogs?

Black Hawk scores higher on ingredient quality (whole named meat first ingredient, no artificial additives, whole grains). Advance is cheaper, more widely available, and has a broader specialist range. Choose Black Hawk for ingredient quality; choose Advance for budget, convenience, or specific functional needs (weight control, dental, joint).

How much cheaper is Advance than Black Hawk?

Advance is approximately 45–50% cheaper per kg (~$5/kg vs ~$9.50/kg). For a 25 kg medium dog, the saving is about $1.13/day or ~$412/year — significant for multi-dog households.

Which is better for sensitive stomachs?

For confirmed food allergies: Black Hawk Sensitive Kangaroo (novel protein, single protein source). For general digestive sensitivity without confirmed allergy: Advance Sensitive (prebiotics, chicken and rice) is effective and more affordable.

Does Black Hawk have grain-free options?

No — Black Hawk uses whole grains (brown rice, oats) by design. This is nutritionally appropriate: whole grains are not allergens for most dogs, and high-legume grain-free diets have been associated with DCM in some breeds. For a grain-free option, Advance has a grain-free line.

More Brand Comparisons

Royal Canin vs Black Hawk

Premium international vs Australian

Royal Canin vs Hills Science Diet

Premium vet brands head-to-head

Find the Best Product for Your Dog

Our algorithm ranks both Black Hawk and Advance products against 70+ brands — matched to your dog's breed, age, weight, and health conditions.

Get Free Recommendations

3 free recommendations per month • No credit card required