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Our Verdict
Hartwick Fields dry product range is made up of six recipes all with The Dog Food Advisor’s high rating of 4 stars.
Pros
- Affordable
- Protein-rich recipes
- Ease of ordering
Cons
- Contains plant-based fillers
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Hartwick Fields Small Breed Adult Real Chicken and Whole Grain | 4 | M |
| Hartwick Fields Adult Real Chicken and Whole Grain | 4 | M |
| Hartwick Fields Large Breed Adult Real Chicken and Whole Grain | 4 | M |
| Hartwick Fields Adult Real Lamb and Whole Grain | 4 | M |
| Hartwick Fields Puppy Real Chicken and Whole Grain | 4 | A |
| Hartwick Fields Adult Real Beef and Whole Grain | 4 | M |
Hartwick Fields Large Breed Adult Real Chicken and Whole Grain
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, oatmeal, ground corn, chicken by-product meal, brown rice, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, dried peas, dried carrots, dried egg product, natural flavor, dried plain beet pulp, dicalcium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, inulin, taurine, l-carnitine, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, mixed tocopherols (a preservative), citric acid (a preservative), l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, ferrous sulfate, niacin supplement, copper sulfate, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, D-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, manganous oxide, riboflavin supplement, sodium selenite, vitamin D3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 13% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 30% | 15% | 48% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 26% | 32% | 42% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
The third ingredient is ground corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is chicken by-products, what’s left of a slaughtered chicken after all the choice cuts have been removed.
In addition to organs, this item can also include feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs and almost anything other than prime skeletal muscle.
The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.
The fifth ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The sixth ingredient is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrates washed out of it.
Although corn gluten meal contains 60% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label – a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth ingredient is dried peas. Dried peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus they’re naturally rich in dietary fiber.
However, dried peas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The ninth ingredient is dried carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
This recipe has four notable exceptions.
Firstly, this recipe contains beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high-fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
Also added is taurine, an essential amino acid for cats associated with the healthy function of heart muscle and eyesight, and is crucial for maintaining good health in dogs.
We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
Next, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
In addition, this food includes chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Hartwick Fields Large Breed Adult Real Chicken and Whole Grain looks like an above-average, dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29.5%, a fat level of 15% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 48%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 30% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 52%.
This means this Hartwick Fields dry range contains near-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and near-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.
Hartwick Fields Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Hartwick Fields through April 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Hartwick Fields Dog Food
Hartwick Fields dry recipes are formulated with a good level of protein as the first ingredient. They meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for puppies, adults and senior dog maintenance.
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