The Best Dog Foods in the UK for 2023: A Comprehensive Guide

The Best Dog Foods in the UK for 2023: A Comprehensive Guide. When it comes to choosing the best dog food for your beloved pet, it's a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. The market is flooded with an array of options, each claiming to be the ultimate choice for your furry friend. However, the truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. The best dog food for your pet will depend on a variety of factors, including their unique needs and your personal preferences.

The Best Dog Foods in the UK for 2023: 

At Smart Bark, we understand the importance of finding the perfect nourishment for your canine companion. In this comprehensive guide, we've conducted in-depth research, rigorous testing, and thorough reviews to bring you the most up-to-date recommendations for the best dog foods in the UK for 2023.

The Changing Landscape of Dog Food

The world of dog food is evolving at a rapid pace, and it's an exciting time for both pet owners and their furry companions. No longer do you need to settle for a 15-kilogram bag of kibble or make the arduous trip to a physical store. As the demand for specialized nutrition and high-quality, human-grade ingredients grows, we're witnessing a revolution in the dog food market.

Recent statistics from independent parcel carrier Yodel reveal that pet food deliveries have more than doubled in the last four years. As responsible dog owners, we're scrutinizing our pets' diets, prioritizing their health and well-being, and seeking sustainable and ethical brands. According to The UK Pet Food's Annual Report in 2023:

- There are approximately 12 million dogs in the UK.

- 31% of households own a dog.

- The pet food industry is worth a staggering £3.8 billion.

Traditionally, the dog food market was dominated by trusted national brands. However, as modern dog lovers explore specialized nutrition and the inclusion of high-quality human-grade ingredients, private-label dog foods are taking the market by storm. A multitude of companies is revolutionizing the face of UK dog food, and we've included the very best in our round-up.

Updates for October 2023

In our commitment to providing the most accurate and current information, we've conducted a new round of testing. We're excited to introduce two new top picks to our list for 2023:

- **Years.com** in the Fresh category.

- **Grub Club** in the Insect category.

We've also updated this article to reflect recent changes made by All About Dog Food (AADF) to their Nutritional Ratings. You can use the table of contents to navigate to the section that interests you the most or read on for a detailed overview of the best dog foods available.

How to Choose the Best Food for Your Dog

Selecting the right dog food for your pet is a decision that should consider several important factors:

Your Dog's Eating Habits

First, consider your dog's eating habits. Do they have allergies? Are they a picky eater? How much do they eat? Understanding your dog's preferences and dietary requirements will make it easier to choose the brand that best suits them.

Your Own Preferences

What type of food would you prefer to serve your dog? When you know your own preferences, such as whether you prefer kibble, wet food, or a specialized diet, it becomes easier to decide which brand aligns with your choices.

Nutritional Value

The nutritional value of the dog food, including the quality of ingredients, is paramount. We've done the groundwork for you, conducting extensive testing and reviewing products with a variety of dogs, from easy-to-please Labradors to fussy Cockapoos. To ensure we provide the most accurate information, we've used ratings from All About Dog Food for nutritional comparisons.

Budget and Storage

Your budget and available storage space also play a vital role in selecting the right dog food. Some brands offer cost-effective subscription plans, excellent customer service, user-friendly websites, and fantastic offers, making them a compelling choice for many dog owners.

In our pursuit of finding the best dog food, only the top performers made it to our list. If you've recently welcomed a new furry addition to your family, be sure to check out our "Best Puppy Food Review."

Our Picks of The Best Dog Foods for 2023

**1. Best Raw Dog Food: Naturaw**

- Reasons to Buy:

  - Best for fussy dogs

  - Ideal for sensitive tummies

  - Great for dogs with allergies

  - Commitment to sustainability

  - Suits dog lovers with freezer space

  - Money-saving bundles

  - Next-day delivery

- Reasons to Avoid:

  - If you have a lack of freezer space

**Behind the Brand:** Multi-award-winning raw dog food business

**Range:** Forage, Original, Simple (DIY), and Taster Boxes

**Variety:** Forage (7 recipes), Original (16 recipes), Simply (4 recipes)

**Price:** £ - £££ depending on range and delivery volumes

New to our review for 2023 is Naturaw, an ethical, high-quality British raw dog food brand. Their Forage dog food range was recently awarded the UK's highest-rated dog food on the independent advice site AADF (All About Dog Food). Naturaw is not just known for its exceptionally high-quality raw dog food; they are also deeply committed to sustainability, having received the prestigious King's Award for Enterprise for its excellence in sustainable development.

In a world where sustainability is becoming increasingly important, Naturaw is leading the way by embedding sustainability into its practices and operations. From their 100% compostable packaging to tree planting initiatives and generating their own solar power, sustainability is at the heart of their brand.

Naturaw offers a nutritionally balanced range of dog food, free from fillers and grains. You can opt to buy their food in a money-saving variety bundle (a Taster Box) or choose individual recipes. If you're new to raw dog food, their 'New To Raw Feeding Box' is an excellent starting point.

The recently extended Forage range, available in 7 recipes, features high-welfare British meat and is complemented with superfood ingredients like Atlantic mackerel, fruits, vegetables, and botanicals. The Forage range has been carefully designed for its nutritional value.

Considering the value Naturaw offers, their exceptional Forage range, free delivery, and excellent customer service, they have earned their spot on our list of the best dog foods for 2023.

**2. Best Dry Dog Food: Forthglade**

- Reasons to Buy:

  - Best for convenience

  - Long shelf life

  - Kind to your pocket

  - No fridge/freezer space required

- Reasons to Avoid:

  - Picky dogs tend to prefer wet foods

**Behind the Brand:** 50 years of expertise in Pet Nutrition

**Range:** Cold Pressed Dry, NEW Lightly Baked Dry & wet food, treats & dental sticks

**Variety:** Turkey, Duck, Chicken & NEW Salmon

Kibble remains a popular choice for many dog lovers due to its convenience. If you opt for kibble, we recommend choosing the best quality you can afford and having it delivered to your doorstep. Cold-pressed kibbles, a relatively new innovation, have been gaining popularity quickly. They offer the benefits of conventional dry foods without the potentially damaging high temperatures associated with extrusion methods.

Forthglade's cold-pressed dog food is grain-free and available in various sizes. What sets them apart is the high nutritional rating they've received, with All About Dog Food rating their Cold Pressed at 77%.

One standout feature of Forthglade's dry food is that all recipes are formulated to include a remarkable 75% of salmon, lamb, duck, beef, or turkey. The company is known for its strong commitment to quality and its extensive range of complementary wet foods that can be used as tasty toppers.

For those who are new to Forthglade, the option of a 1 kg trial size is an excellent choice. It's designed for puppies under 14 weeks and offers deliveries every two weeks to match their nutritional needs. Forthglade also offers a "Subscribe and Save" option, with a 10% saving and free deliveries on orders over £30.

The NEW Lightly Baked Range is another attractive option, featuring three recipes with an impressive 50% single-source protein. It may not match the nutritional rating of the Cold Pressed range, but it still offers a highly respectable 70% rating. If you're looking for a high-quality kibble that's easy on the pocket, Forthglade's Cold Pressed food is an excellent choice.

**3. Best Tailored Dry Food: tails.com**

- Reasons to Buy:

  - Tailored to your dog

  - Best for convenience

  - Long shelf life

  - Flexible ordering

  - No fridge/freezer space required

- Reasons to Avoid:

  - Picky dogs tend to prefer wet foods

**Behind the Brand:** 250,000 happily fed dogs

**Range:** Customized dry kibble, wet food, treats, dental chews & poo bags

**Variety:** Tailored

Tailored dog food has become a preferred choice for many dog lovers, especially those looking to address allergies or health issues. What tails.com offers is a blend of convenience and customization, creating a unique recipe tailored to your dog's specific needs.

The process of creating a custom recipe with tails.com is straightforward. By using their online quiz, you can provide essential information about your dog, such as their breed, age, lifestyle, and health. The company then customizes a unique diet specifically for your pup.

For puppies under 14 weeks, tails.com offers bi-weekly deliveries to meet their changing nutritional needs. This flexible approach ensures that the food is always aligned with your dog's requirements. Whether your dog is a picky eater or has specific flavor preferences, tails.com can tailor the food to accommodate their likes and dislikes.

The cost of tails.com's custom recipe is transparent, and they even provide a portion scoop to ensure you're feeding your dog the correct amount of calories daily. The company offers easy options to pause, amend, delay, or stop deliveries, giving you the flexibility you need.

If you're looking for a unique blend of kibble that's customized to your dog and delivered to your door, tails.com is worth exploring. They are one of the best-tailored dry dog food providers on the UK market, with over 30,000 positive reviews from satisfied dog lovers on Trustpilot.

**4. Best Air Dried Dog Food: Pure Pet Food**

- Reasons to Buy:

  - Ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs

  - Great if you have limited freezer space

  - Long shelf life

  - Customized for your dog

- Reasons to Avoid:

  - If you're looking for fresh dog food

**Behind the Brand:** Innovative air-dried food customized for your dog

**Range:** On-line tailored food and a capsule range in Pets at Home

**Recipes:** 7 recipes

Pure Pet Food offers an excellent alternative to kibble, particularly for dogs with sensitive stomachs, or allergies, or those owners who prefer not to feed their dogs pricier fresh, raw, or home-cooked food. Their air-dried dog food is a smart and healthy choice.

The air-drying process acts as a natural preservative, eliminating the need for additional preservatives or high temperatures that could potentially harm the food's nutritional value. Each ingredient is finely chopped to ensure digestibility, and the low-temperature air-drying process retains essential nutrients. All you need to do is add water, stir, and serve!

The high nutritional rating of 80% that Pure Pet Food has received speaks to the quality of its recipes. This makes them a great option for owners of dogs with ailments and sensitive stomachs. The online subscription service allows you to take a short quiz to get a personalized meal plan for your dog.

One of the standout features of Pure Pet Food is its flexibility and adaptability. Your custom recipe evolves as your dog ages and experiences changes in activity levels and weight. If your dog has specific flavor preferences, their food can be customized to reflect these tastes. If, for any reason, your dog doesn't like the recipe, Pure Pet Food will change it for free.

Considering its easy storage, home delivery, and the option to tailor the food to meet your dog's nutritional requirements, Pure Pet Food offers exceptional value in the market.

**5. Best Fresh Dog Food: NEW Pick for 2023**

- Reasons to Buy:

  - Very high nutritional rating

  - No fridge or freezer storage concerns

  - Additional Superfood Supplement

  - Tailored to breed and life-stage

  - Trial box available

- Reasons to Avoid:

  - Only 5 recipes

**Behind the Brand:** NEW UK fresh dog food brand

**Range:** Ex Luxury Yacht Head Chef & Veterinary Clinical Nutrition Specialist designed dog food

**Variety:** 5 recipes plus a range designed specifically for puppies

Fresh dog food has gained popularity among dog lovers, particularly those with pets that have sensitive tummies and allergies, or those who desire convenient home delivery. Years.com is a relatively new player in the fresh dog food market and a significant part of the dog food revolution.

Years.com has achieved an exceptionally high nutritional rating of 96% on the independent dog food rating site "All About Dog Food." Their commitment to quality goes beyond human-grade meats; they insist on using human cuts of meat, such as chicken thigh, salmon fillet, and matured steak.

One of the standout features of Years.com is its storage convenience. Unlike rivals that require freezing and refrigeration, Years.com can be stored in your cupboard. Their food remains fresh thanks to the unique cooking process, which eliminates the need for preservatives. The food is minimally processed and only needs refrigeration once opened.

Years.com offers a range of five recipes, all of which include a variety of high-quality ingredients. Notably, all their recipes are grain and legume-free, making them suitable for dogs with intolerances.

Years.com offers an online subscription service, with a 3-minute quiz to generate a personalized meal plan for your dog. The company also includes a Superfood Supplement designed to address common ailments and allergies and support healthy gut flora.

If you're in search of top-quality, highly nutritious fresh dog food that's tailored to your dog's needs and delivered to your doorstep, Years.com is an excellent choice. It's a valuable option without the usual fresh food storage concerns.

**6. Best Wet Dog Food: Forthglade**

- Reasons to Buy:

  - Convenience

  - Ideal for fussy pups

  - Long shelf life

- Reasons to Avoid:

  - Pricier than most dried options

**Behind the Brand:** 50 years worth of expertise in Pet Nutrition

**Range:** Adult, Senior & Puppy

**Variety:** 18 grain-free recipes & 9 wholegrain recipes & variety packs

Forthglade offers two ranges of complete wet food, including grain-free and Wholegrain options. Regardless of the range, all their recipes contain 75% of salmon, lamb, duck, beef, or turkey. Their Complete Grain Free wet food was named the Best Wet Dog Food in 2023 by Your Dog Magazine, as voted by readers.

Forthglade's recipes are formulated to include 75% salmon, lamb, duck, beef, or turkey, ensuring that your dog gets a high-quality protein source in every meal. They offer grain-free and wholegrain recipes, both of which have received positive reviews from pet owners.

[ENDORSEMENT]

"This article provides an in-depth comparison of the best dog food options in the UK for 2023, catering to a variety of dog owners' preferences and dietary needs. Whether you're looking for tailored dry food, fresh dog food, or traditional wet food, this guide covers the top choices available, taking into account factors like nutritional ratings, convenience, and storage. Each brand discussed in this article brings something unique to the table, ensuring there's a suitable option for all dog lovers. By offering this comprehensive overview, dog owners can make an informed decision when choosing the best food for their furry companions." - [https://insandosteasylife.blogspot.com/]

**Conclusion**

Choosing the right dog food for your furry friend can be a challenging decision. Each of the dog food brands listed in this article has unique qualities and is well-regarded in the industry. Your choice ultimately depends on your dog's specific needs, your budget, and your personal preferences.

For those who prefer tailored dry kibble, tails.com provides an innovative approach to creating a customized diet for your dog. If you want the convenience of kibble without the potentially damaging high temperatures, Forthglade's cold-pressed dry food is an excellent choice.

Pure Pet Food offers an alternative to traditional kibble with air-dried dog food that is easy to store and convenient to prepare. If you're looking for fresh dog food with top-notch nutritional value and no storage concerns, Years.com is a fantastic option.

For those who prefer the ease of wet dog food, Forthglade offers a variety of grain-free and wholegrain recipes with high-quality protein sources.

Remember that the best dog food for your pet depends on their individual needs, so it's essential to consult with your veterinarian and consider your dog's specific dietary requirements. By exploring the options discussed in this article, you can make an informed decision to provide the best nutrition for your canine companion.