Best dog food to keep your pooch happy at mealtimes

Whether they prefer wet, dry, or tailored, we've found the best dog food for your pooch.

Best dog food to keep your pooch happy at mealtimes

by Rosie Floyd |
Updated on

Just like we do for any other member of the family, we all want what's best for our dogs. That means making sure they're well looked after, with plenty of walkies, lots of toys to play with, regular trips to the groomers, and of course, making sure they've got delicious yet nutritious dog food to tuck into.

With wet food, dry food, and even food tailored specifically to your doggo to choose from, there's so much choice. It can be a difficult task picking food for your pet pooch. Luckily we're here to help as we've rounded up the best dog food you can buy online in the UK, delivered straight to your door.

Best dog food at a glance:

Best budget dry food: Bakers Adult Dry Dog Food Chicken and Veg - View on Amazon UK
Best all-natural wet food: Lily’s Kitchen Classic Dinner Multipack – View on Lily’s Kitchen
Best tailored dry dog food: Tails.com – View on Tails.com

Things to consider when buying food for your pooch

Dogs come in all different shapes and sizes, depending on their breed and their age. Ultimately, this will affect what type of food you give your pooch. If your doggo has health issues, like a sensitive stomach or teeth/gum disease, or they're under or overweight, you may want to ensure their food won't add to or upset their conditions.

As well as that, here are some other things we think you need to consider when buying your dog's food.

Cost

The cost of living crisis is affecting everything, even the price of dog food. Think realistically about how much of your monthly budget can be dedicated to your pooch.

Where you'll put it

Buying in bulk can often save you money, but make sure you've got somewhere to store it all. Multipacks of tins and big bags of kibble can take up the most room.

Your pup's preferences

It's not just humans that can be fussy eaters, dogs will also pick and choose what they eat. Has your dog turned its nose up at what you've offered them previously? You might want to hold back on bulk-buying until you're sure they like it.

Best dry dog food UK

Dry food is great value for money as they come in bigger bags. More food also means you won't have to buy it as often. You can easily measure out an exact portion from a bag of dry food, ensuring your pooch is having the right amount for their breed and age. Some dogs may also prefer the crunchy texture of dry food to wet food.

Take a look at our picks for the best dry dog food.

Best budget dry dog food

Looking for food that will be wonderfully nutritious for your pooch that also won't break the bank? You can't go wrong with this Bakers dry food. It's got Vitamin D and minerals for strong teeth and bones, while Vitamin A and zinc will help to support a healthy coat and skin.

Our review: "Gina can be a bit of a fussy eater at times so when I find a food that she likes, I make sure I buy loads of it so she's got enough to last her for a while. This huge bag is really cost-effective for the amount Gina has for her meals and will last her a good chunk of the year. While that's a win in my eyes, Gina really likes it because the biscuits are small enough for her to chomp with her tiny teeth."

Pros

  • The recipe uses superfoods that are known for their beneficial impact on intestinal health
  • Good value

Cons

  • May not be suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs

Best dry dog food for overweight dogs

Royal Canin Veterinary Health Nutrition Satiety Adult Dry Dog Food
Price: £14.99-£67.59

www.petsathome.com

Royal Canin's Satiety Weight Management food is exclusively formulated to meet the nutritional needs of overweight dogs. It's designed to support safe weight loss in dogs while also helping to reduce the chance of weight regain.

Our review: "Barney has always been a big boy and as everyone knows, labradors are notoriously greedy when it comes to eating. When he had to lose a significant amount of weight before he could have surgery, our vet recommended this food to us to help him reach his target in time. It took Barney a little getting used to the smaller portions but he looked forward to mealtimes every day when he knew this was coming in his bowl. From an owner's point of view, the guide on the packaging was super handy for working out how much food he could have in relation to how many KG he had to lose to be his ideal weight."

Pros

  • High in natural fibre to reduce begging in between meals
  • Helps your pooch lose weight

Cons

  • You should seek a vet's advice before your dog tries this food

Best for fussy eaters

If your doggo gets bored of their food easily, we think they'll love this dry food from Lily's Kitchen. It's made with proper chicken and duck as well as vegetables, such as sweet potato, to give your four-legged friend a yummy and nutritionally complete meal.

Reviewed by Emily Gilbert: "I've always steered clear of Lily's Kitchen dog food because of the price, but after seeing how much more my dog enjoys her food when we received a bag of Countryside Casserole to try, I won't be buying her anything else. I really like how many nutritional ingredients are used in Lily's Kitchen dog food and that I can feel confident that it's good for her health."

Pros

  • Balanced with Omega 3 and 6 to help your dog's fur stay healthy, shiny and soft
  • Grain-free recipe

Cons

  • Some reviewers thought it was a more premium option for everyday meals

Best for a new mum and her puppies

Is your dog expecting or just had a litter? This Royal Canin Mini Starter Mother and Babydog food will be gentle on the tummy and full of nutrients for both mum and her puppies. It can be used right from gestation through to weaning.

Customer review: "Not only did this food help with the demands of pregnancy and lactating for my Pug but once the five puppies were old enough it really helped continue the wonderful job their mum had started. Received many compliments on how lovely and well both mum and puppies looked and I believe this food played a part."

Pros

  • The pieces are nice and small
  • Gentle recipe

Cons

  • Some reviewers wished the bag was resealable

Best for dogs with digestive issues

If your pooch has a sensitive tum or a poor digestive system, this food is the one for them as it's grain-free and completely dry. It includes 45 per cent salmon, which tends to be easier for dogs to digest than meat, and sweet potatoes as a digestion-aiding fibre.

Customer review: "It's fantastic food with one source of protein from salmon. One of my dogs is alergic to poultry (especially chicken) and this food causes 0 allergies after using it for around 3 years."

Pros

  • Contains psyllium which promotes firm stools

Cons

  • Some reviewers thought the chunks were too big for their dog

Best wet dog food UK

Wet dog food can be enjoyed on its own or mixed in with dry food to be a deliciously nutritious treat at dinner time for your four-legged friend. If your dog has problems with their teeth/gums, they may prefer this type of food as it'll be softer for them to chew. As wet food contains water, it's a great source of extra hydration for them, too.

Discover the best wet dog food for your pooch below.

Best all-natural wet food

Made with freshly prepared meat, vegetables, fruit, and herbs, this is a multipack of nutritionally complete meals for your dog, with cottage pie, chicken and turkey casserole, lamb hotpot, and Sunday lunch to choose from.

Reviewed by Emily Gilbert: "My dog loves her wet food and wastes no time in getting stuck into her dinner when the Lily's Kitchen wet food is popped into her bowl. As well as her enjoying it, I also really like knowing it's full of good stuff for her as her health is my utmost priority. You also get such a good amount of food in one tin that we actually find that we can stretch it over three meals when mixed with dry food."

Pros

  • Contains natural ingredients with no added sugar
  • Different traditional flavours included

Cons

  • More premium option

Best wet food to promote healthy digestion

Bursting with vitamins and minerals and packed with protein and vital amino acids, this fresh food is hypoallergenic and contains prebiotics to aid with healthy digestion. The pack includes three of each of the following flavours: Chicken, pumpkin and pea, chicken and beef, turkey and chicken, and turkey and duck.

Customer review: "My border collie is happy with this wet food. packaging is environmentally friendly & easy to open."

Pros

  • Doesn't contain grain, gluten, soy, or dairy
  • 100 per cent recyclable packaging

Cons

  • Some reviewers felt the portions were too big per carton

Best value wet dog food

Are you the kind of dog owner that likes to stock up on your pooch's food? You'll be more than prepared for the months ahead as there are 120 pouches included for the price, making it great value for money, too.

Customer review: "Portion size is a little small, but I think the flavour is good as my little dog woofs it down and good value for money, especially as it’s grain free."

Pros

  • 100 per cent complete and balanced
  • Stock up and save

Cons

  • You may need to use more than one pouch per meal for larger dogs

Best wet dog food for puppies

Provide your pup with the best start possible with Royal Canin's wet puppy food. It contains an antioxidant complex enriched with Vitamin E to support natural immune system function, ensuring your puppy has the energy needed for healthy growth and development.

Customer review: "Royal canine puppy wet food our puppy loves it does not leave the bowl till all gone."

Pros

  • Contributes to healthy, gentle digestion
  • Small size chunks for little mouths

Cons

  • Not designed for puppies over 10kg

Best grain-free wet food

With no sugars, artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives, this grain-free food is easy to digest and is full of natural goodness. It's got a high meat content, so your dog will be sure to lap it up.

Customer review: "Really high-quality wet food (high meat ratio) with good flavour variety. My dog loves this food. After she started turning her nose up at plain biscuits I started mixing a little into her food each day and now she loves it again. My dog is 10kg and gets 1/8th of the tray every am and pm with a handful of kibble. I do this mainly to lower cost (1 box will last me a over a month). I portion out the tray when I open it into 8th and then freeze half in a takeaway box as each tray then lasts 4 days but should be used within 2. Great cheap way of including high nutrition food into her diet. I often use for enrichment too as the food can easily be spread on a lick mat and frozen or stuffed into a kong. Good for hiding tablets in too."

Pros

  • Made with 75 per cent turkey, lamb or duck
  • Grain-free recipe

Cons

  • Some reviewers didn't like the smell of the food

Best tailored dog food UK

Tailored dog food is an option that's becoming more and more popular with owners. It's food formulated to the specific needs of your doggo, adjusted to their breed, size, and lifestyle to ensure they have everything they need to stay happy and healthy.

Best tailored dry dog food

Tails.com
Price: £13.51+ a month

tails.com

Ensure your dog gets the right balance of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals for their breed and lifestyle in every bite with Tails tailored food. Tails give you portion recommendations and the recipes changes with your dog as they age so you can be sure your dog has exactly what they need during every stage of their life.

Read our full Tails.com review here.

Pros

  • Includes portion scoop for weight control

Cons

  • Starting price is based on dry food for a toy breed per month on average, so will be more pricey for larger breeds and wet food

Best tailored fresh dog food

Butternut BoxButternut Box
Price: £1.60+ per day

butternutbox.com

Butternut Box creates meals for dogs of all shapes and sizes. This fresh and healthy food is full of good stuff that dogs need, with the right balance of vitamins and minerals and 'human-quality' meat and vegetables.

Read our full Butternut Box review here.

Pros

  • Uses quality ingredients to make portion-controlled meals

Cons

  • Fridge/freezer space is required for the pouches
  • Price varies by breed/weight

FAQs

How do you change your dog's food?

If you're looking to switch over your dog's food to something new, you need to make the transition in the right way. Even minor changes to their diet can alter their mood, upset their stomachs, and disturb their toilet habits. The best way to get your dog to eat new food is to introduce them to it very gently.

Experts recommend starting out with 25 per cent new food and 75 per cent old for the first few days. If your dog doesn't seem phased and their stools are still looking healthy, you can then increase the amount of new food. Do this bit by bit, adding more every few days until their bowl is filled completely with the new food.

Whether you're changing the brand of the same type of food or introducing your dog to wet or dry food for the first time, the same guidance applies. If you're worried about any changes in your dog after they've eaten anything new, call your vet. They'll be more than happy to offer you some advice.

How much food should you feed your dog?

Feeding your dog the right amount of food is super important and it will keep them healthy and prevent obesity. Of course, no two dogs are the same. There are many different factors, such as their breed, type, age, health, and lifestyle, that will affect how much food you give them.

The packaging of your chosen food should offer you some guidance so you can work out the correct amount of food for your pooch's target weight. It's also a good idea to use measuring scales to weigh the food so you can be certain you're not giving them too much or too little.

PDSA has a great video with advice on how much to feed your dog, which you can watch below.

If you're concerned about your dog's weight at all, the best people to talk to are your vets. They will be able to offer you recommendations for the type of food and the amount your dog should be eating.

Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.

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