Included in our dog food review are only dog foods that are rated highly based on the criteria that we believe are most important.  Ingredients are key but other aspects such as company policy to animal testing are also taken into consideration when reviewing dog foods.

Below you will the main criteria for how we've rated these dog foods so that you understand the basis of selection for this dog food review. We hope that this helps your understanding of the dog foods that are available in the UK and allows you to compare them.

I think that you should decide which foods are inappropriate for your dog. This website provides you with the knowledge to help you make that decision. If you want to comment on either the recommended dog foods or other dog foods - good or bad - then please use the forums.

The top UK dog foods recommended are:

   Symply Dog Food, James Wellbeloved, Arden Grange, Natural dog food company

Others to consider are
   Burns, Orijen (not made in the UK, made in Canada), Lily's Kitchen (made in Europe)

Please note that many (if not all) of the better dog foods are not available in supermarkets. You will tend to find them available in pet shop specialists (or some sell on-line).

Criteria used

Must used a named protein source
e.g. dried lamb meat, lamb meal

All cereals must be named, preferably with % content
e.g. rice, oats
Preference given to cereals with higher levels of digestibility such as rice over lower quality cereals such as corn, sorghum, corn

Fats must have the animal source named
e.g. turkey fat, lamb fat

Preserved only with natural antioxidants. Natural antioxidants often include tocopherols and rosemary.

Must not contain
"meat and animal derivatives", "poultry by-products"

Must contain not artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives.
Labelling must not state "EEC permitted antioxidants"

Labelling must not contain:
"animal fats", "poultry fats"

Any dog foods containing any of the following is automatically red carded for inclusion:

• Meat and animal derivatives
• The term "cereal"
• Artificial colourings
• Artificial flavourings
• Artificial Preservatives
• EC Permitted additives
• Unspecified fat source
• Containing wheat or sorghum