best human food for dogs uk
Best Dog Food For Picky Eaters UK 2024 (Tried and Tested)
Key Points
- Weve tried and tested some of the leading UK dog food delivery brands
- My fussy dogs eating habits improved after switching to a dog food delivery service
- Our current top pick is Butternut Box (Click to get 50% off your first two boxes)
It can be very worrying when your dog is refusing to eat their food.
While sometimes this can be a sign of illness, there are some dogs that are just fussy when it comes to what meals they eat.
As a pet owner with two picky eaters, I know all too well about the stress involved with trying to find dog food for fussy pups.
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper and Skye with their Butternut Box delivery (Photo: hellobark.com)
Ive got two Alaskan Klee Kai dogs who are notoriously particular about their meals, often turning their nose up at the contents of their dog bowl.
However, I was introduced to the dog food delivery concept and fortunately these freshly prepared meals changed my Klee Kais eating habits.
They were no longer fussy and instead gobbled down their home-cooked food, with the meals conveniently delivered directly to my door.
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper with his Butternut Box delivery (Photo: hellobark.com)
Having experienced the challenges involved with owning fussy dogs, Ive taken a look at some of the best tasting dog food for fussy and picky eaters.
In this article, I will review my top picks based upon my personal experience.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as veterinary, medical or professional advice. The content of our articles does not constitute veterinary advice. Its always best to speak with your vet or a certified pet nutritionist before making any changes to your pet's diet or feeding routine.
Best Dog Food For Fussy Eaters UK At A Glance
Best Dog Food For Picky Eaters UK
Lets cut straight to the chase and take a look at four of the best dog food options for pet owners with picky eaters available in the UK right now based upon my experience testing the food on my two fussy dogs.
Editor's note: Be sure to check the latest information shown on the official website of any product you're considering purchasing, as details may change from time to time and therefore may differ from what's shown on this page.
1) Butternut Box
Website: www.butternutbox.com
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper with his Butternut Box delivery (Photo: hellobark.com)
Butternut Box are looking to provide dog owners with a fresh alternative when it comes to dog nutrition. They only use the freshest possible ingredients in their home-cooked meals, which are tailored to meet your dogs specific needs.
Whether your four-legged friend needs to lose weight or gain weight, or youre just looking to spice up their meals, Butternut Box have you covered. You wont find any mystery fillers and preservatives unlike some traditional options.
Some of the recipes that were included in our Butternut Box delivery (Photo: hellobark.com)
They offer 10 different recipes so there should be something for all dogs, whether they prefer, chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, duck, game, pork or something else. You can mix and match in order to keep your fussy eaters taste buds guessing.
My Alaskan Klee Kai dogs have always been fussy eaters and they quickly become bored with kibble. While chicken and rice was a temporary fix, I wanted something more long term to keep them happy in the UK. They loved Butternut Boxs meals and still do! I wasnt used to seeing my dogs get excited about mealtime but they now sit by their bowls when they know its time to be fed. They lick each others bowls to make sure there are no scraps left over.
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper and Skye with their Butternut Box delivery (Photo: hellobark.com)
I can see that the meals are used with human grade ingredients. Butternut Box use pre-portioned pouches, so serving my dogs is as simple as rip and serve. The pouches are much more space efficient than some other companies Ive tried. As a pet owner who cares about the environment, I really appreciated that Butternut Box use boxes, ice packs and insulation that can all be recycled.
Butternut Box have an incredible score of 4.8 out of 5 from more than 20,000 reviews on Trustpilot. Thats a lot of happy dog and dog owners!
Of the dog food delivery companies that Ive reviewed, Butternut Box represent the best overall value and thats why theyre my number one picky for dog owners with picky eaters.
We can offer helloBARK! readers who are genuinely interested in making a permanent change to fresh and healthy meals an exclusive discount on Butternut Boxs meals. New customers can get 50% off their first two boxes by signing up to Butternut Box through this link.
2) Pure Pet Food
Website: purepetfood.com
Alaskan Klee Kai with their Pure Pet Food (Photo: hellobark.com)
Pure Pet Food offer a slightly different alternative. Pure have created air-dried dog food that is combined with water to create your dogs balanced and complete meals.
They source their ingredients within the UK and your dogs recipes will be full of the same ingredients that youd find in your own food. So you can feel confident your dog is eating a diet comprised of ingredients that youd eat itself.
Pure Pet Food (Photo: hellobark.com)
Pure finely chop and gently remove the moisture from their ingredients to naturally preserve them and lock in their nutritional goodness. They only use natural ingredients and dont include any nasties as they prepare their healthy meals in their dedicated kitchen in Yorkshire.
They add that air drying is a natural form of preservation so Pure dont have to cook their recipes at harmful high temperatures or use high-pressure processing methods. Pure Pet Food do offer a more convenient way of feeding your dog balanced and complete meals seeing as their air-dried food can be stored in your cupboard rather than taking up fridge or freezer space thats a bonus.
Pure Pet Food (Photo: hellobark.com)
Theyre more economical than pre-cooked dog meals. While my dogs enjoyed Pure Pet Food, they did prefer their pre-cooked meals but thats just my two! Pure have a great reputation for helping picky eaters, which is evident when you read through their 6,000+ reviews on Trustpilot, where theyve got an average score of 4.6.
3) Different Dog
Website: www.differentdog.com
Skye and Different Dogs Health+ range (Photo: hellobark.com)
Different Dog are a Shropshire company looking to revolutionise the way dog owners feed their pups in the UK, steering pet parents away from traditional dog food options.
They want to improve your dogs health (and happiness) by feeding them with their home-cooked recipes, which have been created with help from vet nutritionists. Their recipes are all hand-cooked so you know that they really create these meals with the fine details in mind. You just need to fill out a questionnaire when you sign up to give them all the key information about your dog.
Copper and Different Dogs Health+ range (Photo: hellobark.com)
Different Dog offer a tasty menu of 10 recipes to choose from and pet parents can mix and match to ensure their fussy eater has variety. Different Dog are good option for pet owners with picky eaters because theyve got such a diverse range of recipes. There really is something to satisfy every dog, even if youve got an extremely fussy canine companion.
They store their meals in trays, which can be a bit troublesome if youve got a small freezer like me or limited space but Different Dog are a fantastic option for dog owners if budget isnt an issue.
Alaskan Klee Kai with Different Dog (Photo: hellobark.com)
Theyve got a great average rating of 4.9 stars from more than 1,500 reviews on Trustpilot. They offer a premium service so expect to pay a premium price. If youve got the room in your budget, they could be a fantastic option for your fussy pup.
You can get 35% off your first two Different Dog boxes by entering HELLOBARKCC35 at the checkout when you visit: differentdog.com
4) Tails
Website: tails.com
Copper and Skye with their Tails dog food (Photo: hellobark.com)
Tails are a dog food delivery company who offer pet parents a range of dry and wet food. Unlike Butternut Box and Different Dog, they dont offer home-cooked fresh meals that look like human food.
Having said that, Tails still use natural ingredients in their kibble, which they say is baked to perfection. They still customise their meals to meet your fussy eaters needs based upon the information you provide when you sign up. So your dogs specific requirements will met, whether they need to eat more or shed a few pounds.
Copper and Tails dog food (Photo: hellobark.com)
Tails go into great detail about their food, showing complete transparency. They provide a customised scooper with your first order with instructions on how to make it the right dimensions. This ensures you wont overfeed your dog. Tails offer three flavours for dogs: lamb, salmon and chicken.
As you would expect from balanced and healthy dog meals, theres lots of grains and vegetables in their recipes. These include peas, beet pulp, potatoes, brown rice, oats, sweet potatoes and carrots. If you want to stick with dry food, Tails have some fantastic kibble options to ensure your dog is eating dog food free from any nasties or unwanted additives.
Tails dog food (Photo: hellobark.com)
We think Tails is a good option for pet parents who want to stick with kibble. I must admit that my Alaskan Klee Kais reaction to the dry food wasnt as enthusiastic as their love for Butternut Box and Different Dog. Having said that, they may simply prefer home-cooked meals to kibble. Tails get 4.3 out of 5 stars from more than 35,000 reviews on Trustpilot.
We have another exclusive offer for customers whod like to try Tails for their picky eaters. Our readers can get 75% off their first order of Tails when they click this link. To sign up, visit tails.com.
How Dog Food Delivery Companies Can Help Fussy Eaters
I really believe in the benefits that dog food delivery companies can bring to pet parents who have picky or fussy canine companions. And Ive already reviewed the best dog food delivery options in the UK.
But lets here some more reasons why you should consider giving a dog food delivery company a go.
Copper and Tails dog food (Photo: hellobark.com)
Fresh And Tasty Ingredients The number one reason why you should give these meals a try is the fresh ingredients they use in their meals. After all, if we wouldnt eat the meals why should we expect are dogs to eat them?
Customised Meals For Your Fussy Dog These dog food delivery companies can tailor their meals to meet your pups specific needs. You can specify if your four-legged friend has a history of being a fussy eater.
Some of the recipes that were included in our Butternut Box delivery (Photo: hellobark.com)
Lots Of Recipe Variety They provide lots of recipe variety so you have flexibility to change up your dogs meals when you feel you need to spice it up.
Pre-Portioned Meals You may be tempted to overfeed your dog when you see them gobble down their balanced and complete meals. Some companies pre portion their meals so you know exactly how much to feed your dog.
Pure Pet Food (Photo: hellobark.com)
Guarantee Most dog food delivery companies will give you a refund if your pet doesnt like their food. You can also get a sample or trial box.
Anything Else To Consider?
We dont recommend making an immediate switch when you receive your first delivery. You should make a gradual transition to your new dog food to ensure you dont cause your pet to suffer from an upset tummy.
If you have any questions about how to best make the transition, you can contact the dog food delivery company who have lots of vet experts to help offer advice.
Alaskan Klee Kai with their Pure Pet Food (Photo: hellobark.com)
In Conclusion
So, weve reached the end of our feature on the best dog food for picky eaters in the UK.
Weve taken a look at four different British companies that I believe can help pet parents with fussy dogs.
I rate Butternut Box as the best option of these four best dog food companies but you wont go wrong by selecting either of the other ones if youve got a picky eater right now.
The selection of tasty recipes that came with our Butternut Box order (Photo: hellobark.com)
Ive seen the benefits of dog food delivery companies first hand on my Alaskan Klee Kai dogs. By making the change to fresh meals, Ive saved money and time with less trips to the vet.
We can offer helloBARK! readers who are genuinely interested in making a permanent change to fresh and healthy meals an exclusive discount on Butternut Boxs meals. New customers can get 50% off their first order and 50% off their second order by clicking here.
Find out about the best dog food subscription services in the UK in our in-depth guide.