| Approach | What's good | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Dry / kibble | Cheap, convenient, long shelf life, good for dental crunch. | Highly processed at high heat; quality ranges enormously; vague 'meat and animal derivatives' recipes make triggers hard to track. |
| Wet / tinned | Palatable, hydrating, often simpler recipes. | Pricier per calorie, less dental benefit, once-open shelf life is short. |
| Raw (BARF) | Minimally processed; owners report shiny coats; single-protein versions are easy to control. | Real bacterial and bone-safety risks; hard to balance nutritionally; not advised for immune-compromised households. |
| Cold-pressed | Gently pressed at low temperature so more nutrients survive; digests kindly; firmer stools. | Fewer brands make it; costs more than basic kibble. |
| Insect protein | A genuinely novel protein almost no UK dog has met, so it sidesteps the most common allergy triggers; complete amino-acid profile; lowest environmental footprint. | Still unfamiliar to some owners; a smaller number of brands offer it. |
The honest take on each
Dry / kibble
Our honest take: Fine for many dogs. For sensitive dogs, the vague-ingredient versions are the problem, not kibble itself.
Wet / tinned
Our honest take: A reasonable option, especially mixed in. Check for named single proteins if allergies are in play.
Raw (BARF)
Our honest take: Can suit some dogs but needs care and hygiene. The safety trade-offs are genuine, not scaremongering.
Cold-pressed
Our honest take: One of the gentler formats for a delicate gut, which is why we chose it.
Insect protein
Our honest take: The strongest starting point for a food-sensitive dog, because novelty is exactly what an elimination diet needs.
your dog, not dogs in general
Which approach suits your dog?
Answer six quick questions about what you're seeing, and we'll point you to the feeding approach that fits, plus a food-trial kit to test it. Free, and your result shows before any email is asked for.
Take the 60-second check →Whatever you feed, change foods gradually over 10 to 14 days, and give any new diet a full 8 weeks before judging it. More in the Dog Health Hub.