Have you ever stopped to think about what goes into your dog’s meals?
Some traditional forms of dog food could use unwanted additives, fillers or nasties in their food that you’re not aware of.
We’re so careful when it comes to our diet so why shouldn’t pet parents take the same precautions with their dog’s food.
Whether you’re skeptical about the benefits of your store-bought dry food or you want to adopt a modern approach to pet nutrition, you may be looking to find a new dog food company to provide you with fresh and healthy meals.
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. It’s always best to speak with your vet or a certified pet nutritionist before making any changes to your pet's diet or feeding routine.
In this feature, we’re going to take a look at two of the leading natural dog food companies in the UK to help you in your quest to modernise your canine companion’s diet.
We’ll take a look at Butternut Box and Forthglade to see what these two British dog food companies are currently offering pet parents around the country.
In this comparison article, we’re take a look at the recipes used by both companies, what customers are saying about their food and our recommendation for British pet parents.
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Butternut Box – The Basics
Where To Order: www.butternutbox.com
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper with his Butternut Box recipes (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Butternut Box are one of the leading dog food delivery companies in the UK thanks to their healthy and nutritious fresh meals for pooches.
Their website explains that Butternut Box want to offer pet parents the chance to try a modern way to feed your dog. This eco-friendly company add that their meals are all taste-tested by them to ensure your dog won’t hesitate to devour their customised meals.
Butternut Box write online that their meals only use freshly prepared ingredients and locally sourced meat which are cooked gently to retain their nutrients.
They’ve got a team of vet nutritionists who will ensure that these meals are complete and nutritionally balanced to help promote a happy and healthy lifestyle for our canine companions.
We love that Butternut Box use pre-portioned packaging so there’s no guesswork involved when it comes to mealtime. These pouches have been redesigned to use as little space as possible in your freezer.
Crucially, Butternut Box reassure pet parents online that none of their six recipes (chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork and cod) use any nasties. You can have peace of mind knowing that your dog is only eating human-grade food.
Pet parents will be required to complete a questionnaire to allow Butternut Box to customise your dog’s meals to meat their specific requirements, whether your pup is very active, a working dog or just a companion pet.
Butternut Box will ship your meals direct to your door to remove the hassle of going to your local pet store or supermarket. Their packaging is all recyclable you won’t be feeding your dog healthy meals at the expense of the planet.
Forthglade – The Basics
Where To Order: www.amazon.com
Forthglade are a dog food delivery company based in Devon that are offering pet parents in the UK the chance to feed their dog meals comprised of natural ingredients.
Made in Devon, Forthglade have created a range of options from wet food, dry food to dog treat recipes to help British dog owners to feed their furry pooches fresh and healthy meals.
The Devon company make recipes that are simple, nourishing and always made with natural ingredients. Crucially, Forthglade’s website write that their dog food is free from junk.
Encouragingly, Forthglade have been providing dog food for UK canines since 1971 so they’ve got over 45 years’ expertise in pet nutrition with a team of four-legged taste testers.
They write on their website that they use quality ingredients in their recipes, the majority of which are sourced in the UK. They’ll add vitamins and minerals to their recipes – too.
While they offer unique recipes, it’s important to note that Forthglade’s meals aren’t tailored to meet your dog’s specific needs. Having said that, they do have special recipes to cater for puppies and senior dogs.
Things To Consider When Picking Dog Food Delivery
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper and Skye with their Butternut Box delivery (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
If you’re giving some serious thought about making the switch to a dog food delivery company, here are some key factors to consider.
• Ingredients – Most dog food delivery companies will use fresh and local ingredients in their recipes. You can have peace of mind knowing that their fruit, vegetables and meat are all natural and responsibly sourced.
• Recipe Variety – If you’ve got picky eaters like me, it’s great when dog food companies offer a variety of different recipes to ensure you’ve got lots of different protein sources in your armour to keep your dog’s tastebuds tingling.
• Expert Input – It’s all very well offering balanced and complete meals but it’s important that the recipes are formulated by professional nutritionists and vets. So you can be confident that your dog’s nutritional needs are met.
• Packaging and Preparation – You’re digging a little deeper into your pockets so it’s vital that their meals arrive in good condition and frozen. Therefore these companies need to use insulation to ensure the nutritionally integrity of these meals in transit. We love when the meals are stored in pre-portioned packaging to make mealtime as simple as possible.
• Ordering Experience – If you’re required to fill out a questionnaire like Butternut Box or you need to place your order online like Forthglade, it’s important that companies have websites that are easy to use and aren’t confusing.
• Price – While you should expect to pay a little more than some traditional dog food options, the price of these meals shouldn’t be extortionate. It’s important that they represent value for money.
• Delivery Schedule – Dog parents need to have flexibility where deliveries are concerned because life can get in the way. These meals need to arrive at a time that is convenient for you. If you’re out, they need to have sufficient insulation to ensure the meals retain their integrity until you arrive home.
Butternut Box vs Forthglade – Our Recommendation
Butternut Box recipes (Photo: helloBARK!)
So we’ve reached the crucial juncture in this article. While both of these dog food delivery companies offer great meals, we believe Butternut Box are a superior option for pet parents.
We like that Butternut Box take the time to get the key details about your dog to ensure they can tailor their balanced and complete meals to meet your canine’s specific needs.
Butternut Box use pre-portioned pouches so there’s minimal fuss at mealtime. It’s as simple as taking your dog’s food out of the fridge, rip and serve into their dog bowl.
Having tried their meals, I was impressed by the appearance, the smell and how much my picky Alaskan Klee Kai loved their meals. They licked each other’s bowls which has never happened before.
As a environmentally conscious dog owner, I was impressed with Butternut Box’s eco-friendly packaging. Their insulation can be used in the garden for compost or bird nesting, I saved their ice packs for potential ankle injuries, and I recycled the cardboard box.
Having said all that, Forthglade are still a good option for pet parents. You can order their nutritionally balanced meals on their website but you can also find the food trays at supermarkets such as Waitrose.
While my dogs liked Forthglade, Butternut Box was a huge hit with my Klee Kai and that’s why I’d recommend giving Butternut Box a try if you’re looking to adopt a modern approach to feeding your dog.
What Are Customers Saying About Butternut Box And Forthglade?
Butternut Box get an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars based upon over 4,600 reviews on independent website Trustpilot.
A French Bulldog owner gave Butternut Box a rave review on their website.
We have a very fussy Frenchie who would rather starve than eat dog food, he was living on cooked chicken and I worried that it was not good for him but he would refuse anything else…. He loves it [Butternut Box] and from day one he has been like a different dog, lively , eating properly his coat is so much healthier and we don’t have all the lovely well known Frenchie smells now either!! We will never change foods again this is perfect and they are a lovely company to deal with, thoroughly recommend you give it a try.
Another dog owner was pleased to say goodbye to her Golden Doodle’s fussy tendencies.
I had a quite fussy Golden Doodle. He was on one of the best kibble but no matter how appealing I tried to make it he slowly got bored I think. Introducing Butternut Box to him has been the best move I have made. Clean bowls everytime and the extra bonus is I get to keep him on the best kibble by giving him the right portion that makes up the necessary calories to work along side Butternut Box. Fantastic!!
Forthglade get an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 on Amazon.
A dog owner was pleased with the impact for Forthglade’s meals.
My dogs love this and I feel happy knowing it’s well manufactured. It doesn’t smell like those hideous cans of dog food. My dog has so many allergies yet because this is so pure, he’s much better. They also don’t smell as much.
A Greyhound owner was delighted with the positive impact of this food.
We have a greyhound who has a very sensitive stomach and have been using Naturdiet, which seems to now upset his digestion. Tried this and already the appalling gas he was producing has gone. His upset stomach seems to be so much better. He seems to enjoy the taste. Would definitely recommend this dog food!
Butternut Box Or Forthglade Coupon Code And Discounts
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper and Skye with their Butternut Box delivery (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
We have an exclusive offer for helloBARK! readers for both new Butternut Box customers.
You can 50% off your first Butternut Box order and 50% off your second Butternut Box order. To avail of this offer, simply click here to ensure the discount is applied at the checkout.
Anything Else To Consider?
If you’re thinking about making the switch to a dog food delivery company, we recommend that you speak to your vet to learn more about how to transition your dog to a new type of food.
It’s not recommended to make an immediate switch to a new type of dog food so it’s important that you speak to your vet to get professional guidance on how to make the switch.
Usually dog food delivery companies will provide a guideline on how to make the transition over a two or three week period. If you make the transition to quickly, it could result in an upset tummy or diarrhea.
Wrapping Things Up – Final Thoughts
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper with his Butternut Box delivery (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
We’ve reached the end of our Butternut Box vs Forthglade comparison article.
Having tried both of these options, we believe that Butternut Box are a superior choice based upon my two taste testers.
My fussy Alaskan Klee Kai are obsessed with Butternut Box’s recipes, particularly their Chow Down Chicken, Wham Bam Lamb and Gobble Gobble Turkey recipes.
As a dog owner who like to be eco-friendly, I appreciated that all their packaging can be recycled. They recent redesigned their pre-portioned food pouches to take up even less space in your freezer.
We were encouraged to see Butternut Box get such stellar reviews online from other dog owners from around the UK.
Having said that, Forthglade are still a good option if you prefer their dry and wet complete meals. You can place an order on Amazon.
Overall, we believe Butternut Box are one of the leading dog food delivery companies in the UK.
