There is a growing shift amongst pet parents in the UK making the switch to raw pet food diets.
While there are pros and cons associated with switching your dog to a raw fed diet, lots of owners have decided to embrace this particular type of pet nutrition.
If you’re thinking of feeding raw, we recommend that you do lots of research about the potential benefits and risks as well as speaking to your local veterinarian.
The UK government provides clear guidance on the handling of raw pet food on its website. All pet owners should read this carefully before introducing this type of diet to their dog.
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 article, we’re going to take a look at two of the leading raw dog food companies in the UK that are fuelling British canines with their high quality raw food.
We’ll take a look at Bella & Duke and Poppy’s Picnic to see what they can offer their respective customers.
In this comparison article, we’ll examine the approaches to raw food, what customers are saying about their food as well as give our verdict.
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Bella & Duke – The Basics
Website: bellaandduke.com
Copper with his Bella and Duke delivery (Photo: lifewithkleekai)
Bella & Duke provide pet owners with the chance to feed 100% natural raw dog food delivered to your door.
They write on their website that they want to make British dogs as happy and health as possible thanks to their natural raw food.
Bella & Duke strive to stay at the cutting edge of pet nutrition to ensure their raw food can promote a healthy lifestyle for British dogs.
Bella & Duke don’t use any ingredients in their recipes unless there’s a benefit to your pooch.
They write on their website that they use high quality cuts of meat and bones, oils, antioxidants, herbs, seasonal vegetables, fruits and berries. Bella & Duke source their raw dog food from British and Irish farms.
By entering information about your dog, Bella & Duke can tailor their meals to meet your dog’s requirements to ensure they’re fuelled for daily life.
They’ve got a team of vets to make sure they remain ahead of the curve in terms of pet nutrition and wellness, according to their website.
Poppy’s Picnic – The Basics
Website: poppyspicnic.co.uk
Alaskan Klee Kai with Poppy’s Picnic (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
Poppy’s Picnic want to provide British canines with the food that they believe dogs were born to eat. Their website explains that they want to provide raw and natural nutrition for your dog which will be delivered to your door.
Their raw food is freshly handmade by fourth generation butchers in Wiltshire. They explain that Poppy’s Picnic use a balanced mix of fresh British meat, vegetables, herbs, botanicals, liver and kidney.
Pet parents in the UK can have peace of mind knowing that Poppy’s Picnic state clearly on their website that they don’t use artificial additives, preservatives, fillers or colourings.
Dog owners will be reassured to learn that veterinary nutritionists and vets have helped to craft their dog food to ensure “total and complete nutrition”.
Poppy’s Picnic will tailor their food to meet your dog’s specific needs based upon their weight, activity level, age and more. Once they’ve figured out the perfect portion size, you’ll have your own dedicated meal plan for your canine companion.
Crucially, in these Coronavirus times, Poppy’s Picnic will deliver your meals direct to your doorstep so you won’t have to worry about popping out to the pet store or supermarket.
Things To Consider When Raw Dog Food
Alaskan Klee Kai with Poppy’s Picnic (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
• Ingredients – If you’re looking to shift your dog’s diet into the 21st century, you want to make sure your pup is getting fresh food. Leaving behind the additives and nasties, you want your dog to be eating balanced and complete meals that are sourced from local providers.
• Recipe Variety – If you’ve got picky eaters like me, it’s important that you’ve got a variety of protein sources to ensure you dog stays motivated at mealtime. We like when companies offer at least three or four different proteins to keep your dog interested in their meals.
• Expert Input – We all like to have peace of mind that our dog’s meals are being formulated by experts. We keep an eye out for raw dog food that has been created with the input of veterinarian nutritionists and vets.
RELATED: The three best raw dog food companies in the UK
• Packaging – If you’re willing to pay a little extra for quality dog food, you’ll want to be confident that your raw pet food will arrive frozen and undamaged.
• Price – Overall, raw dog food companies are providing premium service to dog owners. Therefore, you can expect to pay a little more than your traditional dog food brands that you’d find at the pet store or supermarket.
• Sustainability – As a dog owner who cares about our planet, I like to see what pet food companies are doing to adopt a sustainable approach to their business. I want to feed my dog in a fresh and healthy way but not at the expense of the environment.
Poppy’s Picnic vs Bella & Duke – Our Recommendation
So we’ve come to the key point in this comparison article. Who do we recommend: Poppy’s Picnic or Bella & Duke?
Having tried both companies, it’s clear that these are two raw dog food companies that care about the health of British pets.
We loved Bella and Duke and their variety of recipes on offer. My Alaskan Klee Kai really enjoyed their Bella & Duke meals as a tasty topper alongside their regular fresh dog food.
Bella & Duke offer a lot of variety so I was able to tease my dogs with different options over the course of a couple of weeks feeding them their food.
Their food arrived frozen and undamaged and I found the meal trays easy to store in the freezer. I really appreciated that Bella & Duke use recycled cardboard and plastic.
Poppy’s Picnic offer a good range of protein sources so even the pickiest pups will find something that they enjoy. I found their packaging a little less rigid and more susceptible to damage.
While you won’t go too far wrong by going with either of these companies, Bella & Duke has a slight edge for me given the price difference.
What Are Customers Saying About Poppy’s Picnic And Bella & Duke?
Copper with his Bella and Duke delivery (Photo: lifewithkleekai)
Bella & Duke get 4.4 stars out of 5 based upon 7,000 reviews on Trustpilot.
Claire wrote that her Mini Schnauzer thoroughly enjoyed Bella & Duke.
I saw a Bella and Duke advert on the TV and thought my 3 year old Miniature Schnauzer would benefit from eating a raw diet. So I ordered 60 days of food, well presented and delivered with no fuss. Stored the food in the freezer and took out what I needed every other day. My dog thoroughly enjoyed the raw diet and mostly enjoyed the chicken and turkey dishes.
David enjoyed a similar success with his dog Oreo and Bella & Duke meals.
Our dog is very fussy so after all other brands we could try I come across Bella and Duke on a Google search it took our dog a few goes to get use to the food but she eats more now than ever before. We did have a couple of recipes that she did not like which I notified customer services and they have taken those out of my next order and replaced with ones she eats.
Rebecca expressed concerns about the Bella & Duke packaging.
The only reason I give Bella and Duke four stars is the packaging. Far too much especially when I am ordering as the sole food for two dogs..
Poppy’s Picnic get 4.8 stars out of 5 based upon over 173 reviews on Facebook.
Tracey was astounded to see the impact of Poppy’s Picnic on her dog.
I can’t believe the change in my puppy after only being fed on Poppy’s Picnic for 24 hours. He has wolfed down his meals where before he was extremely fussy, we were at our wits end with him. He is calmer and it’s had a great effect on his toileting.
Glenn gave Poppy’s Picnic a glowing five-star review.
Luna is such a fussy eater and gets bored very quickly with commercial dog food but she absolutely loves Poppy’s Picnic. It’s all wrapped up with fantastic customer service so win win all round.
Kathy revealed that her picky eater loves Poppy’s Picnic.
Poppy’s Picnic raw food was the only thing I could get my puppy Dotty to eat she refused any brand of dog food packets until I tried the raw meatballs for her… they are convenient to use all measured out.
Anything Else To Consider?
Alaskan Klee Kai with Poppy’s Picnic (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
If you’re thinking about making the switch to a raw fed diet, please consult with your vet to learn more about the pros and cons. It’s a good idea to do thorough research to learn about the potential benefits as well as potential risks so you can make an informed decision.
Having spoken to both Poppy’s Picnic and Bella & Duke on the phone, their customer service teams are extremely knowledgable and can help pet owners learn more about raw food as well as provide guidance on what options may suit your dog.
Wrapping Things Up – Final Thoughts
We’ve reached the end of our Poppy’s Picnic and Bella & Duke comparison article.
These are two of the leading raw dog food companies in the UK who are looking to keep British canines happy and healthy thanks to their fresh, raw meals.
Having tried both Poppy’s Picnic and Bella & Duke, I believe Bella & Duke have a slight edge for a number of different reasons.
While you won’t go wrong by feeding your dog raw food from either of these companies, Bella & Duke get the nod from me if you’re looking to embrace a raw pet food diet for your dog.
