A dog food subscription is just what every busy paw-rent needs. Life can sometimes feel like it has a never-ending to-do list, full of places to be and things to remember, so it’s no wonder that sometimes things can slip through the net, like remembering to restock your beloved pet’s food. Most pet owners are probably familiar with making the mad dash to the shops to grab some of your pooch’s much-loved dog food because they’ve come close to running out. Having a dog food subscription takes care of that as food is delivered to your home on a schedule to suit you so you never have to worry about having enough for your pup come dinner time.
The most popular type of dog food subscription is tailored dog food. This type of food is made with the exact needs of your pooch in mind, with recipes personalised to suit their age, breed, weight, activity levels and any dietary requirements they may have. A great dog food for sensitive stomachs, it can be made without the allergens and ingredients that give your hound an upset tum. Tailored food brands also have a focus on using premium-quality meat and vegetables to make their recipes to ensure your pooch has a nutritionally complete and balanced meal that will have their tail wagging every mealtime.
Dog food subscriptions at a glance:
• Best overall: tails.com – View on tails.com
• Best all-natural dog food subscription: Butternut Box – View on ButternutBox.com
• Best dog food subscription for multiple brands and pets: Pets at Home Easy Repeat – View on Pets at Home
If you don’t want to go down the tailored food route, you can also get dog food subscriptions from popular brands. Gone will be the stress of last-minute food shortages as you can just sign up to have regular deliveries of the wet or dry dog food your hound likes so you’ll have a stock ready for when you’re just about to run out. Not to mention, you won’t have to deal with the inconvenience of lugging heavy tins or large bags around the shops with you, putting them into the car, and unloading them again once you get back, as they’ll be delivered straight to your door.
To help you decide whether a dog food subscription is right for you and your pooch’s lifestyle, we got tails.com Head Vet, Sean McCormack, to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about tailored food and repeat deliveries. We’ve also searched the web for all of the best tailored and branded dog food subscriptions on the market to help make sure you never run out of food for your canine companion.
Tailored dog food subscriptions
When you think of a dog food subscription, many people’s first thought is tailored dog food. These subscription services offer a custom, personalised food plan based on the specific needs, age, breed, size of your pooch and any other health or dietary requirements they may have. These tailored, pre-portioned and nutritionally balanced meals are then delivered to your doorstep to a schedule that suits you.
Best overall
Tails.comtails.com
You'll get unique recipes delivered to your door based on what you tell them about your canine companion when you sign up to a tails.com subscription. With this customisable meal plan, you can also ask for recipes that take into account any health issues or dietary requirements your dog may have. As well as tailored dry kibble, you can also choose to add on wet food from a range of 19 recipes, dental chews and other tasty treats.
Our review: "As Frankie is food driven, he'll eat almost anything, but it's clear that tails.com is on another level for him. Alaskan Malamutes are a vocal breed, so when they really love something, you'll know about it. Dinner time has now become an almighty song and dance. He leaps around the room, barking and howling at us until we're done dishing up, and he can dig in, wolfing it down in just a few minutes. He's never been this vocal about any previous food brands, so I know he loves it."
Want to know more? Read our full Tails.com review.
Pros
- Tailored recipes for your dog
- Discounts on first order
Cons
- Our reviewer felt portions could be a bit bigger
Best all-natural dog food subscription
Butternut Boxbutternutbox.com
60 per cent meat, 40 per cent vegetables. Food in a Butternut Box subscription really is as simple as that. It arrives in pre-portioned pouches that can be squeezed straight into your furry friend's bowl at mealtimes or heated up, depending on your pooch's preference. The recipes are made using quality ingredients and the right balance of vitamins and minerals to create simple yet tasty meals that are personalised to your pet.
Customer review: "My fussy dog tried everything and got fed up after 2 weeks until we tried Butternut Box. Two and a half years later she's still loving every mouthful and we always have an empty bowl! Great service, easy to use digital platform, flexible subscription, good comms and generally all round fab."
Pros
- Good customer service
- Flexibility
Cons
- Price varies per breed, age and lifestyle
Best dog food subscription for hounds with dietary requirements
Pure Pet Foodwww.purepetfood.com
Your dog deserves delicious food that will keep them happy and healthy, and with a Pure Pet Food subscription, you can create a tailored diet for your pooch for as little as 89p a day. You tell them all about your dog, and they'll make a menu of complete and balanced meals that take into account their age, weight and any ailments they may have. Made with natural ingredients, your pup will feel full and satisfied from meals with no hidden nasties.
Customer review: "My dog has always had a sensitive stomach but since switching to Pure it has gotten so much better! I started a subscription initially due to the multiple good reviews for dogs with similar issues. Overall recommend Pure and will be transitioning my second (less fussy) dog once his current food runs low"
Pros
- Natural ingredients
- Nutritious
Cons
- Water needs to be added, so some dogs may not like the texture
Best raw dog food subscription
Bella & Dukewww.bellaandduke.com
If you're keen on feeding your dog a raw food diet, check out Bella + Duke. Each recipe contains a minimum of 80 per cent meat and is free from grains and fillers so it's a great option for those pooches with a sensitive tum. The meals also support digestion and their immune system and will help to form healthier stools. If you're unsure whether your pooch will like the food, you can order meals outside of the subscription to get them started.
Customer review: "I've been a loyal customer of Bella & Duke for about 5 years and I think they are brilliant. The food is excellent quality and they always deliver on time. They sent one of my dogs a birthday treat of a recipe and ingredients to make dog biscuits. That kind of customer service is rare and it's why I won't buy raw dog food from anywhere else."
Pros
- Includes additional rewards like pet education videos, 24/7 video vet service and discounts on treats, supplements, accessories and more
- Natural ingredients
Cons
- Food arrives frozen, so you need to make sure you have freeze space and that you're in to take the delivery
Branded dog food subscriptions
Tailored food isn’t the only type of food you can get on a subscription. Many of the UK’s most popular dog food brands are available to buy on a subscribe-and-save basis. You can sometimes get repeat orders and discounts for subscribing directly on the retailer's website, or you can head to places that have many brands under one roof, such as Amazon and Viovet if your pooch has a mixture of different foods. We’ve listed some of our favourite branded dog food subscriptions below.
Best dog food subscription for multiple brands and pets
Pets at Homewww.petsathome.com
First on our list is the big dog for all things pet care, Pets at Home. With their easy repeat service, you can get food delivered every two to 12 weeks from brands including Royal Canin, James Wellbeloved, Purina, Harringtons, and so much more, plus flea and worm treatments and treats. You can also choose between delivery to your door or click-and-collect to your local store to offer you more flexibility.
Customer review: "I just did an order for my dog Daisy and it was so easy to have it all delivered tomorrow and I got special offer good prices and got a repeat delivery for my Daisys food so got a discount how good was that? All from my settee at home - brilliant! I did the 12week reorder and if I find I don’t need the order till later than 12 weeks I can change it not a problem."
Pros
- Lots of different brands available
- Can order food as well as treats and treatments on repeat
Cons
- Some reviewers found making chances once the subscription was set up to be difficult
Best luxury pet food subscription
Lily's Kitchenwww.lilyskitchen.co.uk
If your pooch just loves Lily's Kitchen, you can sign up to get their favourites delivered straight to you. The brand's subscription service is a brilliantly easy way for you to get regular top-ups of food for your pet. Not only can you sort their mealtimes, but you can make sure their treats are fully stocked up too. Just make sure you select 'Order Every' at checkout to choose how often you want to receive deliveries.
Customer review: "My dog prefers Lily's over all other food he has tried. I find the subscription service is excellent, ordering to delivery is so quick. Packaging is fully recyclable ♻️ thank you 💝"
Pros
- You can update, pause or cancel at any time
- You'll get at least five per cent off, plus free delivery on future orders after your first delivery
Cons
- The maximum time between deliveries is nine weeks
Best for different types of products
Pooch & Muttwww.poochandmutt.co.uk
Build a box of Pooch & Mutt favourites, and you'll never go without your hound's must-haves. From dry food to wet food, supplements to treats, and even dog poo bags, you can browse Pooch & Mutt's wide range to create your own customised subscription based on everything your dog can't get enough of.
Customer review: "We love pooch and mutt and all they are about! Subscription is so easy, once set up it comes exactly when needed, we use primal dry food this is great always gets eaten to the last biscuit, we’ve noticed a difference in the dogs coats so silky, smooth and healthy looking, the kibble is in two different sizes so perfect for both the dogs as we have a small breed and a medium breed. Highly recommended dog food!"
Pros
- Lots of choice for food plus the option to add treats and accessories
- Can schedule deliveries up to 90 days in advance
Cons
- Maximum of 10 items
FAQs
Sean McCormack, Head Vet at tails.com has explained below, exactly how dog food subscriptions work, and why they might provide better value than buying supermarkets’ own products.
What is a dog food subscription, and how does it work?
“As every pet owner knows, you can often find yourself at the supermarket or local pet store picking up treats, toys and food for your dog. Signing up for a dog food subscription can offer a convenient solution that takes away this additional hassle from a busy life," says Sean.
“Dog food subscription boxes can often consist of high quality wet and dry dog food options for your pet that can be personalised to suit their unique nutritional needs, depending on the brand. As many pet owners are aware, some dogs require extra care when it comes to their diet, whether that’s because they are more sensitive to particular ingredients or because they need certain essential nutrients, and supermarkets or pet shops often stock limited ranges that might not fit your dog's certain requirements.
“They work by owners paying a monthly fee to get food that is handcrafted for your dog delivered straight to your front door, without having to take valuable time away from spending time with your adorable furry friend," explains Sean.
“Not only that, but they are a great option that puts customers in control. You can constantly adapt your dog’s food depending on when their health or dietary needs change, as well as adding extras or pressing pause or cancelling whenever you need to.
“At tails.com, we pride ourselves in creating the best possible food for your dog and only use the highest quality ingredients. We take the time to get to know your canine’s needs before creating a tailor-made kibble recipe, unique to your dog, that is made with nutritionally balanced ingredients and irresistibly tasty, so your pooch enjoys every meal time.”
Are dog food subscriptions cost-effective compared to shop-bought pet food?
“At a time when all households are feeling the pinch and having to make choices about where to cut costs, dog food subscriptions may be a great option compared to buying food in local pet stores or supermarkets. This is due to being able to buy in bulk, meaning that the price per item is typically lower than constantly buying packets of kibble. With tailored subscriptions, you often receive exactly the right portions for your dog's meals for the month.
“Not only that but when you sign up for subscription services, you can often benefit from discount offers or free shipping depending on your package, helping you to save money in the long run.
“An advantage of signing up for a tailor-made dog subscription box is that you aren’t wasting your money! All tails.com food comes with handy scoop measures, meaning that your dog gets the right amount of food at each meal, so there is less waste and less chance of running out of food. What’s more, if your dog doesn’t like your food, our empty bowl guarantee means that we will change the recipe to better suit their tastes for free, whereas if you buy food in a supermarket or local pet store, your dog not liking what you provide means spending more money to find something that they do like.”
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.