Updated: 2 days ago
Raw dog food has been quietly revolutionising mealtimes across the UK. What was once considered niche, the domain of dedicated canine athletes and show dogs, has firmly entered the mainstream.
The concept is simple: feeding dogs a diet as close as possible to what their ancestors would have eaten in the wild. Muscle meat, raw meaty bones, offal, and in some complete recipes, a carefully balanced addition of seasonal vegetables, berries, and healthy oils.
No fillers, no mystery ingredients, no ultra-processing. Just real food. It's often referred to as a BARF diet or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, though we promise it tastes better than the name suggests (at least, Freddie thinks so).
So why Bella + Duke? The answer is straightforward, they kept coming up. Multi-award winning, DEFRA approved, and holding both RawSAFE and UK Pet Food certifications, they're a brand that has clearly invested heavily in doing things properly, not just producing great food, but ensuring it's produced safely.
We decided it was time to put them to the test, properly, over an extended trial period, with Freddie our 12kg Cockapoo as our official taste tester, to find out whether they live up to the reputation. Here's what we found.
Curious how we test dog food? See our full testing and review methodology
⚡ QUICK VERDICT |
Bella + Duke is our #1 raw dog food in the UK. Award-winning quality, exceptional safety certifications (RawSAFE + UK Pet Food), outstanding AADF ratings of 90–97%, and a personalised subscription that makes raw feeding genuinely easy. Freddie, our 12kg Cockapoo, gave it two very fluffy paws up, bowls licked clean every single time. |
Not sure which dog food is right for your dog? Our complete guide covers every food type, with a full comparison table and honest tested recommendations - How to Choose the Best Dog Food
Amazing Bella + Duke Offer - New Customers Only!
Get 50% off your first box, 30% off the second, and 20% off the third
In This Review
6. Our Verdict
If you've been exploring raw dog food in the UK for more than five minutes, you've almost certainly come across Bella + Duke. They're a multi-award winning British raw dog food brand, and there's a very good reason they consistently top our raw food reviews, they've earned it.
Bella + Duke don't just sell raw dog food. They've built a customer-focused raw feeding experience, from their transparent ingredient sourcing and wide product range, to their exceptional customer support and robust food safety certifications.
In a market where trust matters enormously (you're feeding this to your dog, after all), that counts for a great deal.
What really sets them apart on the safety front is their dual certification: Bella + Duke hold both RawSAFE and UK Pet Food certifications, which are the gold standard for raw pet food safety in the UK. If peace of mind matters to you (and it should), these credentials speak volumes.
They're also notably the only brand in our raw dog food review that caters for both dogs and cats, a genuine bonus if you're a multi-pet household juggling different feeding routines.
Brand at a Glance |
Based in: British brand (UK-sourced ingredients) |
Certifications: RawSAFE ✓ | UK Pet Food ✓ | DEFRA Approved ✓ |
AADF Nutritional Rating: 90–97% (exceptionally high) |
Community: 25,000+ raw feeders |
Also offers: Raw cat food |
Smart Bark ranking: 🏆 #1 Best Raw Dog Food UK 2026 |
Bella + Duke offer four ranges, each designed for a specific dog or feeding purpose. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, their range thoughtfully covers every life stage and nutritional need.
Range | Best For | AADF Rating |
⭐ Premium Complete | 80%+ meat, bone, offal, seasonal veg, berries & oils. Grain & gluten-free | 90–97% |
⭐ Complete Superfood | Designed for recovery, growth, senior & nursing dogs. Boosted with turmeric, ginger & kelp | 90–97% |
⭐ Complete | Higher energy formula for working & active dogs. Sustained protein-rich nutrition | 90–97% |
⭐ Pure Meat & Bone | Meat, bone & offal only. Ideal for DIY feeders, allergy dogs, all life stages | 90% |
Each range is available in recipes crafted for puppy, adult, and senior dogs, so there's genuinely a bowl for everyone, no matter their age, size, or adventures.
You'll be glad to hear that every recipe is completely grain and gluten-free, making them a safe choice even for dogs with sensitive stomachs or food intolerances.
Their All About Dog Food ( AADF) ratings of 90–97% are, quite frankly, exceptional, comfortably among the highest of any dog food brand we've tested across all categories.
Protein Options
Each range draws from a selection of high-quality proteins. When setting up your subscription, you can personalise your dog's menu from the following:
• 🐓 Higher-Welfare Chicken
• 🐑 Grass-Fed Lamb
• 🐟 Sustainable Fish
• 🦆 Nutrient-Rich Duck
• 🐟 Sustainable Salmon
• 🐄 Grass-Fed Beef Tripe
• 🦃 Higher-Welfare Turkey
• 🐄 Grass-Fed Beef
For this review, we put the Adult Dog Premium Complete range to the test, Bella + Duke's most popular choice and a brilliant all-rounder for adult dogs.
Bella + Duke take the guesswork out of raw feeding from the very first click. Rather than leaving you to work out quantities yourself, they've built a thoughtful online quiz.
A few fun questions about your dog's breed, age, activity level, and quirks, and out the other side comes a personalised feeding recommendation and suggested menu.
It's worth saying: their recommendation is a starting point. As with all raw feeding, you know your dog best, and small adjustments based on your dog's body condition are perfectly normal and expected.
Box Sizes
Once your personalised plan is confirmed, you choose your box size. Three options are available:
Small Box | Most Popular | Value Box |
4kg of food Good for trying | 8kg of food Best for most owners | 12kg+ of food Best value per meal |
Clearly the bigger the box, the better the price per meal, but don't forget to factor in your available freezer space before committing to the Value Box (more on that below).
Delivery & Packaging
All Bella + Duke meals are delivered frozen in 500g trays, simple, straightforward, and easy to portion.
Free delivery across the UK is included, with no minimum order threshold to meet. The subscription is fully flexible: skip, pause, or cancel whenever you like, with no awkward cancellation hoops to jump through.
Introducing Freddie, our 12kg Cockapoo, official Smart Bark mealtime critic, and the most enthusiastic food reviewer we've ever worked with (admittedly the competition isn't fierce).
Bella + Duke suggested Freddie needed 300g a day. We started him on 250g, a sensible move given that raw feeding quantities are a starting point, and it left a little room for an evening dental stick and some training treats. Handily, 250g is exactly half a 500g tray, which made portioning a completely seamless process.
🐾 Freddie's Verdict |
Two (very fluffy) paws up. Bowls licked clean, every single time, breakfast and dinner have become the undisputed highlight of his day. He couldn't care less about the packaging. |
What we particularly appreciated during testing was just how easy the whole process was. Defrost a tray as you finish the previous one. Serve. Watch your dog perform the canine equivalent of a standing ovation. Repeat.
Bella + Duke are the only brand we've reviewed to pre-score their trays into five 100g sections, a small but genuinely useful detail that takes the guesswork out of portioning entirely.
One minor note: the packaging isn't resealable, and in our testing the paper wrapper had a tendency to become a little soggy after being in the freezer and fridge. It's a small flaw, not a dealbreaker. We simply decanted the food into a container. Worth being aware of, but it certainly didn't bother Freddie.
We also noticed, as with all the raw foods in our testing programme, noticeably smaller and firmer stools compared to kibble. Less filler in means less waste out. If you've got a dog that currently generates industrial quantities of poo, the difference will be quite striking.
If your dog eats at speed (Freddie absolutely does), we'd strongly recommend using a slow feeder bowl or lick mat.
Raw food triggers a level of excitement that suggests the dog in question hasn't eaten in weeks rather than hours. It slows things down, reduces bloating risk, and honestly makes mealtime last longer, which they clearly think is a bonus.
Bella + Duke is very reasonably priced for the quality on offer, particularly when you factor in the generous introductory discount on your first three boxes.
Whilst the table below gives you an indication of the prices, we strongly recommend that you complete Bella + Dukes quick quiz to get a more accurate picture of your costs.
Their quiz creates a tailored nutrition plan by taking into account breed, size, age, activity level, body shape and fussiness levels.
Dog size | Small (10kg) intro offer | Small (10kg) full price | Medium (20kg) intro offer | Medium (20kg) full price | Large (30kg) intro offer | Large (30kg) full price |
Daily cost | £1.08 | £1.80 | £1.87 | £3.12 | £2.26 | £3.77 |
Value Box intro (12kg) | £46.48 | £77.47 | £59.91 | £99.85 | £58.83 | £98.04 |
Costs are indicative and based on current pricing. Your dog's daily amount will vary based on their weight, life stage, and activity level.
We also noticed that if you have a large breed, then Bella + Duke offer a Big Dog Discount to make it a little more affordable.
💡 Money-Saving Tips |
• Choose the Value Box for the best cost per meal, if you've got freezer space to store it |
• Make the most of the introductory offer: 50% off box 1, 30% off box 2, 20% off box 3 |
• Free treats are included with every order - a nice bonus |
• A flexible subscription: skip, pause or cancel at any time |
One final thing worth mentioning: you can actually pick up Bella + Duke in Pets at Home, which is a great way to test a recipe or two before taking the plunge on a subscription.
That said, we did find it works out considerably more expensive than buying direct, so we'd suggest that you head straight to Bella + Duke's website.
The bottom line is simple: we give Bella + Duke a big thumbs up for any dog lover craving hassle-free, high quality raw nutrition.
Their meals tick every box, nutritious, convenient, transparent ingredient lists, and great value, with a flexible subscription that takes the stress out of raw feeding entirely.
Add in their exceptional safety credentials, one of the most supportive raw feeding communities in the UK, and a genuinely generous introductory offer, and this is an easy recommendation to make.
Whether you're a seasoned raw feeder or just starting to explore the world beyond kibble, Bella + Duke is the brand we'd tell our friends about without hesitation.
✅ Bella + Duke is perfect for:
Owners looking for a premium BARF diet
Picky eaters who turn their nose up at kibble
Those wanting the highest nutritional food
Dogs with grain or gluten sensitivities
Owners who want full ingredient transparency
First-time raw feeders (great support)
⚠️ Consider alternatives if:
You have very limited freezer space at home
You travel frequently and raw refrigeration isn't possible
You're on a very tight budget (though intro offer helps)
Ready to Try Bella + Duke?
Get 50% off your first box, 30% off the second, and 20% off the third
Curious what else is out there? Here's how Bella + Duke stacks up against the other top raw options we've tested:
Brand | Best For | Daily Cost (12kg) |
🏆 Bella + Duke | Overall winner - best quality, safety & range | £1.35 (intro) / £2.25 |
Naturaw | Eco-conscious owners, compostable packaging | £2.61 |
Mersey Raw | Widest protein variety, great value | £1.63 |
ProDog Raw | Beginners on a budget | £1.41 |
Paleo Ridge | Widest range + budget Essentials option | £1.14 (Essentials) |
For a full head-to-head comparison of all five brands, with detailed testing notes, packaging feedback, and real cost breakdowns, read our complete Best Raw Dog Food UK review.
Not sure raw feeding is right for your dog?
If you're not yet sold on raw feeding and want to explore other food types, our Best Dog Food UK 2026 guide covers everything from cold-pressed dry food to fresh subscription services and air-dried options.
Further Reading from Smart Bark
🐾 Happy Feeding from the Smart Bark Team 🐾
Claire is the founder of Smart Bark and a lifelong dog lover.
With a 10 year background in retail buying for one of the UK’s major retailers, she brings a keen eye for quality and value to every dog product review.
Claire personally tests every item featured on Smart Bark with her own family dog and her team of dog testers—so you get honest, expert advice (not recycled marketing blurb) from someone who truly understands what works in real life (and what doesn’t).
No gimmicks. Just trusted recommendations backed by experience.
