Updated: 11 minutes ago
Forthglade keeps cropping up in our reviews, Best Wet Food, Best Dry Food, Best Puppy Food, Best Soft Treats. At some point a brand earns a review of its own, and Forthglade has earned it.
We've been putting their products through their paces for several years, across dogs of all shapes, sizes and levels of fussiness, from easy-going Labradors to Cockapoos who treat mealtimes like a negotiation.
What keeps bringing us back is simple: the quality is consistent, the ingredients are transparent, and the range genuinely covers everything your dog needs under one roof.
With over 50 years of expertise in pet nutrition, Forthglade is a Devon-based brand that's built a genuinely impressive one-stop-shop, from cold pressed dry food and wet food through to treats, dental sticks and supplements.
This is our most in-depth look at the full Forthglade range so here's everything we've tested, and what we really think.
Curious how we test dog food? See our full testing and review methodology
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Not sure where to start? Here's a quick snapshot of the full Forthglade range before we dive into the detail.
Product | Type | AADF | Daily Cost |
Wet Food Complete | Wet | 77–82% | From £1.12 |
Cold Pressed Dry | Dry | 73–75% | From 84p |
Lightly Baked Dry | Dry | 67% | From 64p |
Let's start with the one that's earned the most recognition. Forthglade's wet food was voted Best Wet Food 2026 by readers of Your Dog Magazine, and this is the 6th consecutive year that Forthglade has won this award, solidifying its status as a top choice among readers. Having tested it, we're not surprised.
Independent nutrition site All About Dog Food (AADF) rates their wet range at 77–82% depending on the recipe. This is one of the highest scores we've seen for a wet food, and a number that genuinely reflects what's in the food rather than the marketing on the front of it.
So what wet food options do they offer :
Complete Range
The most straightforward option, a balanced meal straight from the tray. Fed entirely on Forthglade Complete, we've calculated that your daily costs would run from around £1.12 for a 10kg dog to £2.24 for a 40kg dog, based on a 48-tray 'subscribe and save' order.
Complementary Range
This is for owners who like more control over mealtimes. Each tray is 90% protein, designed to mix with a quality dry food or fibre-rich carbohydrates like rice or pasta to build a balanced bowl. A good option if you're already happy with your dry food but want to add a serious protein punch.
Senior Range
This is where we think Forthglade is head and shoulders above the competition. Each recipe (turkey or lamb) contains 60% protein alongside salmon oil for omega-3 to support cognitive function, plus elevated levels of chondroitin and glucosamine for joint and bone health. Calories are kept lower too, which matters more as dogs get older and activity levels drop.
How did the wet food range test? The high meat content makes it an excellent topper for dry food, and we particularly recommend it for picky eaters who need a little coaxing. Wet foods are generally more palatable for fussy pups, and the Forthglade range is no exception, even our most difficult Cockapoo testers were won over.
Beyond the bowl, the spreadable consistency makes it a natural fit for a lickmat or Kong, a handy extra use that owners of anxious or easily-bored dogs will really appreciate.
One small gripe - the trays aren't resealable, so unless you want your entire fridge smelling like a dog's dinner, we'd recommend decanting into a sealed container or reaching for the cling film.
Our verdict: If your dog turns their nose up at dry food alone, a small amount of Forthglade wet food as a topper can transform mealtimes without significantly bumping up your daily cost.
Key Features | |
Type | Wet Food |
AADF Rating | 85% |
Ranges | Complete and Complementary options |
Recipes | Extensive range of proteins |
Life Stage | Puppy, Adult & Senior |
Meat Content | Minimum 75% single source protein |
Tray Size | 395g |
Daily Cost (10kg dog) | From £1.12 |
Grain Free Option | ✅ Yes |
Gluten Free | ✅ Yes |
Hypoallergenic | ✅ Yes |
Resealable | ❌ No |
Reasons to Buy
✅ Voted Best Wet Food six years running by Your Dog Magazine readers
✅ 75% single source protein - higher meat content than many comparable brands
✅ Excellent 85% AADF nutritional rating
✅ Grain Free and Wholegrain options available
✅ Covers all life stages including puppy and senior recipes
✅ Works brilliantly as a dry food topper for fussy eaters
✅ Consistency ideal for lickmat or Kong use
Reasons to Avoid
❌ Trays are not resealable, decanting or cling film required
❌ Tray lids can be tricky to peel back cleanly
❌ Pricier than some supermarket wet food brands
⭐️ Stock Up ⭐️
New customers save 40% with code SBFG40
Existing customers save 15% with code SBFG15
Want to see how Forthglade dog food compares to eight other brands? Read our full Best Dog Food UK 2026 review. |
This is the one that earned Forthglade the top spot in our Best Dog Food UK review, and with good reason.
Dry food has one killer advantage that no fresh or raw diet can match, you scoop it, you serve it, you get on with your day, plus you can store it in a cupboard (no freezer or fridge storage requirements).
Cold pressed foods use lower temperatures than traditional kibble in manufacturing. This preserves more nutrients, can be easier to digest (particularly for dogs with sensitive stomachs), and typically results in higher quality ingredients.
The result is a dry food that punches well above its weight nutritionally.
Forthglade's Cold Pressed range is rated 73 – 75% by AADF, an exceptionally high rating for a dry food, and comfortably above popular brands like Wainwrights, James Wellbeloved, Harringtons and Lily's Kitchen which typically sit around 60 – 70%.
Meat is the first and main ingredient in every recipe and there are four to choose from:
🐓 Chicken (17.5% fresh & 15% dried)
🦆 Duck (17.5% fresh & 15% dried)
🦃 Turkey (17.5% fresh & 15% dried)
🐟 Salmon (16% fresh & 13% dried)
All recipes are grain free, gluten free and hypoallergenic, and are suitable for all life stages, puppy through to senior. We should point out that their dry range was also Highly Commended by Your Dog Magazine.
How did it test? Our Labrador tester Otis clearly preferred Forthglade to his existing brand when offered both side by side.
A couple of things stood out in testing beyond the food itself. The individual pellets are quite large (9mm diameter) and crunchy, which is worth knowing before you buy.
Forthglade do offer a turkey recipe with smaller pellets for small breeds and puppies.
We loved the handy window in the packaging so you can assess kibble size before opening, and the super-durable velcro reseal strip, the best reseal mechanism of all the dry foods we've tested, and an important detail if you're buying larger bags. Nobody wants stale dog food!
Speaking of which, Forthglade offer the widest range of bag sizes we've seen: from 2kg right up to 20kg, which means once your dog has given it the paw of approval, you can switch to the money-saving bigger bags.
At around 84p per day for a 10kg dog (based on a 12kg bag), it's one of the best value premium dry foods on the UK market. A Subscribe & Save option is available for 10% OFF with free delivery on orders over £30.
Our verdict: The complete package, nutritionally excellent, transparent labelling, great value for money, and packaging that genuinely impresses. Our top pick for a quality dry dog food in the UK.
Key Features | |
Type | Cold Pressed Dry |
AADF Rating | 73–75% |
Recipes | Chicken, Duck, Turkey, Salmon |
Life Stage | All stages (Puppy to Senior) |
Bag Sizes | 2kg — 20kg |
Daily Cost (10kg dog) | From 84p |
Grain Free | ✅ Yes |
Gluten Free | ✅ Yes |
Hypoallergenic | ✅ Yes |
Reasons to Buy
✅ Exceptional nutritional rating for a dry food
✅ First ingredient is meat
✅ Wide range of bag sizes available
✅ Super-durable reseal strip on packaging
✅ Subscribe & Save available
Reasons to Avoid
❌ No sample pack available
❌ Large pellet size may not suit small breeds (turkey recipe excepted)
❌ Fussy eaters may need wet food topper
⭐️ Stock Up ⭐️
New customers save 40% with code SBFG40
Existing customers save 15% with code SBFG15
Forthglade is our No.1 pick in our dedicated Best Dry Dog Foods review - find out how it compares to the competition. |
If the cold pressed range feels like a stretch for your budget, Forthglade's Lightly Baked range is a very solid second option.
With 50% single-source protein and a 67% AADF rating, it still outperforms many popular mainstream brands while coming in at a lower price point. Only suitable for adult dogs, it's a good entry point if you're switching from a budget brand to a premium option.
Forthglade have recently made changes to the recipes including reducing the size of the kibble and adding grain-free brewers yeast to support good gut health.
The only flaw we could find was the limited recipe range. Only available in Lamb, Chicken and Turkey recipes.
How did it test? Despite the slightly lower meat content compared to the cold pressed, our testers cleaned their bowls without hesitation.
The kibble is noticeably smaller than the cold pressed range, which works well for small breeds, and makes it a great candidate for puzzle feeders and snuffle mats if your dog needs a bit of extra mealtime stimulation.
Palatability was genuinely impressive, but if you're dealing with a truly Goldilocks-level fussy eater, a small spoonful of Forthglade wet food as a topper should do the trick.
Key Features | |
Type | Lightly Baked Dry |
AADF Rating | 67% |
Recipes | Chicken, Turkey, Lamb |
Life Stage | Adult Only (1 year+) |
Bag Sizes | 2kg, 6kg, 12kg, 18kg |
Daily Cost (10kg dog) | From 64p (based on 20kg bag on Subscribe & Save option) |
Grain Free | ✅ Yes |
Gluten Free | ✅ Yes |
Hypoallergenic | ✅ Yes |
Suitable for Puppies | ❌ No |
Resealable Bag | ✅ Yes |
Reasons to Buy
✅ 50% single source protein
✅ Smaller kibble size suits all breeds
✅ Great for puzzle feeders and snuffle mats
✅ More affordable option
✅ Subscribe & Save available
Reasons to Avoid
❌ Not suitable for puppies or dogs < 1 yr
❌ Fewer recipe options than cold pressed
❌ Lower AADF rating than cold pressed
Forthglade takes the top spot in our Best Puppy Food UK review too, and the main reason is simple. Dry food, wet food, treats, everything works brilliantly together and everything has been tested and approved.
For new puppy owners already drowning in decisions, that kind of genuine one-stop-shop is worth its weight in gold.
Another reason we rate them so highly is that their cold pressed dry food works across all life stages. No switching foods as your puppy grows, no awkward transitions, just the same high quality recipe from their first bowl right through to their senior years.
For smaller mouths, we'd point you straight to the Turkey Cold Pressed Puppies & Small Dogs recipe, a smaller pellet size that makes a real practical difference for young or petite dogs.
On the wet food side, Forthglade have developed a puppy-specific range that's worth knowing about. Four recipes designed around the nutritional needs of growing dogs:
🐓 Chicken with Liver
🐑 Lamb with Liver
🦆 Duck with Brown Rice
🐓 Chicken with Brown Rice
All four are Complete recipes so can be fed straight from the tray, or if you prefer more control over mealtimes, pair them with a recipe from the Complementary 'Just' range as a protein-packed topper over your chosen dry food.
Forthglade also offer a range of puppy food money-saving bundles if you want to stock up from the start. A great place to start is their Puppy Pack containing :
2 x trays of complete puppy wet food (1 grain free and 1 x wholegrain recipes)
1 x 2kg bag of cold pressed natural dry food (Turkey)
1 x 90g bag of grain free, soft bite treats
1x 'one paw at a time' puppy advice booklet
1x Forthglade friends discount flyer
One more thing worth mentioning, their soft treats take the top spot in our Best Puppy Training Treats review too. Food, wet topper, training treats all from one brand, all tested and approved.
For new puppy owners trying to keep things simple, that kind of joined-up range is genuinely useful.
Key Features | |
Type | Wet & Cold Pressed Dry |
Life Stage | Puppy (2 — 12 months) |
AADF Rating | 73–75% Dry Food | 77–82% Wet Recipes |
Recipes | Chicken, Turkey, Duck, Lamb Dry Recipes Turkey Small Breed Dry Complete Wet Range Complementary Wet Range |
Bag / Tray Size | Wet Tray Size | 395g Dry Bag Sizes | 2kg – 20kg |
Grain Free | ✅ Yes |
Gluten Free | ✅ Yes |
Hypoallergenic | ✅ Yes |
Suitable from | ✅ 2 months |
Reasons to Buy
✅ High AADF ratings for both wet and dry
✅ Cold pressed dry suitable from 2 months
✅ Smaller kibble size available for puppies
✅ Ideal for transitioning from breeder's diet
✅ Covers all life stages so no need to switch
✅ Subscribe & Save available
Reasons to Avoid
❌ Wet trays are not resealable
❌ Lightly baked is not suitable for puppies
If you've read our Best Dog Treats UK review, you'll know these take second spot overall and the testing comments really say it all.
These Multi-Functional Soft Bite Treats were Highly Commended in the Best Treat category by Your Dog Magazine 2024, voted by readers.
In testing we found that they're incredibly soft and easy to swallow, making them perfect for training as you can reward quickly and move straight on to the next command without your dog spending 30 seconds crunching through something.
Each treat has a central groove so you can break it in half, effectively doubling your supply. In testing, we compared them to the Pooch & Mutt range and found them noticeably softer which has a trade-off as they're a little more crumbling in a pocket or treat bag.
What really sets Forthglade apart here is the depth of range. Beyond the traditional flavours (Turkey, Lamb, Salmon, including some developed in alliance with the National Trust), they offer a genuinely useful Multi-Functional range:
⭐️ Digestive Health : with Parsley, Ginger & Chicory
⭐️ Joints & Bones : with Salmon oil
⭐️ Rewards : with Honey & Banana
⭐️ Fresh Breath : with Peppermint & Parsley
The idea of a treat that does double duty, rewarding your dog while also supporting a specific health need, is smart, and one that impressed our testers.
If you can't decide which to try, Forthglade offer a treat multipack so you can test a bag of each before committing.
Our verdict: The go-to soft treat for training, and the multi-functional range is a genuinely clever addition. Best for dogs of all ages, we particularly rate them for puppy training.
Forthglade's Natural Cuts range is their newest treat offering, and a welcome addition for dog owners who want a more natural, single-ingredient style treat alongside the soft bite range.
We'll be updating this section with our full testing verdict soon so 👀 watch this space.
Most of us are pretty good at remembering the walks, the food and the flea treatment, but dog dental care? That's the one that quietly gets forgotten, despite being one of the most important parts of your dog's long term health.
Between the Calming Dental Sticks and their new Dental Powder, Forthglade are building a genuinely comprehensive approach to canine oral health that covers all bases and makes it a little bit easier for us!
The Calming Dental Sticks are the star of the show, appearing in both our Best Dental Chews and Best Calming Products reviews.
As a dental chew, the act of chewing physically helps to break down plaque and tartar. As a calming product, they're formulated with natural calming ingredients, making them ideal for dogs prone to low-level anxiety or over-excitement. One stick a day quietly does two jobs at once.
The new Dental Powder works differently. Rather than mechanically tackling plaque, it alters your dog's saliva chemistry over time to reduce buildup from the inside out. Simply sprinkle on food daily. No fuss, no extra steps, and perfect for dogs who won't tolerate brushing.
Used together, the two products offer a complete daily dental routine that fits seamlessly into your dog's existing mealtime and treat habits.
Our verdict: Smart, low-effort dental care that genuinely covers all bases. If your dog needs oral health support but brushing simply isn't happening, this range is the answer.
What makes Forthglade stand out in a crowded market isn't any single product, it's the consistency across everything they do.
Natural ingredients, transparent labelling, named meat sources, no artificial nasties, and a range that genuinely covers your dog from puppy to senior, from mealtime to treat time to dental care.
They're our top pick for Best Value Premium Dry Food, Best Wet Food, Best Overall Puppy Food and Best Soft Dog Treats, and their dental range is one of the best we've reviewed.
If you're looking for a brand you can trust to feed your dog well without compromising on quality or breaking the bank, Forthglade is the answer.
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.
