Wilsons Dog Food Review 2026

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photograph : smartbark

Wilsons has had a bit of a reshuffle, and it is all for the better.

The Scottish maker has streamlined its shelves, retiring its raw range to focus on the two things it does best: gently steamed fresh food and premium British cold pressed.

New eco-friendly packaging has landed across the board too, so the food that turns up on your doorstep now looks as tidy as it tastes. We have fed it, weighed it and watched our own picky pup tuck in, so here is exactly where Wilsons stands in 2026.

photograph : your dog magazine

It has been a good year for the brand as well: Wilsons picked up two Your Dog Product Awards in 2026, taking Best Dry Complete Food and a Highly Commended nod for its fresh range.

With such accolades, we were eager to take a closer look at what makes Wilsons a top choice for dog nutrition in the UK. This review follows our dog food testing process to ensure safety, nutrition, and palatability.

Wilsons At-a-Glance

Ranges	Fresh (gently steamed pouches) and Cold Pressed (dry)
Best for	Fresh feeding without a freezer, and cold pressed feeders wanting variety
Price from	Fresh from £33.80 per 8-pack ; Cold Pressed from £16.49 per bag (save 10% on subscription)
*AADF rating	Cold pressed 69% - 72% : Fresh 90%
Made in	Scotland
Reader discount	SMARTBARK20 for 20% OFF

*AADF : All About Dog Food independent nutritional website. As non-scientists we use their nutritional ratings throughout our dog food articles.

Use discount code SMARTBARK20 for 20% OFF

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⏰ UPDATED : AUGUST 2026 - We've updated this review with new testing, new imagery and the latest pricing, reflecting Wilsons' streamlined range of gently steamed fresh food and premium British cold pressed.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 1Wilsons Dog Food Review
   1. 1.1Wilsons Cold Pressed Range
   2. 1.2Wilsons Fresh Dog Food Range
   3. 1.3Wilsons Dog Treat Range
   4. 1.4Wilsons Supplements and Salmon Oil
   5. 1.5How to save on Wilsons
2. 2Our Verdict
3. 3How Wilsons Compares
4. 4Frequently Asked Questions
5. 5Why trust Smart Bark?

Wilsons Dog Food Review

Wilsons Cold Pressed Range

Cold pressed is a dry food, but that is where the kibble comparison ends. Rather than being blasted at high heat, the ingredients are pressed at low temperatures, which keeps more of the natural nutrition intact and breaks down gently in the tum.

That makes it kinder on digestion and quicker to settle than many bag-standard biscuits.

photograph : smart bark

Wilsons keeps the protein parade broad and British: salmon, chicken, lamb, turkey and duck, venison and trout, white fish and even a hearty haggis, plus a dedicated puppy recipe and a working dog option for busier hounds.

photograph : smartbark

On the All About Dog Food database the range averages a respectable 69% to 72%, a solid showing for a cold pressed food at this price.

In our bowl

In testing, our usually picky pup happily hoovered up the Wilsons cold pressed, and the switch from a raw diet was smooth with no tummy upsets. One thing to watch: cold pressed food draws in more water as it digests, so we noticed Freddie drinking noticeably more. So keep the water bowl brimming.

We found the morsels sit on the larger side, chunkier than the likes of Pooch & Mutt or Hill's Science Plan. Not the easiest mouthful for tiny toy breeds, but perfectly portioned for bigger buddies like Labradors and German Shepherds.

At roughly £1.26 a day to feed a 12kg dog, it sits comfortably in the mid-market without the premium price tag.

Wilsons Fresh Dog Food Range

Here is where Wilsons stands apart. Its fresh food is gently steamed to lock in flavour and nutrients, then sealed into pouches that live in the cupboard, not the freezer. This is a key difference between Wilsons fresh and some better known rivals such as Butternut Box and Different Dog.

Think of it as wet food done properly: real meat and veg, no fridge Tetris and no defrosting drama. Each pouch keeps for up to 12 months unopened and four days chilled once opened.

The menu reads like a specials board: Bougie Beef, Cheeky Chicken, Fish and Beef, Luscious Lamb, Tender Turkey and Venison and Duck.

photograph : smartbark

Pouches come in 380g portions, sold in 8, 16 and 32 packs, from £33.80 for an eight-pack or about £22.65 on subscription. Grain-dodgers, note that Luscious Lamb includes rice while the rest keep it grain-free.

One thing that sets Wilsons apart is its puppies. It offers two dedicated puppy recipes, Puppy Chicken and Fish and Puppy Tasty Turkey, both suitable from eight weeks. Plenty of fresh rivals stop at adult bowls, so proper life-stage nutrition for growing pups is a genuine plus and a real point of difference.

photograph : smartbark

The clever combo: feed fresh and cold pressed together

Here is the trick plenty of dog lovers miss: you don't have to choose. Wilsons designed its two ranges to work as a team, and pairing them is where the magic happens.

Topper tip for picky pups

The fresh pouches make an incredibly tasty topper, and for fussy feeders that can be a total game changer. Dogs are drawn to the texture and aroma of fresh, wet-style food, so spooning a little over their cold pressed dry tempts even the pickiest pup to clear the bowl.

Because an opened pouch keeps for four days in the fridge, you can portion one across several days as a topper rather than a full meal. So if you love the idea of fresh but cannot stretch to a full fresh diet, this is a brilliant, budget-friendly halfway house: a hearty cold pressed base with a fresh finish on top.

Wilsons Dog Treat Range

A taste of the wild! Their treats are made from pure, natural ingredients, just like your dog's ancestors would have enjoyed.

Wilsons rounds things off with a range of natural treats, single-protein chews and training bites that are 100% natural and free from preservatives, fillers, allergens and junk. Handy for training, and reassuring for sensitive tums.

photograph : smartbark

The range includes 'Bites' which are the perfect size for training and popping in the treat bag for recall on dog walks. High value treats, they will keep your dog focused on you for repeat training or teaching new tricks.

There's also larger chews and treats such as rabbit ears, duck necks, pigs ears, chicken feet and beef liver for a longer lasting treat to keep your dog amused for hours.

The treat range comes in two size options and they're all in resealable bags for freshness.

Wilsons Supplements and Salmon Oil

For a little extra support there's premium Scottish Salmon Oil, a glossy coat in a bottle, alongside functional health supplements covering calming and digestion. A simple, sensible top-up rather than a sprawling pharmacy.

We're big fans of Salmon Oil as it's a cost-effective and hassle-free way to add nutrients to your dog's diet.

Containing those all important Omega oils which boost brain power, boost beauty (skin and coat), and support joints. It's a win-win for your dog's overall wellbeing!

We found the convenient pump was easy to use and helped dispense the right amount directly onto our dog's food. Available in two sizes - 500ml (shown here) and a bumper 1000ml.

photograph : smartbark

How to save on Wilsons

Wilsons rewards loyalty. Subscribe and Save trims the fresh pouches to around £22.65 and cold pressed to roughly £12 to £13 a bag, and there are money-saving bundles and variety packs if you would rather mix and match. On top of that, Smart Bark readers can use code SMARTBARK20 for 20% off.

Our Verdict

Wilsons keeps it simple and does it well. Its two ranges cover a lot of ground: a broad, budget-friendly cold pressed line our fussy tester happily wolfed, and gently steamed fresh pouches that shine either as a full meal or as a tempting topper.

Two dedicated puppy recipes and the freedom to mix fresh with cold pressed make it flexible for every life stage and budget, and for picky pups that fresh finish could be the difference between a turned nose and a licked-clean bowl.

Add eco-friendly packaging, British provenance and a tidy roster of treats and supplements, and it is an easy food to recommend.

photograph : wilsons

✅ Reasons to buy

•  Fresh food you store in the pantry, no freezer needed

•  Two dedicated puppy recipes, suitable from eight weeks

•  Fresh pouches double as a tasty topper for fussy feeders

•  Cold pressed and fresh mix easily for a budget-friendly diet

•  Allergy-friendly, single-protein options

•  Proudly made in Britain

•  Money-saving bundles and variety packs

•  Natural treats and supplements to match

❎ Reasons to avoid

•  Cold pressed bags still are not resealable, so you will want a clip or a tub

Use discount code SMARTBARK20 for 20% OFF

View on Wilsons

How Wilsons Compares

On the fresh side, Wilsons goes up against fridge-and-freezer favourites like Butternut Box and Different Dog. Its big win there is convenience: proper fresh food you keep in the cupboard, with no freezer required. Ideal for anyone with limited freezer space.

For cold pressed, two of the closest comparisons are brands we know inside out, Wild and Forthglade, since we have reviewed both. Here is how the three stack up.

Cold pressed	Wilsons	Wild	Forthglade
Price per kg	£8.25 (2kg bag), £6.50 (10kg bag)	£17.77 (2.5kg bag), £11.11(12kg bag)	£8.00 (2kg bag), £6.89 (10kg)
AADF score	69% to 72%	89%	73% to 75%
Meat and recipes	Widest protein range	80% meat (80/20)	Meat-first, 4 recipes
Provenance	Made in Scotland	Made in UK	Devon brand, made in EU
Packaging	Not resealable	Not resealable	Window and velcro reseal
Reader discount	SMARTBARK16 (20%)	SMART15 (15%)	Varies

Prices checked August 2026. Bag sizes vary between brands, so we have shown the size each price per kilo is based on.

Each has its strength. Wild leads on nutrition, with a superb 89% AADF score and a true 80/20 meat ratio, though it is the priciest per bowl.

Forthglade is the value option and packs the cleverest bag, with a window to check the pellet size and a proper velcro reseal.

Wilsons sits happily in the middle as the versatile British all-rounder: genuinely made in Scotland, the widest choice of proteins including haggis, venison and trout, a puppy specific recipes plus a dedicated working dog line, a fair mid-market price that sharpens on the 10kg bag.

Want the highest score, choose Wild; the keenest price and neatest pack, Forthglade; the broadest British-made choice with room to rotate proteins, Wilsons.

photograph : shutterstock

If you're not convinced by Wilsons, why not explore our Best Dry Dog Foods Review.

We take a closer look at other premium dry dog foods and you can see how they stack up against Wilsons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wilsons fresh food actually fresh?

Yes. It is gently steamed from real meat and veg, then sealed to stay fresh in the cupboard, with no artificial preservatives and no freezer.

Do you have to freeze Wilsons fresh food?

No, and that is rather the point. Pouches keep for up to 12 months unopened at room temperature, and four days in the fridge once opened.

Can you mix Wilsons fresh and cold pressed?

Absolutely, and it is one of the best ways to feed it. Use cold pressed as the main meal and add a spoon of fresh as a topper. It tempts picky eaters, and since an opened pouch lasts four days in the fridge, it stretches your fresh budget further.

Does Wilsons do puppy food?

Yes. There are two dedicated fresh puppy recipes, Puppy Chicken and Fish and Puppy Tasty Turkey, plus a cold pressed puppy option, all suitable from eight weeks.

Did Wilsons stop making raw food?

Yes. As of 2026 Wilsons has retired its raw range and now focuses solely on fresh and cold pressed.

Is Wilsons cold pressed any good

On the All About Dog Food database it averages 69% to 72%, a strong score for the price, and our picky tester cleared the bowl.

Why trust Smart Bark?

Smart Bark is an independent UK review site run by Claire Woosey, testing dog products with real dogs across seven years and 150-plus reviews. We only publish honest, positive or neutral verdicts, never paid-for coverage, and every food we rate has been fed, not just Googled.

We hope this review helps you make an informed decision about your dog's diet.

Happy feeding from the Smart Bark team!