The We Walk Woofs (and Charlie!) Dog Food Testing Process
- We Walk Woofs
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
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As dog owners and dog professionals, we are constantly surrounded by dogs and so always have a ready supply of volunteers to help us test products and foods. Since we started back in 2017, we have had the pleasure of testing some of the very best products and dog foods available in the UK.
When it comes to the food testing side of things, the chief We Walk Woofs taste tester and dog food expert extraordinaire is our dog Charlie, the twelve-year-old Wheaten Terrier. Alongside him, we have a huge selection of eager dogs, both customers and friends, that are always happy to lend a helping paw when it comes to food tasting. Every food we review is assessed using the same testing process. We look closely at ingredients, nutritional balance, portion size, convenience, and value for money. Most importantly, the food is tasted and tested by our chief reviewer Charlie (and a lot of the time us as well!), along with various canine volunteers who help us judge palatability, digestion, and overall enthusiasm at mealtimes.
What Do We Know About Dog Food Testing?
Although we are not veterinary nutritionists or pet food scientists, we have spent years working with a huge number of dogs and observing how different foods affect their health, energy levels, digestion, and enthusiasm at food times. Since launching We Walk Woofs in 2017, we have tested a wide range of dog foods, from the more traditional kibble and tinned foods to fresh, gently cooked, and well known subscription-based dog food brands. Through regular feeding trials with our own dog Charlie and a group of willing doggy volunteers, we have developed a good understanding of what dogs tend to enjoy, which foods appear to suit them best, and the factors owners should consider when choosing the right food for their dog.
Why We Test Dog Food?
The aim of our reviews and testing is to help dog owners navigate the sometimes complex world of dog food. Whereas twenty years ago owners had the choice of large brand tinned food or kibble, in the last ten years the dog food market has grown exponentially, and for some owners, the choices available can seem a little overwhelming. By testing, reviewing and giving honest opinions, we hope that we can make the decision regarding which food to feed a little less daunting.
The Types of Dog Food That We Test
The dog food market in the UK has expanded dramatically over the past decade, with way more options available than the traditional tinned dog food and kibble that many owners grew up with. As part of our review process, we aim to test a full range of dog food types so we can give a balanced and helpful review to dog owners with different budgets, feeding preferences, and dietary needs. Some dogs thrive on dry food, while others prefer fresh or gently cooked meals, so we try to include a broad mix of products in our testing.
We regularly test and review the following types of dog food:
Dry dog food (kibble)
Wet dog food (tinned or tray meals)
Fresh dog food delivery services
Gently cooked or freshly prepared dog food
Raw dog food (including frozen and freeze-dried)
Air-dried and cold-pressed dog food
Grain-free and specialist diet dog foods
High-protein and working dog foods
By testing a large variety of dog food types, we can better understand how different products perform in real feeding situations and which ones dogs seem to enjoy the most.
How We Test the Dog Food We Feature
At We Walk Woofs, we aim to give dog owners honest and practical insights into the foods we review. Rather than relying on brand hype, we combine our own ingredient research with real , hands on feeding experiences and tasting to understand how a food performs in everyday life.
What Guides Our Reviews:
Ingredients - We analyse ingredient quality and nutritional information and breakdowns.
Real feeding experiences - Foods are tested during normal feeding routines whenever possible
Suitability matters - All dogs have different needs, so we highlight which foods may suit certain dogs better than others.
Honest opinions - We aim to provide our own balanced observations, including both positives and potential drawbacks.
Independent reviews - Our opinions are based on our own testing and research.
Our reviews are based on a combination of market research, labelling analysis and real-world observation, including reviewing ingredients and nutritional information, feeding trials with Charlie and other canine volunteers, observing enthusiasm at mealtimes and general tolerance of the food and researching manufacturer guidance and feeding recommendations.
While we are not veterinarians or pet nutritionists, our aim is to provide clear and balanced information to help dog owners make more informed feeding decisions.
What We Look for When Testing Dog Food
When testing dog food, we try to look beyond the marketing claims on the packaging and focus on the factors that really matter to dogs and their owners. By observing how dogs respond to a food and reviewing the ingredients and nutritional information, we aim to build a balanced picture of its overall quality and suitability.
When evaluating dog food, we typically consider:
Ingredient quality and nutritional balance
How eagerly dogs eat the food at mealtimes
How well the food appears to suit digestion
Portion size and feeding guidelines
Convenience for owners, including storage and serving
Overall value for money
By considering these factors together, we try to give dog owners a clearer idea of what to expect from each food and whether it may be a good fit for their dog.
Why Trust We Walk Woofs?
At We Walk Woofs, dogs are at the centre of everything we do. As dog owners and dog professionals who work with dogs every day, we regularly see how different foods and products perform in real-life situations. Our reviews are based on a combination of careful research and genuine feeding experiences, led by our chief taste tester Charlie the Wheaten Terrier and a group of willing canine volunteers. Our aim is simple: to provide honest, balanced information that helps dog owners make more confident decisions about what to feed their dogs.
