Marleybones vs Different Dog: Which Is Right for Your Dog?

At a Glance

Brand Overviews

Marleybones

Founded in London by Josephine and Mikala, and named after their golden cocker spaniel Marley, Marleybones is a female-founded, vet-backed fresh dog food brand with a distinctive approach to food preservation.

Rather than freezing, Marleybones uses a Pantry Fresh® format: meals are sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack, making them shelf-stable without any preservatives and ready to serve straight from the carton. Customers can complete a short quiz to receive a personalised plan, or buy as they go. Every recipe contains 60% freshly prepared meat or fish, three vegetables, and seven superfoods. Plastic neutral certified, Marleybones has delivered over 2 million meals.

Different Dog

Different Dog was founded by Charlie Thurstan, who, after working in the pet industry and seeing first-hand the low quality of conventional processed food, set out to create wholesome meals for his own dog, Crumble. 

Meals are cooked in a Shropshire kitchen then frozen to preserve freshness. All 13 recipes are grain-free, and contain 60% meat or fish. Customers receive a personalised plan based on their dog's needs. Different Dog sits at the higher end of the fresh dog food market - typically more expensive per day than Marleybones across most dog sizes. 

Marleybones vs Different Dog: A Detailed Comparison

Food Format: Pantry Fresh® vs Frozen Fresh

Marleybones

Marleybones meals are shelf-stable and ready to serve straight from the carton — no freezer, no thawing, no planning ahead. The shelf stability comes entirely from the cooking method, not from preservatives. Open and serve.

Different Dog

Different Dog meals are hand-cooked and frozen before delivery. They are stored in the freezer and moved to the fridge to defrost before serving.

Summary: Marleybones is shelf-stable and stored in the cupboard. Different Dog is frozen and stored in the freezer, with meals defrosted in the fridge before serving. Both are free from artificial preservatives.

Ingredients & Nutrition

Marleybones

Every recipe is built on 60% freshly prepared meat or fish, three vegetables, and seven functional superfoods including chicory root (a natural prebiotic), chia seeds, hemp seed, linseed, quinoa, wild seaweed, and rosemary. No artificial preservatives, additives, or fillers. The natural prebiotics in every recipe actively support gut health.

Different Dog

Different Dog uses 60% meat and fish, combined with fresh vegetables and fruit. All recipes are grain-free and free from artificial additives, fillers, or preservatives. Some recipes include natural probiotic ingredients, though these are not consistent across the full range.

Summary: Both brands use high-quality natural ingredients with no artificial nasties. Marleybones includes a consistent superfood and prebiotic blend in every recipe. Different Dog's wider recipe range may suit owners who need more protein variety.

Sustainability & Packaging

Marleybones

Marleybones uses recyclable Tetra-style aseptic cartons and is plastic neutral certified — removing as much plastic from the environment as it unavoidably uses.

Different Dog

Different Dog uses recyclable and compostable packaging and operates carbon-neutral deliveries. 

Summary: Both brands have strong sustainability credentials. Marleybones's plastic neutral certification and Different Dog's compostable packaging represent different approaches.

Availability: Where Can You Buy It?

Marleybones

Marleybones is available online via subscription and as one-off orders, and is stocked in Whole Foods, Waitrose, Ocado, and online at Pets at Home, as well as selected retailers across the UK.

Different Dog

Different Dog is available online via subscription and one-off orders through its own website.

Summary: Marleybones is available online and in selected retailers. Different Dog is available online via its own website.

Customer Satisfaction

Marleybones

4.8/5 on Trustpilot from 750+ reviews. Common themes: fussy dogs clearing their bowls, improved digestion and coat condition, and the convenience of a no-prep, no-freezer format. Customer service is consistently praised as responsive and helpful.

Different Dog

4.9/5 on Trustpilot from over 2,400 reviews. Customers frequently highlight the quality of ingredients, visible health improvements, and the support available from its in-house team of vets and nutritionists.

Summary: Both brands are highly rated by customers. Different Dog's slightly higher rating and larger review volume reflect its longer track record. Marleybones is consistently praised for the convenience of its format alongside ingredient quality.

Which Is Right for You?

Marleybones may suit you better if:

• You want fresh food that is ready to serve with no prep and no freezer required
• Your dog has a sensitive stomach — natural prebiotics in every recipe actively support gut health
• You want to buy in-store as well as online
• You want fresh food at a more accessible price point - Marleybones works out more affordable per day than Different Dog across most dog sizes
  

Different Dog may suit you better if:

• You're comfortable with frozen storage and a defrost routine
• Your dog would benefit from a wider choice of proteins across 13 grain-free recipes
• You prefer a home-cooked, small-batch approach to fresh dog food

“Such a relief to see her enjoying her food”

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FAQs

Is Marleybones or Different Dog cheaper?

Marleybones works our more affordable per day than Different Dog across most dog sizes, most notably for small and medium dogs. 

Does Marleybones need to be frozen?

No. Marleybones meals are Pantry Fresh® and shelf-stable — stored in a cupboard until opened, with no freezing or thawing at any point. Once open, keep any unused portion in the fridge and serve within a couple of days. Different Dog meals are hand-cooked and frozen, stored in the freezer and defrosted in the fridge before serving.

Is Marleybones or Different Dog better for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

Marleybones includes chicory root — a natural prebiotic — in every recipe as standard, actively supporting gut health. Different Dog uses high-quality natural ingredients and some recipes include probiotic ingredients.

Is Marleybones suitable for all breeds and life stages?

Yes. All Marleybones recipes are vet-formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of dogs of all breeds and life stages. Customers can complete a short quiz to receive a personalised plan, or buy individual recipes directly.

What makes Marleybones different from Different Dog?

The key difference is food format. Marleybones is Pantry Fresh® — shelf-stable and ready to serve from the carton. Different Dog meals are hand-cooked and frozen, requiring freezer storage and defrosting before serving. Both use natural ingredients with no artificial additives. Marleybones includes seven functional superfoods and natural prebiotics in every recipe. 

Where can I buy Marleybones?

Marleybones is available online via its own website — by subscription or as a one-off order — and is also stocked in Whole Foods, Waitrose, Ocado, and online at Pets at Home, as well as selected premium retailers across the UK.

“A complete game changer!!”

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