Marleybones vs Forthglade: Which Is Right For Your Dog?

At A Glance

Which Is Right for You?

Marleybones may suit you better if:

• You want fresh food made from whole ingredients with minimal processing
• You want a personalised plan tailored to your dog's size, weight, and needs
• Your dog has a sensitive stomach - natural prebiotics in every recipe actively support gut health

Forthglade may suit you better if:

• You want a long-established brand with over 50 years of expertise in natural dog food
• You want a high-meat wet food with strong UK sourcing and multiple award wins
• You want to mix wet and dry formats, including the complementary Just 90% high-meat range

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 built around a genuinely novel approach to food preservation.

Meals are sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack using the Pantry Fresh® format, making them shelf-stable without preservatives and ready to serve straight from the carton. Customers complete a short quiz to receive a personalised plan tailored to their dog's size, weight, and needs — or can buy as they go. Every recipe contains 60% freshly prepared meat or fish, three vegetables, and seven superfoods including chicory root, a natural prebiotic that supports gut health in every meal. Plastic neutral certified, Marleybones has delivered over 1.5 million meals and holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating.

Forthglade

Forthglade was founded in 1971 in Devon, making it one of the UK's oldest and most established natural pet food brands. Founded by Basil Palmer and Doug Wilkins, the brand was built on a simple philosophy: use high-quality, natural ingredients, remove the junk, and let the food speak for itself.

Forthglade's best-known products are its complete wet food trays, which use around 75% named meat alongside vegetables and botanicals — free from artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives. The brand also offers a cold-pressed dry range, treats, and a Just 90% complementary wet food line. Forthglade has won Best Wet Food at the Your Dog Awards for five consecutive years and holds a 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating from over 16,000 reviews.

Marleybones vs Forthglade: A Detailed Comparison

Food Type: Fresh Food vs Natural Wet Food

Marleybones

Marleybones is genuinely fresh dog food — made from whole, recognisable ingredients, sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack with minimal processing. There are no rendered meats, no fillers, and no artificial preservatives. The result retains the natural nutritional integrity of the ingredients and is ready to serve straight from the carton with no prep at all.

Forthglade

Forthglade's wet food is made using high-quality named meats, vegetables, and natural botanicals — no artificial additives, colours, or preservatives. Wet food uses more processing than fresh food but is a significant step up from standard supermarket wet food in ingredient quality and meat content. The cold-pressed dry range is processed at lower temperatures than standard kibble, sitting closer to fresh food in processing intensity.

Summary: Marleybones is a minimally processed fresh food with whole ingredients preserved through slow cooking. Forthglade's natural wet food uses high meat content and quality ingredients in a widely available, flexible format.

Ingredients & Nutrition

Marleybones

Every recipe contains 60% freshly prepared meat or fish, three vegetables, and seven functional superfoods — chicory root (natural prebiotic), chia seeds, hemp seed, linseed, quinoa, wild seaweed, and rosemary. No artificial preservatives, additives, or fillers — ever. Ingredients are sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack, preserving their natural nutritional value. All recipes are vet-formulated to exceed industry nutritional standards.

Forthglade

Forthglade's complete wet food uses around 75% named meat alongside vegetables and botanicals — with functional extras including chicory root extract, linseed oil, seaweed, glucosamine, and chondroitin in relevant recipes. Around 95% of ingredients are sourced from the UK. The Just 90% complementary range uses 90% pure meat for owners who want a high-protein topper alongside dry food.

Summary: Both brands use high-quality natural ingredients with no artificial additives. Marleybones builds a consistent superfood and prebiotic blend into every recipe. Forthglade's high meat content in its wet range and strong UK sourcing credentials are genuine strengths.

Personalisation

Marleybones

Every Marleybones customer completes a short quiz covering their dog's breed, age, weight, and activity level. The result is a personalised plan with the right recipes and portion sizes for that specific dog, delivered on a tailored schedule. Recipes are also available to buy individually without a subscription.

Forthglade

Forthglade does not offer personalised plans. The brand offers a broad range across life stages — puppy, adult, and senior — with grain-free and wholegrain options, allowing owners to choose based on their dog's specific needs. Portion guidance is provided on-pack.

Summary: Marleybones builds the personalisation into the plan from the start. Forthglade's self-select range gives owners flexibility to mix formats and choose recipes without a prescribed subscription plan.

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.

Forthglade

Forthglade operates from a Devon factory that recycles around 20 million litres of water annually and converts food waste into bio-fertiliser. The brand has committed to a 25% carbon reduction target and donates over 6,000 meals annually to dog charities through its Happy Paws initiative. Wet food trays are recyclable.

Summary: Both brands have meaningful sustainability commitments. Marleybones is plastic neutral certified; Forthglade recycles around 20 million litres of water annually and converts food waste into bio-fertiliser.

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 premium retailers across the UK.

Forthglade

Forthglade is available directly from its own website via subscription or one-off orders, and is stocked in major supermarkets, Pets at Home, and other pet retailers across the UK.

Summary: Marleybones is available online and in premium retailers. Forthglade has strong distribution through specialist pet retailers online and in-store, and across major supermarkets. Both can be purchased flexibly without a subscription.

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 simplicity of a no-prep, no-freezer fresh food format.

Forthglade

4.6/5 on Trustpilot from over 16,000 reviews — one of the largest review bases of any UK natural pet food brand. Customers frequently highlight improved digestion, the palatability of the food for fussy eaters, and the quality and simplicity of the ingredients. 

Summary: Marleybones holds a higher Trustpilot rating. Forthglade's very large review base and consecutive award wins reflect a long track record of customer satisfaction.

“Such a relief to see her enjoying her food”

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FAQs

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.

Is Marleybones or Forthglade better for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

Marleybones includes chicory root — a natural prebiotic — in every recipe as standard, supporting gut health through whole-food nutrition. Forthglade's grain-free wet food is formulated to be gentle and hypoallergenic, and is frequently recommended for dogs with digestive sensitivities.

Does Marleybones offer a personalised plan?

Yes. Marleybones customers complete a short quiz covering their dog's breed, age, weight, and activity level. The resulting plan includes the right recipes and portion guidance for that dog. Recipes are also available to buy individually without a subscription.

What makes Marleybones different from Forthglade?

Marleybones is genuinely fresh food — made from whole ingredients, sealed raw and slow-cooked in-pack with no artificial preservatives, and personalised to your dog. Forthglade is a natural wet and dry food brand with over 50 years of heritage, a high-meat wet food range, and availability in major supermarkets and pet retailers.

What is Forthglade's Just 90% range?

The Just 90% range is a complementary wet food containing 90% pure meat, designed as a high-protein topper alongside dry food or standard wet food rather than as a complete meal. Owners should ensure their dog receives complete nutrition alongside any complementary product.

Which has better Trustpilot reviews — Marleybones or Forthglade?

Marleybones holds a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating from 750+ reviews. Forthglade holds a 4.6/5 from over 16,000 reviews. Both brands are highly regarded, with Forthglade's large review base and five consecutive Best Wet Food award wins reflecting a long-standing reputation.

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.

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