Marleybones vs Tuggs: Which Fresh Food 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, and is vet-developed to be complete for all life stages. Plastic neutral certified, Marleybones has delivered over 2 million meals, and holds a 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating. 

Tuggs

Tuggs is a London-based fresh dog food brand founded in 2022 by Harry Bremner, who developed the idea from his university dissertation on the dog food industry. It launched as the UK's first fresh dog food made with black soldier fly larvae, pairing insect protein with meat, fish and vegetables to lower the carbon footprint of each meal. Recipes are vet-developed to be complete for all life stages. Meals are gently cooked in small batches, then frozen. Tuggs is a certified B Corp and holds a 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating.

Marleybones vs Tuggs: 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.

Tuggs

Tuggs meals are gently cooked in small batches 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. Tuggs 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 that supports gut health, alongside chia seeds, hemp seed, linseed, quinoa, seaweed, and rosemary. The ingredients are whole and recognisable, with no artificial preservatives, additives, or fillers, and the same prebiotic and superfood blend features in every single recipe.

Tuggs

Tuggs recipes pair a single meat or fish (around 40 to 50%) with roughly 20% black soldier fly larvae, alongside vegetables and healthy fats. Insect protein is the brand's signature ingredient, which Tuggs describes as a complete protein providing essential amino acids. Recipes are grain-free and free from artificial preservatives and fillers.

Summary: Both brands use whole, natural ingredients with no artificial additives or preservatives. The clearest difference is the protein: Marleybones uses a higher proportion of conventional meat or fish at 60%, with the same superfood and prebiotic blend in every recipe, while Tuggs uses a smaller share of conventional meat or fish balanced with insect protein as its signature ingredient. The right choice depends on whether you prioritise a higher conventional meat content with built-in prebiotics, or a novel protein source.

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. The shelf-stable format also removes the energy cost of refrigerated transport and home freezer storage.

Tuggs

Tuggs uses insect protein to lower the carbon footprint of each meal, reducing reliance on conventional livestock, which needs far more land and water. As a B Corp, it meets recognised environmental and social standards. Its meal pouches are not currently recyclable, which the brand says it is working to change.

Summary: Both brands have made sustainability a priority through different routes. Tuggs focuses on lowering the carbon footprint of the food itself through insect protein, while Marleybones focuses on plastic neutral certification, recyclable cartons, and a shelf-stable format that avoids freezer energy use.

Availability: Where Can You Buy It?

Marleybones

Marleybones is available online via a personalised subscription. Customers complete a short quiz to receive a plan tailored to their dog's size, activity and life stage. It is also available as one-off orders, and is stocked in Waitrose, Ocado, Pets at Home, and Co-op, as well as selected retailers across the UK.

Tuggs

Tuggs is available online via a personalised subscription, and has recently begun appearing in selected stores including Jollyes.

Summary: Both brands sell online via subscription. Marleybones is also widely stocked in supermarkets and premium retailers including Waitrose, Ocado, Pets at Home, and Co-op, while Tuggs is primarily online with a growing store presence.

Customer Satisfaction

Marleybones

4.9/5 on Trustpilot from 1000+ 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.

Tuggs

4.7/5 on Trustpilot from 600+ reviews. Customers frequently highlight ingredient quality, dogs enjoying the food, and responsive customer service.

Summary: Both brands are highly rated by customers, with near-identical Trustpilot scores. Marleybones reviews often centre on 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 the option to buy in the supermarket, including Waitrose, Ocado and Co-op, as well as online
• You want 60% freshly prepared meat or fish in every recipe

Tuggs may suit you better if:

• You want insect protein as a more sustainable alternative and a lower carbon footprint
• You are comfortable with frozen storage and a defrost routine
• A certified B Corp brand is important to you

“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.

What makes Marleybones different from Tuggs?

The two clearest differences are format and protein. Marleybones is Pantry Fresh®, shelf-stable and ready to serve from the carton, and uses 60% freshly prepared meat or fish with seven superfoods and a natural prebiotic in every recipe. Tuggs is frozen and blends meat or fish with around 20% black soldier fly larvae as a sustainable protein source. Both use natural ingredients with no artificial additives.

Is Marleybones or Tuggs better for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

Marleybones includes chicory root, a natural prebiotic, in every recipe as standard, actively supporting gut health through whole-food nutrition. Tuggs uses gently cooked, single-protein recipes and points to insect-derived fatty acids for digestive support. Both avoid artificial additives.

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, and every plan is portioned to the individual dog based on weight, age and activity level, so a larger or more active dog is fed a bigger daily portion accordingly.

Where can I buy Marleybones?

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

“A complete game changer!!”

Get 40% OFF today

Use code: FRESH40