How we rank every bowl

First, we remove unsuitable foods

A food is excluded if it is for the wrong life stage (adult and senior dogs never see puppy or junior foods; seniors can see adult foods), contains an ingredient you avoid (checked against the full ingredient list — if we have no list, we leave it out), is outside your chosen food types, or would cost more than about 65% over your monthly budget. Prescription and vet-only diets are never ranked — they should be chosen with your vet.

Then, we score each match

• 30% sensitivities and needs
• 25% life stage and size
• 20% estimated monthly budget fit
• 15% activity and body condition
• 10% delivery preference

Your match score blends this fit (60%) with the Food score (40%). Foods we haven’t rated yet count as a neutral 50 for that part, and are labelled “not yet rated”. Boosts never change the Food score itself.

Budget wording

We only say a food “fits your monthly budget” when its estimate is at least 5% under your limit. Within 5% either side we say “at the top of your budget”, and beyond that “above your budget”.

What the score means

85 and above is an Excellent match, 70–84 a Strong match, and below 70 a Good match. Scores often drop after the first few results because fewer foods tick every box.

How we estimate monthly cost

We use each food’s feeding amount per kilogram of body weight, your dog’s exact weight if you gave it (otherwise the middle of their weight band), pack size and current pack price. It is a useful comparison, not a feeding instruction.

Affiliate relationships

A small manual priority adjustment is capped at five points either way and can never rescue an unsuitable food. Commission does not alter suitability rules or the price you pay.