A dog food trial pack makes switching to ESSENTIAL FOODS simple
A dog food trial pack is the most natural way to introduce your dog to ESSENTIAL FOODS. Here you'll find trial meals from across our ranges, so your dog can taste its way forward before you decide which meal earns a permanent place in the bowl. Every bag holds exactly the same recipe as the larger ones: fresh produce, human-grade ingredients and carefully chosen local and regional delicacies, prepared in Our finest British Heritage Kitchens. There is no difference between a trial meal and a full meal — only the quantity.
For many dog owners, it is precisely that smaller quantity that makes the decision easier. You can see how your dog responds to a new protein composition, notice whether the appetite picks up, and observe whether the stomach settles — all without committing to a single choice from day one. Once you've found the favourite, you can move on to our full range of dog meals and let your dog carry on with what has won it over.
Dog food samples from across our entire range
Among the trial meals you'll find SUPERIOR LIVING with 83% free-range British chicken and duck, fresh Scottish salmon and trout, along with NAUTICAL LIVING with 77% fresh Scottish salmon, trout and the season's fresh fish for dogs with a real fondness for fish. HIGHLAND LIVING is composed with 81% fresh free-range turkey and Scottish salmon, Aberdeen Angus beef and game bird, while ESTATE LIVING offers 74% grass-fed fresh British free-range lamb, free-range chicken and venison. ETERNAL LIVING stands in a class of its own as an ovo-vegan meal with 79% brown rice, field beans, sweet potato, chickpeas and free-range eggs.
Several of the ranges come in both a small-breed and a larger-breed variant, so the kibble suits your dog's mouth. If you have a small dog, it's well worth taking a closer look at our selection for small dogs, and if you're looking for meals entirely without grain, you'll find them gathered under grain-free, where the grain-free recipe is combined with human-grade ingredients and a high proportion of fresh and dried meat or fish. All trial meals are BOF-approved, which means the composition supports your dog's behaviour and wellbeing through stable, easily absorbed nutrition.
How to get the most from the trial meals
Give your dog a trial meal over a couple of days rather than all at once. Mix a small amount of the new meal into the food your dog already knows, then gradually increase the proportion. This gives the gut flora time to adjust, and gives you a true picture of how your dog takes to the ingredients. Keep an eye on stool consistency, coat shine and energy levels in the days that follow — these are the clearest signs that a meal is sitting well.
If you're unsure which trial meals make the most sense for your particular dog, our nutritional advisers are ready to help by phone, chat and email. They know every recipe in detail and are always happy to put together a small selection based on breed, age, activity level and any sensitivities. They can also guide you if your dog has had an unsettled stomach, or if you want to make sure your dog maintains a healthy weight along the way — read more in our guide to your dog's healthy weight.
For the puppy who deserves the very best start
The BEGINNING range is created for the finest of beginnings, and here too you can try before you commit. BEGINNING SMALL BREED is composed with 90% free-range British chicken and duck, fresh Scottish salmon and trout, while BEGINNING LARGE BREED contains 79% of the same fine ingredients, tailored to the growth of large breeds. For puppies with a fondness for fish, there is BEGINNING LARGE BREED NAUTICAL EDITION with 79% fresh Scottish salmon, fresh trout, the season's fish and whole eggs. All are grain-free and entirely without unnecessary fillers.
The first few months shape a puppy's digestion, bones and temperament, which is why the choice deserves proper thought. In the Puppy Universe we've gathered our experience with training, feeding quantities and the questions that typically arise along the way. Once you've found the right one, the full selection of puppy meals awaits for the growing months ahead.
