About PawPicks UK
PawPicks started because we got fed up.
Fed up of review sites that rank whatever pays the most affiliate commission. Fed up of "independent" comparisons that list every product as "excellent". Fed up of buying bags of dog food based on glowing write-ups, only to have our dog's digestion disagree entirely.
So we built the site we wanted to read.
Our Dog — The Real Reviewer
We have a Labrador/Lurcher mix who's been with us since he was five months old. He's clever, handsome, and — for years — had a stomach that turned every mealtime into a guessing game.
After ruling out parasites and infections, our vet suggested trying grain-free food. We switched. Within three weeks, the difference was obvious: better coat, firmer stools, less wind, and a dog who actually seemed to enjoy eating again rather than tolerating it.
That experience sent us down a rabbit hole. We started analysing ingredients lists properly. Calculating actual meat content. Working out the real cost per kilo rather than the bag price. Comparing protein sources. Questioning what "natural flavouring" actually means (spoiler: usually very little).
That rabbit hole became PawPicks.
What We Do
We research and write about grain-free and natural dog food for UK owners. We're not vets. We're not nutritionists. We're dog owners who've done a lot of homework and think that homework is worth sharing.
Every recommendation we make is based on:
- Ingredient analysis — actual meat percentages, carbohydrate sources, named vs unnamed ingredients
- Nutritional profiles — protein, fat, fibre, and caloric density compared properly
- Value calculations — price per kilogram across the largest available bags
- Real-world research — what UK owners are actually saying in forums and review sites
- Vet consensus — where research exists, we reference it honestly, including when it's inconclusive
We never take payment for positive reviews. We never accept free products in exchange for coverage (though if a brand wants to send a 6kg bag for our dog to try, we'll write about it honestly — good or bad). We never alter rankings based on affiliate commission rates.
Our Approach to Affiliate Links
We do use affiliate links. When you buy through one of our Amazon links, we earn a small commission — it costs you nothing extra and helps us keep the site running.
But here's our commitment: we rank products based on what's best for your dog, not what earns us more money. If the best value pick has a lower commission than the premium option, we'll still put it first if it genuinely deserves to be there. Our affiliate disclosure page explains this in full.
Why Grain-Free?
Grain-free food isn't right for every dog. We're not evangelists. But for dogs with wheat or grain sensitivities, it can make a meaningful difference — and the UK market has grown enormously, with huge variation in quality.
Some "grain-free" products are genuinely premium: high meat content, quality carbohydrate alternatives, and transparent labelling. Others are essentially potato-heavy budget food with a marketing rebrand. Knowing the difference matters.
That's what we try to help with.
Want the detail on exactly how we research and rank? Read our full testing methodology.
Get in Touch
We're a small operation and we read everything. If you've found an error, have a product you'd like us to review, or just want to tell us about your dog, we'd genuinely like to hear from you.
You can reach us at hello@pawpicks.co.uk.
— The PawPicks Team