When it comes to pet nutrition, choosing the right food for your furry friend can be overwhelming. With countless options lining store shelves, it’s important to find a brand that balances quality, nutrition and value. Burgess Dog Food, a heritage brand from Yorkshire, offers a compelling option for discerning dog owners seeking reliable nutrition without breaking the bank.
The Burgess heritage
Nestled in the rolling hills of North Yorkshire, Burgess Pet Care boasts a remarkable history dating back to the 17th century. This family-owned British company began as flour millers before transitioning to animal feed production in the 1960s. Their deep roots in agriculture have informed their approach to pet nutrition, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients and sustainable partnerships with Yorkshire farmers.
Operating from facilities in Thornton-le-Dale and Cherry Tree Mill, Burgess maintains close relationships with suppliers, ensuring consistent quality across their product range. This family ownership structure allows them to focus on long-term value rather than short-term profits, benefiting both pets and their owners.
Nutritional philosophy
At the heart of Burgess’s approach lies their commitment to veterinary expertise. All formulations are overseen by in-house vet Dr. Suzanne Moyes, ensuring each recipe meets rigorous standards for complete and balanced nutrition in line with FEDIAF guidelines.
The brand utilizes thermal extrusion in their manufacturing process, which offers several advantages. This method involves cooking ingredients at high temperatures, effectively eliminating harmful bacteria while preserving essential nutrients. The result is highly digestible kibble that maximizes nutrient absorption.
Focus on sensitive digestion
A standout aspect of Burgess’s range is their dedication to dogs with food sensitivities. Their Sensitive line excludes common allergens such as wheat, maize, beef, dairy and soy, instead featuring single-protein sources like lamb or salmon paired with easily digestible rice.
These formulas incorporate functional ingredients including prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides) and beet pulp to support gut health, promoting beneficial gut bacteria and improving stool quality. The addition of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil contributes to healthy skin and lustrous coats, addressing issues that often accompany food sensitivities.
Product range overview
Burgess offers a comprehensive selection of products tailored to various life stages and specific needs:
Life-stage formulations
• Puppy formulas: Higher in protein with added nutrients like turkey and seaweed to support muscle development and cognitive function during crucial growth phases.
• Adult recipes: Balanced nutrition for maintenance, including popular options like Supadog Adult Rich in Beef or Chicken.
• Senior/Mature diets: Adjusted calorie content with joint-supporting nutrients for aging dogs with changing activity levels.
Specialized nutrition
Burgess excels in providing targeted nutrition for specific requirements:
• Weight management: Light formulas with reduced fat content for overweight dogs or those prone to weight gain.
• Working dog formulas: Energy-dense recipes with elevated protein and fat levels to fuel active dogs.
• Breed-specific options: Notably, specialized kibble for Greyhounds and Lurchers with uniquely shaped pieces designed for their narrow jaws and nutrient profiles supporting lean muscle maintenance.
The Paul O’Grady ‘No Nasties’ range, developed in collaboration with the late television personality, offers grain-free and hypoallergenic options free from artificial additives, catering to owners seeking minimally processed nutrition.
Ingredient quality and transparency
Examining Burgess’s ingredient lists reveals a straightforward approach to formulation. Taking their Sensitive Salmon & Rice formula as an example, the recipe contains 26% salmon, 26% rice and chicken meal as primary ingredients, avoiding fillers while maintaining palatability.
The brand provides clear listings of analytical constituents, typically offering moderate protein levels (around 20%) and balanced fat content (approximately 10%). While not marketing itself as universally grain-free, Burgess does offer options for dogs requiring grain exclusion.
Some critics note the inclusion of poultry fat and digest (flavor enhancers) in certain formulas. However, Burgess consistently avoids artificial colors, flavors and preservatives across their range, aligning with the growing preference for natural pet nutrition. Not sure if this approach meets your dog’s needs? You might want to check our Langhams review for comparison.
Customer experience and performance
Feedback from dog owners highlights several consistent strengths of Burgess products. Many report exceptional palatability, with even picky eaters enthusiastically consuming their meals. Digestive improvements feature prominently in reviews, particularly for the Sensitive range, with owners noting firmer stools and fewer upsets.
The omega-3-rich formulas receive praise for improving coat condition, reducing shedding and alleviating skin irritation. A recurring theme in customer feedback is the brand’s value proposition – offering quality nutrition at accessible price points compared to premium veterinary diets.
Ethical considerations
Burgess demonstrates commitment to animal welfare beyond their product range. The company actively supports rescue centers through food donations and participates in initiatives like Rabbit Awareness Week to promote responsible pet ownership.
Their Supadog Rich in Salmon line contributes 20p per bag to dog rehoming centers, allowing customers to support animal welfare through their purchases. This ethical stance reflects the company’s Yorkshire values and family-owned philosophy.
What kind of dogs is this food suitable for?
Burgess offers remarkable versatility across their product range, making it suitable for dogs in various life stages and circumstances. Their puppy formulations provide essential nutrients for growing dogs, with appropriate protein levels and developmental support through ingredients like DHA for brain development.
For adult dogs, Burgess offers balanced maintenance diets that suit moderately active pets. Their working dog formulas cater specifically to highly active companions with increased energy needs, providing denser calories and muscle-supporting protein.
Where Burgess truly excels is in catering to dogs with specific dietary requirements. The Sensitive range makes excellent nutrition accessible for dogs with food intolerances or allergies without requiring prescription diets. Senior dogs benefit from their mature formulas, which account for decreased activity levels while supporting aging joints and systems.
The specialized Greyhound and Lurcher formulas demonstrate Burgess’s understanding of breed-specific needs, addressing both the physical characteristics and nutritional requirements of these dogs. This makes Burgess particularly valuable for rescue organizations and owners of these breeds.
Is this dog food good? Our expert conclusion
As a dog nutrition specialist, I consider Burgess to be a solid mid-tier option in the UK pet food market. The brand offers reliable nutrition at reasonable price points, making quality dog food accessible to many pet owners.
The strengths lie in their veterinary oversight, digestive-friendly formulations and life-stage appropriate recipes. Their Sensitive range particularly stands out for providing affordable solutions for dogs with food intolerances without requiring expensive prescription diets.
However, Burgess doesn’t quite reach the premium tier occupied by fresh or raw brands. Some formulas include flavor enhancers and meat meals rather than exclusively whole meat ingredients. While not problematic nutritionally, these aspects position Burgess as excellent everyday nutrition rather than super-premium dog food.
For owners seeking science-backed, reliable nutrition without excessive cost, Burgess represents a thoughtful compromise between budget brands and ultra-premium options. Their long heritage, ethical stance and focus on sensitive digestion make them particularly valuable for owners of dogs with food sensitivities or specific breeds like sighthounds.
In the competitive landscape of dog nutrition, Burgess earns my recommendation for value-conscious owners seeking quality nutrition from a trusted British company with genuine animal welfare values.
If you’re looking for the absolute best nutrition for your canine companion, it’s worth noting that Butternut Box consistently ranks at the top in our comparison of the best dog food available in the UK. Their fresh, human-grade ingredients and tailored approach have revolutionized canine nutrition. For a comprehensive understanding of why this fresh food delivery service outperforms traditional options, take a look at our detailed Butternut Box review to see if this premium option might be right for your four-legged friend.
