The idea for Tuggs began in 2020, while I was researching the pet-food industry at university. I became increasingly interested in the relationship between what dogs eat and their long-term health, while also being struck by the environmental impact of feeding the world’s pets.
I started exploring whether it was possible to create fresh, gently cooked dog food using high-quality meat and fish alongside insect protein — delivering excellent nutrition while reducing our reliance on traditional livestock.
Very early on, I called Charlie Thorburn, the founder of Mordor Gundogs.
Charlie and I actually go back much further than Tuggs. I first met him when I was eight years old, when my family collected our first Labrador from Mordor. So when I began working on the idea that would eventually become Tuggs, he was one of the first people whose opinion I wanted.
Charlie didn’t simply tell me whether he liked the concept. He helped us test it properly.
Over the following months, we worked with Mordor Gundogs and veterinary students from the University of Glasgow to trial our food with their dogs, including a feeding study comparing puppies eating Tuggs with puppies eating a premium raw diet.
Those early trials were a hugely important part of developing Tuggs. The food came first. We researched it, tested it and refined it over a period of years before ever selling a meal.
Charlie has remained involved with Tuggs ever since and says:
“At Mordor Gundogs we have been breeding and training dogs for over 16 years and have been delighted with the results our dogs have seen whilst eating Tuggs!”
That same approach continues to shape the company today.
Our recipes have been developed with veterinary and nutritional expertise, using carefully selected ingredients and gentle cooking to create complete, balanced meals designed around dogs’ nutritional needs.
Just as importantly, we take the quality and safety of how our food is made extremely seriously.
Tuggs meals are made in Scotland at an APHA-approved and SALSA-certified facility, where food safety and quality are carefully controlled throughout production. Each recipe and manufacturing process is validated to ensure our meals receive the correct cooking treatment consistently and safely.
Wherever available and practical, we source ingredients from within the UK — and as locally as possible — helping us support British suppliers while maintaining a transparent and responsible supply chain.
Full traceability is maintained throughout production. Every Tuggs bag can be traced through its production batch back to the specific batches of raw materials and ingredients used to make it.
We’re certainly not perfect, and we’ll continue learning and improving as Tuggs grows. But one thing I can promise is that we take the responsibility of feeding your dog incredibly seriously.
And if there is ever anything you would like to ask us — about our food, our ingredients, how it is made or anything else — our team is always here to help.
- Harry, Founder