Pure vs Royal Canin

Pure vs Royal Canin: What's the Real Difference?

As owners, we all want to make sure we're giving our dogs food that genuinely supports their health, not just something that fills a bowl. If you're comparing Pure Pet Food to Royal Canin, you're likely trying to understand whether switching from a traditional kibble to an air-dried alternative is the right choice for your dog.

Both brands have their place. Royal Canin is one of the most widely vet-recommended kibble brands, particularly for breed-specific and prescription diets. Pure takes a different approach to how the food itself is made. Below, we've set out the actual differences, how each food is produced, what independent reviewers say, what it costs, what the research shows, and what real customers have experienced. This will hopefully you can make an informed decision for your own dog.

A quick note before we start

If you've come across mentions of a brand called "PurePet" while searching for us online, that's a different company, based in India, with no connection to Pure Pet Food. The similarity in name has caused some confusion in search results, which we've addressed in a separate article. For the purposes of this comparison, we're focusing solely on Pure Pet Food and Royal Canin.

How the two foods are made

Royal Canin produces extruded dry kibble. The ingredients are combined, then cooked at high heat and pressure before being shaped into the familiar dry pellets. This is a well-established method used across most major kibble brands.

Pure Pet Food gently dries the ingredients instead. Ingredients are dried slowly at low temperatures, rather than cooked under high heat and pressure. The aim of this process is to retain more of the food's natural nutritional profile.

What independent reviewers say

According to AllAboutDogFood.co.uk, an independent UK site that rates dog foods based on ingredient quality and transparency:

• Pure Pet Food (Turkey recipe): AADF rating of 74%

• Royal Canin Medium Adult: AADF rating of 38%

Comparing the cost

Price is a genuine factor in this decision, so it's worth being upfront about it:

• Pure Pet Food: £2.03 per day

• Royal Canin Medium Adult: £0.97 per day (based on £69.99 for a 15kg bag)

Royal Canin is the more affordable option on a day-to-day basis. This reflects the difference in ingredients and production method between the two, and is a genuine trade-off worth weighing against your budget.

What the research says about dehydrated food vs kibble

A relevant study was published in the journal Comparative Clinical Pathology and reported on by Petfoodindustry.com (Tim Wall, 17 June 2025). It's worth noting that this study examined dehydrated natural dog food as a category, rather than testing Pure's product specifically.

The study monitored ten male Beagles individually over a 45-day trial. The dogs were split into two groups one fed dehydrated natural dog food (similar to Pure Pet Food), the other fed standard extruded dry food (similar to Royal Canin) with feeding regimens reversed after a 10-day interval so each dog received both diets. Researchers assessed faecal output, blood biochemistry, and immune and antioxidant markers across two 40-day adaptation periods.

Key findings included:

• Dogs on the dehydrated natural diet showed higher digestibility of dietary fibre and mineral matter, though lower digestibility of dry matter overall, and produced faeces with higher moisture content and volume.

• The dehydrated group showed reduced blood leukocyte and granulocyte counts by day 40, along with a trend toward higher lymphocyte counts, suggesting a more balanced immune profile.

• Dogs on the natural dehydrated diet had lower serum cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels.

• There were significant increases in antioxidant activity in the natural food group, along with higher levels of protein thiols, which are involved in protecting cells from oxidative damage.

• Immune function appeared enhanced on the dehydrated diet, indicated by higher antibody levels. Dogs on the extruded diet showed raised levels of certain proteins (ceruloplasmin, haptoglobins, transferrin) by day 20, which can indicate a heightened inflammatory response.

As the researchers concluded: "These findings suggest that natural dehydrated feed favoured the digestibility of fibre and mineral matter and stimulated the antioxidant and immune system compared to extruded dry feed."

As with any single study, this represents one data set on a specific group of dogs, and shouldn't be read as a guarantee of how every dog will respond to a dehydrated diet.

What customers say

A number of Pure customers have made the switch from Royal Canin. Here's what two of them shared:

"We moved our working cocker spaniel onto Pure Pet Food after feeding her Royal Canine for nearly 7 months and it was the right decision for her. She's put on weight (she was underweight) and she just has so much more energy. I would highly recommend Pure Pet Food!" Ellie May Norton, Trustpilot, June 2026

"My cavalier has always been picky with food and had tummy problems, so much so that he has been on special Royal Canin diets for over a year, such as hypoallergenic... I am so glad I did [switch] — Pancake now licks the bowl clean, is excited about meal time for the first time in his life, and his tummy and poos have been the healthiest ever." J Osorio, Trustpilot, January 2026

Individual results will vary from dog to dog, but these experiences reflect why some owners choose to make the switch.

However, no matter how good the ingredients are, if the food is overly processed, your dog will not reap the benefits. Cheap foods such as kibble undergo an extrusion process, which is where the food is heated to extreme temperatures which significantly hinders the nutritional content of the food.

This is why a minimally processed diet such as dehydrating works the best to allow the ingredients to shine and allow your pooch to gain all the benefits that good quality ingredients can provide.

In addition, many dogs also suffer dietary intolerances, where their body can’t digest certain foods. Most canine allergies are associated with protein, grain, or dairy. Depending on your dog’s individual sensitivities, you will need to avoid any foods that contain ingredients they may be allergic or intolerant to.

This is where a tailored recipe can really come in handy. Tell us about all about your dog, their age, breed, size, ailments and any allergies you know of, and Pure will create a recipe that is perfect for your pooch and will let them enjoy their food without having to ensure any allergy-related problems.

Which is right for your dog?

Royal Canin's kibble is a well-known choice, but if you're after a food that's minimally processed, Pure is worth the switch. Yes, it costs more per day, but that reflects genuinely different ingredients and a gentler production process. As with any diet change, introduce it gradually and check with your vet first if your dog has an existing condition.