How We Test
Our recommendations come from hands-on testing against a documented rubric, real-world use, and expert sign-off u2014 not from press releases or affiliate payouts.
Our process
1 · Rubric first
Before testing, we agree the criteria that matter for a category — safety, durability, ease of use, value and dog approval — so scoring stays consistent and honest.
2 · Real-world use
We buy or borrow, then actually use the products — with real dogs, in real homes and on real walks, often over weeks, not minutes.
3 · Like for like
Products are scored against the rubric and against rivals in the same price band.
4 · Expert sign-off
Health, food and safety-critical picks are reviewed by the relevant vet, nutritionist or trainer before publishing.
5 · Re-test & update
Picks are revisited as products change, and every review carries a last-updated date.
How we score
Each product earns an overall rating built from weighted sub-scores against the category rubric. We call out who a product is best for, where it falls short, and when a cheaper option is the smarter buy. A high price never earns a high score on its own.
Doggo earns commission when you buy through some of our links — that’s how we fund independent testing, and it never costs you more. Crucially, commission doesn’t change a verdict: we recommend the product that wins on merit, not the one that pays the most, and we’ll happily tell you to keep what you already own. See our full affiliate disclosure.
If a pick stops being the best choice — or we simply got something wrong — we update it and note the change. Spotted an error? Tell us and we’ll fix it.
See the rubric in action
Browse our hands-on reviews — each one shows who it’s for, where it falls short, and the smarter cheaper pick.
Read our reviews