The Peptide Range: 5 Grain-Free Dog Food Recipes for Every Health Need

In short: The Peptide range is Origin Pets' own-label grain-free dog food, built on hydrolysed protein rather than whole protein. It comes in five recipes, each aimed at a specific health need: Weight Control & Joint Care, Gastrointestinal Digestive Care, Skin & Coat Care, Dental Care, and Hypoallergenic Healthy Living. All are grain-free and made without fillers or artificial nasties. The best way to choose is to match the recipe to your dog's main issue (joints, tummy, coat, teeth, or general sensitivity) rather than picking on flavour alone.

If you've stood in front of our shelves in Longton wondering which bag your dog actually needs, you're not alone. We get asked this most days: "they're all grain-free, so what's the difference?" The honest answer is that our Peptide range is built around one core idea, with each of the five recipes then aimed at a specific job. Once you know your dog's main issue, the choice gets a lot easier.

What Is the Peptide Range, and Why Does It Work?

Protein is essential for your dog, especially for muscles and joints. But whole proteins can be surprisingly difficult for some dogs to digest, and when protein isn't fully broken down, a lot of that goodness simply goes to waste instead of being absorbed. That's the problem the Peptide range is built to solve.

Every recipe starts with hydrolysed protein: whole meat broken down into much smaller chains called peptides before it goes into the bag. Smaller peptides are far easier for your dog's gut to digest and absorb, so more of the nutrition is actually used and less goes to waste. It's also gentler on sensitive dogs, since the immune system is less likely to react to tiny peptide fragments than to whole protein. From that hydrolysed base, each recipe then adds a targeted blend on top, a Wellness Blend for all-round support, a Plaque Defence blend for teeth, extra omega oils for skin, and so on.

Which Recipe Is Best for Joint Support and a Healthy Weight?

If your dog is carrying a bit of extra weight, slowing down on walks, or you've noticed some stiffness getting up in the morning, Weight Control & Joint Care is the one to reach for. It's built on 100% hydrolysed white fish protein, which is naturally high in protein (29%) and low in fat (9%), so dogs stay fuller for longer on fewer calories.

Green Lipped Mussel and collagen peptides support cartilage and mobility, while a tailored fibre blend helps keep dogs satisfied between meals. In a 12-week feeding trial referenced by the manufacturer, 90% of dogs on this recipe moved on to a healthier weight.

Which Recipe Helps a Dog With a Sensitive Tummy?

Gastrointestinal Digestive Care is built entirely on hydrolysed turkey protein for dogs who get loose stools, wind, or general tummy trouble on other foods. The hydrolysed peptides help nourish the gut microbiome, and a TurKEY postbiotic supports the gut's immune defences. In independent testing this recipe achieved 95% protein digestibility, which means less waste and less strain on the gut.

Because the protein is broken down into such small pieces, it also carries a low antigenic potential, so it's a sensible hypoallergenic option if you suspect a food intolerance rather than a specific allergy.

Which Recipe Is Best for Itchy Skin or a Dull Coat?

For dogs scratching more than usual, or coats that have gone a bit flat and dry, Skin & Coat Care is worth a try. It's built on hydrolysed salmon and white fish, with a targeted blend of borage, soya, salmon and algae oils to deliver the right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 to lock in moisture. Collagen peptides support skin elasticity too.

In the manufacturer's feeding trials, 75% of owners saw improvements in their dog's skin and coat condition. It's grain-free and low antigenic, so it also suits dogs where a food sensitivity might be contributing to the itching in the first place.

Which Recipe Tackles Plaque and Bad Breath?

If your dog's breath makes you turn your head, or you're noticing tartar building up, Dental Care is built specifically for that. It combines hydrolysed turkey and salmon with our Plaque Defence blend (sodium hexametaphosphate, seaweed, peppermint, cranberry and green tea extract) to fight plaque and tartar as your dog chews, while collagen and antimicrobial peptides support gum repair.

In an independent survey, 93% of owners saw a visible improvement in their dog's oral health after switching. It's not a replacement for teeth brushing or a vet dental check, but it's a genuinely useful part of the routine.

Which Recipe Suits an All-Rounder or a Dog With General Sensitivities?

Not every dog has one obvious problem to solve. If yours is generally healthy but a bit sensitive, or you want one recipe that works from puppyhood through to the senior years, Hypoallergenic Healthy Living is our all-lifestages option. It's built on hydrolysed salmon and boosted with our Wellness Blend (turmeric, orange, linseed, seaweed, carrot, chamomile and prebiotics), plus coconut oil for cognitive support and L-carnitine to help maintain a healthy weight.

A 2024 University of Liège study on this diet showed a 75% reduction in free radicals, supporting a healthy immune system. It's the recipe we recommend most often to customers in the shop who just want a solid, gentle, grain-free everyday food.

How Do the Five Peptide Range Recipes Compare at a Glance?

How Do I Switch My Dog Onto a New Peptide Range Recipe?

However good the fit, any new food should be introduced gradually over 7 to 10 days, mixing increasing amounts of the new recipe in with the old one to avoid an upset tummy. We've written a full day-by-day guide if you want the details: read our 10-day guide to switching your dog to grain-free food.

Can I Get Advice In Person in Longton?

Yes, always. We're a small independent pet shop on the ground in Longton, Preston, Lancashire, and picking the right food is exactly the kind of thing we like talking through over the counter (with a coffee in hand, if you fancy one). Bring in your dog's history, whatever they're currently eating, and we'll help you land on the right recipe from the Peptide range, or something else in the shop entirely. Everything here is also available to order online at originpets.co.uk if a trip in isn't practical.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Peptide range?

It's Origin Pets' own-label grain-free dog food, named for how it's made: whole protein is hydrolysed into much smaller peptides before it goes into the bag, so it's easier to digest with less going to waste. It comes in five recipes, each built for a different health need.

Can I mix two of these grain-free recipes together?

Yes, plenty of our customers do, especially if a dog has more than one need, such as joint support and a sensitive tummy. Introduce any change gradually and keep an eye on stools for the first week or two.

Are these recipes suitable for puppies?

Hypoallergenic Healthy Living is formulated as an all-lifestages recipe, so it's suitable for puppies as well as adults and seniors. The other four are formulated for adult dogs; ask us in-store if you're unsure which fits a growing puppy with a specific issue.

What does "hydrolysed protein" actually mean?

It means the protein has been broken down into much smaller chains of amino acids (peptides) before it goes into the food. Smaller peptides are easier to digest and less likely to trigger an immune reaction, which is why hydrolysed recipes are commonly recommended for dogs with food sensitivities.

Are grain-free diets safe for dogs long-term?

For the vast majority of dogs, yes. There was a period of concern in the US around grain-free diets and a heart condition called DCM, but subsequent research has not established a direct causal link, and it remains an active area of study. If you have concerns about your individual dog, particularly certain large or giant breeds, it's always worth a quick word with your vet.

How much should I feed my dog?

Feeding amounts vary by recipe, your dog's weight, age and activity level. Each bag carries a feeding guide, and we're always happy to talk it through in-store or by phone if you want a second opinion.

Do you stock these recipes in-store in Longton as well as online?

Yes, all five recipes are stocked at our shop in Longton, Preston, Lancashire, as well as available to order at originpets.co.uk.