Our Story

From our journey to yours, welcome to Barkly.

This whole thing kicked off because of my dog, Mac.

Mac’s a golden retriever, through and through — big smile, gentle nature, absolute legend. But when it came to food, his guts were made of glass. Constant itchy skin, upset stomachs, surprise explosions at 2am. We were in and out of the vet so often, I started wondering if I should just pitch a swag in the waiting room.

Every time, it was the same story:
“Try this new food. It’s hypoallergenic. It’s vet-recommended. It’s premium.”
And every time, Mac would cop it worse than before.

So, enough was enough. I started reading the back of the bag. And then I kept reading. And reading. Until I found myself neck-deep in stuff like the NRC Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, AAFCO profiles, WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, EFSA scientific opinions, FDA GRAS listings… mate, I went full food-nerd.

I’m not a vet. I’m not a pet nutritionist. I’m actually a mechanic by trade — just an average bloke who wanted to help his dog. Which, it turns out, is very different to fixing a car (obviously).
But the more I learned, the more it became painfully obvious:
Most dog food marketing is all smoke and mirrors.

There was no fair way to compare foods. No proper breakdowns. No clear answers. Just a heap of vague claims and a lot of filler — both in the bags and in the branding.

So I decided to build what I wished existed.

Barkly isn’t sponsored. It doesn’t play favourites. It’s a rating system built to cut through the crap — one that actually looks at:

Where the protein comes from

What kind of fats are used

How clean the ingredients are

Whether it’s packed with filler or actually does your dog good

And if it’s honest, clear, and safe enough to deserve your trust

Is it perfect? Nah. No system will ever be perfect — dogs are all different.
But it’s built with care, backed by research, and constantly improving.

Barkly exists because one dog couldn’t handle the food that was supposed to be “the best.”
And because one stubborn owner decided that if no one else was gonna fix it, he bloody well would.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing your best and still getting stitched up by dodgy food — you’re not alone.
I’ve been there. Mac’s been there.

This is for every dog that deserves better. And every human trying to figure it all out.

— Adym
Founder of Barkly
(And still Mac’s full-time chef, researcher, and ball thrower)