🍲 Best Dog Food in Germany:
A Buyer's Guide for Expats
Finding the best dog food in Germany feels harder than it should, mostly because every label is in German and the aisle runs the full range from cheap supermarket kibble to premium fresh-cooked menus. This guide breaks down the real options, decodes the labels, and shows you exactly where to buy.
There is no single best dog food. The right answer depends on your dog's age, size, activity level, and any sensitivities. But there are clear ways to compare your options and avoid the low-quality stuff, even if your German is still a work in progress.
1. The Types of Dog Food in Germany
German pet aisles broadly split into four categories. Each has a place depending on budget, convenience, and your dog's needs.
Dry food (Trockenfutter)
Kibble. Cheapest per meal, easy to store and portion, good for the teeth. Quality varies enormously, so the label matters most here.
Best for: budget & convenience
Wet food (Nassfutter)
Cans and trays. Higher moisture and usually higher meat content, more palatable for picky eaters. Pricier and bulkier to store.
Best for: picky or older dogs
Raw / BARF
Germany is a European leader in BARF (Biologisch Artgerechtes Rohes Futter). Raw meat, organs, and bone. Requires research to balance correctly, and freezer space.
Best for: committed owners
Fresh-cooked / delivery
Gently cooked menus delivered to your door, portioned for your dog. The convenience of wet food with premium ingredients. The priciest option.
Best for: premium & convenience
2. How to Decode German Dog Food Labels
This is where most expats get stuck. A few German terms tell you almost everything you need to know:
- Alleinfuttermittel = a complete food, balanced to feed on its own. This is what you want for your dog's main meal.
- Ergänzungsfuttermittel = a complementary food (topper, treat, or mixer). Not balanced to feed alone.
- Getreidefrei = grain-free. Useful for diagnosed grain sensitivities, not automatically healthier (see the FAQ).
- Fleischanteil = meat content. A higher, named meat percentage (for example "70% Huhn") is generally a good sign.
- Offene Deklaration = open declaration. The label lists exact ingredient percentages, rather than vague "meat and animal derivatives".
- Ohne Zucker / ohne Konservierungsstoffe = no added sugar / no preservatives.
- Zusatzstoffe = additives (vitamins, minerals, but sometimes dyes and flavourings too).
Quick quality test
Check for Alleinfuttermittel, look for a named meat as the first ingredient ("Huhn", "Rind", "Lachs", not just "Fleischmehl"), and prefer an open declaration. That alone filters out most low-quality food.
3. Where to Buy Dog Food in Germany
- Pet superstores: Fressnapf and Das Futterhaus carry everything from budget to premium, plus staff advice.
- Supermarkets & drugstores: REWE, EDEKA, DM, and Rossmann stock mainstream brands. Convenient, but the premium range is limited.
- Online: zooplus*, fressnapf.de, and Amazon have the widest selection and the best prices on bulk, and they save you carrying a 12kg bag up four flights of Altbau stairs.
- Your vet clinic: prescription and veterinary diets for medical needs (allergies, kidney, weight). For these, talk to a vet first.
- Fresh delivery services: direct-to-door cooked menus (covered below).
4. How to Choose the Right Food for Your Dog
Match the food to the dog, not the marketing:
- Life stage: Welpe (puppy), Adult, and Senior formulas exist for a reason. Puppies and seniors have different needs.
- Size & activity: a working Shepherd and a flat-living Dachshund need very different calories.
- Sensitivities: if your dog has itchy skin, recurring tummy upsets, or ear issues, a vet-guided elimination diet beats guessing.
- Always confirm it is an Alleinfuttermittel if it is the main meal.
When something seems off with your dog's weight, coat, or digestion, food is often a factor but rarely the whole story. If you are unsure, it is worth a conversation with a vet who can explain things clearly. You can find a verified English-speaking vet near you in our directory, or browse practices in Berlin, Munich, and 30+ other cities.
5. Our Pick for Fresh Delivery: Dinner for Dogs
If you want the premium, fresh end of the scale without the freezer logistics of BARF, our recommended option is Dinner for Dogs. Founded over 20 years ago, they have fed more than 2 million dogs in Germany on one rule: quality is the best recipe.
Premium Fresh Menus
Specialised wet and dry menus made from high-quality raw materials, gently prepared so they are close to home-cooked, and delivered to your door.
- ✅ No Artificial Additives
- ✅ Vitamin-Preserving
- ✅ Direct-to-Door Delivery
- ✅ Puppy, Adult & Senior
Dogs moved onto a fresh, high-quality diet often show visible improvements within a few weeks: a shinier coat, steadier energy from real protein instead of grain-heavy fillers, and firmer, smaller stools (every city dog owner's dream). And practically, set-and-forget delivery means no more midnight runs to the Späti when the bowl runs empty.
Try Fresh, Delivered
"Your companion deserves food as good as yours. Explore the direct-to-door fresh philosophy of Dinner for Dogs."
Explore Dinner for Dogs →*Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
6. Switching Foods Safely
Whatever you choose, change food gradually over 7 to 10 days. Start with mostly the old food and a little of the new, then shift the ratio each day. A sudden switch is the most common cause of a dog's upset stomach. If digestive issues persist after the transition, that is a good moment to check in with a vet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dog food in Germany?+
There is no single best dog food. The right choice depends on your dog's age, size, activity, and any allergies. What matters most is that the food is labelled 'Alleinfuttermittel' (a complete food), lists a named meat as the first ingredient, and suits your dog. Germany offers everything from budget supermarket kibble to premium fresh-cooked delivery, and this guide explains how to compare them.
What does 'Alleinfuttermittel' mean on German dog food?+
'Alleinfuttermittel' means a complete food that covers all of your dog's nutritional needs on its own. 'Ergänzungsfuttermittel' means a complementary food (a topper or treat) that is not balanced to feed alone. Always check for 'Alleinfuttermittel' if it is your dog's main meal.
Is grain-free ('getreidefrei') dog food better?+
Not automatically. Grain-free helps dogs with a diagnosed grain sensitivity, but most dogs digest grains fine, and some grain-free recipes simply swap grains for legumes. Vets have raised questions about certain grain-free diets, so choose based on your dog's actual needs and ask your vet rather than assuming grain-free is healthier.
Where can I buy dog food in Germany?+
Pet stores like Fressnapf and Das Futterhaus, supermarkets and drugstores (REWE, EDEKA, DM, Rossmann), online retailers (zooplus, fressnapf.de, Amazon), your vet clinic for prescription diets, and direct-to-door fresh services. Online usually has the widest premium range and saves carrying heavy bags up your Altbau stairs.
How do I switch my dog's food safely?+
Transition gradually over 7 to 10 days: mix a little of the new food into the old, increasing the new portion each day. A sudden switch often causes an upset stomach. If your dog has ongoing digestive issues, consult an English-speaking vet.