Best Dog Food in Germany: How to Choose (2026)

There is no single best dog food or best format for every dog. A useful comparison starts with whether the food is complete, whether it matches the dog's life stage and health needs, and whether the manufacturer can explain how the diet is formulated and tested.

This guide uses the EU feed-labelling regulation, the 2025 FEDIAF nutritional guidelines and WSAVA's veterinary nutrition tools. It does not rank brands or replace individual veterinary advice.

Choose Dog Food in 60 Seconds

1. 1

   Confirm it is complete food.

   For a main diet, look for Alleinfuttermittel rather than Ergänzungsfuttermittel.

2. 2

   Match the life stage.

   Choose a food labelled for the dog and its current life stage, such as puppy, adult or senior.

3. 3

   Check calories and feeding instructions.

   Use the label as a starting point, then monitor weight and body condition.

4. 4

   Check the company behind the food.

   Look for qualified nutrition expertise, quality controls, finished-product analysis and a useful contact channel.

5. 5

   Compare suitability and daily cost.

   Do not treat pack price, format or marketing language as proof of nutritional quality.

1. Start With the German Label

Under EU feed law, Alleinfuttermittel means complete food: it is sufficient for a daily ration when used as directed. Ergänzungsfuttermittel means complementary food: it is sufficient only in combination with other feed. A topper, treat or supplement with the complementary label should not automatically become the entire diet.

For a food intended as the main diet, check:

• Type of feed: complete or complementary.
• Intended animal and life stage: for example puppy, adult or senior.
• Feeding instructions and calories: use these as a starting point and monitor body condition.
• Composition and analytical constituents: useful information, but the ingredient list alone does not determine nutritional adequacy or manufacturing quality.
• Traceability: responsible business, batch or lot number, net quantity and contact details.

2. Compare Formats, Not Just Packaging

There is no single best format. Dry, wet and commercially cooked foods can all be suitable if they are complete for the correct life stage and produced with appropriate controls. Compare calorie density, moisture, portioning, storage, cost and the dog's needs rather than assuming one format is inherently superior.

Value check: compare daily feeding cost

A larger or more expensive pack can still cost less per day if the appropriate daily portion is smaller. As a starting estimate, divide the pack price by the number of days the pack lasts for your dog. Use the feeding amount for the same body weight and life stage, and compare calorie information when the manufacturer provides it.

Price per kilogram alone can be misleading because foods differ in calorie density and recommended portions. Recalculate with the amount your dog actually needs after monitoring weight and body condition. Ask a veterinarian before adjusting a medical diet or feeding a dog with poor growth, unintended weight change or another health concern.

3. Ask Who Formulates and Tests the Food

WSAVA recommends looking beyond the front of the bag. A manufacturer should be able to answer practical questions about its people, process and finished food.

• Does the company employ a qualified nutritionist, and who formulates the diet?
• What quality-control checks cover ingredients, the production site and the finished product?
• Does the company analyse the finished food and conduct or publish relevant nutrition research?
• Can it confirm that the food is complete for the stated life stage and provide calorie information?
• Can a customer reach the manufacturer for detailed answers?

If a company cannot provide this information, that gap is more meaningful than a fashionable ingredient or an appealing claim on the front panel.

4. Understand Raw and Homemade Diet Risks

WSAVA reports no evidence of health benefits for raw meat-based diets over commercial or balanced cooked diets. Its guidance identifies bacterial contamination, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, parasites, bone injuries and nutrient imbalance as risks. Growing puppies are particularly vulnerable to formulation errors.

Raw food also creates a household hygiene issue through bowls, preparation surfaces, hands and faeces. People who are pregnant, very young, older or immunocompromised may face greater consequences from exposure. If you want to feed raw or prepare food at home, ask a veterinary nutrition professional to formulate and review the diet.

5. Use Veterinary Diets With Veterinary Guidance

Itching, diarrhoea, vomiting, weight change, urinary signs or a dull coat can have many causes. Repeatedly changing food can obscure the pattern and does not diagnose an allergy or medical condition. Ask a veterinarian before starting an elimination diet or a diet intended for kidney, liver, gastrointestinal, urinary or weight-management conditions.

EU rules require the labelling of feed intended for particular nutritional purposes to recommend seeking a nutrition expert's or veterinarian's opinion before use or before extending the period of use. Find English-speaking vets in Germany if you need help matching a diet to a diagnosis.

6. Change Foods Gradually

Follow the manufacturer's transition instructions or your veterinarian's plan, introducing the new food gradually while monitoring appetite, stool, vomiting, itching and body condition. A dog on a medical diet, a puppy with poor growth or any dog with persistent or severe signs needs veterinary advice rather than repeated home trials.

7. Where to Buy Dog Food in Germany

Supermarkets, drugstores, pet shops, online retailers and veterinary clinics all sell dog food. Veterinary clinics are the appropriate source for diets tied to a diagnosed condition. Wherever you shop, compare the exact product label and manufacturer rather than treating the retailer or price as proof of quality.

Official and Veterinary Sources

The guidance above was checked against these primary European and veterinary references:

• EU pet-food labelling regulation
• FEDIAF 2025 nutritional guidelines
• WSAVA pet-food selection checklist
• WSAVA raw-diet guidance

Frequently Asked Questions