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Best Dog Food for Rottweilers 2025
Written by Joe Holyoake
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 02/28/2024, edited: 02/01/2025
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Thought to have descended from Roman drover dogs, Rottweilers are diligent creatures and have been put to work by butchers, herders and police forces among others. However, they’ve also been embraced as companions by families across that globe — behind that tough-looking exterior is a rather soft core.
However your dog spends their days, it’s important that parents select the right sort of food for the breed. So, what is the best food for Rottweilers? Well, this is a type of dog that can fall into either medium or large breed categories, so pet parents should choose dog food based on their pup’s size — bigger Rotties might need dog food for large breeds, for example.
However, it should be recognized that Rottweilers are prone to obesity, so be sure to keep an eye on the fat and protein levels to prevent this from happening. Rotties are slightly more predisposed to developing joint conditions as well, which is why dog food containing supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin are important.
With this in mind, here are some of Wag!’s recommendations when it comes to the best dog food for Rottweilers. As you’ll see from some of the customer reviews we’ve featured, these recipes are also suitable for other dog breeds, too.
Overview
Nom Nom
5
Best fresh dog food
One of a surge of fresh food dog food brands shaking up the market, Nom Nom makes meals designed around your dog’s exact needs.
How does it work? Parents fill in a short questionnaire that covers their pet’s breed, age, weight and other determining factors. The team at Nom Nom uses this information to modify the contents and portion size of some of its standard recipes — each formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, no less. These include human-grade ingredients and are gently cooked to retain as much nutritional goodness as possible.
You could be forgiven for wondering why so much effort is needed, but many parents see improved appearances and health in their pets after a stretch on fresh dog food.
Nom Nom Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- The products are catered to your dog’s exact nutritional requirements
- The four recipes have been formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists
- The ingredients are human-grade and only gently cooked to improve digestibility
- The subscription model can be convenient for parents with a busy lifestyle
Considerations & Concerns
- The added expense of fresh food makes it inaccessible for many parents
- The benefits of fresh dog food compared to more conventional dry and wet recipes have been questioned by some pet experts
- The food has to be kept in a freezer, which isn’t ideal for those with limited space
What Pet Parents Say About Nom Nom
“My dog can be a finicky eater, but he loves Nom Nom, especially the chicken. I find the turkey is a bit crumbly, but the chicken is nice to handle. It is very convenient to open up a fresh pack. It is also convenient to have it stored in the freezer and it thaws out fairly quickly when I need it.”
“I used another fresh frozen dog food but my dog got tired of it. I switched to NomNom and am impressed with the difference. You can see the veggies, potatoes, meat, etc in this food. The other food was [cut]/processed into basically a mush. This looks much better, and my dog enjoys it.”
Read more reviews at Consumer Affairs.
Image sourced from the Nom Nom website. Copyright NomNomNow Inc.
Raised Right
5
Vet recommended
There’s a school of thought that a lot of dog food recipes include too many ingredients, are overprocessed and don't do dogs as much good as they could. Raised Right’s offering is an attempt to put this right and it’s attracted its fair share of high-profile admirers.
“Raised Right offers a human-grade dog food consisting of only whole foods and no fillers or synthetic additives such as vitamin and mineral powders,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants. “Their ingredients can also be traced back to the source, and each batch is tested for safety.”
These fresh meals all have crude fat levels of less than 10%, which is good news for breeds at risk of obesity, the Rottweiler among them.
Raised Right Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- The wide range of flavors is useful for parents of picky canines
- The recipes all feature a limited number of traceable and human-grade ingredients, rather than lots of fillers or artificial additives
- The meals are high in protein thanks to the prevalence of real meat and organs
- The low-carb formulation helps keep chubby Rottweilers in healthy shape
- The subscription model can save all-too-frequent trips to the pet store
Considerations & Concerns
- The products have to be kept in the freezer and fridge, which might not be to some parents’ liking — the meals also only last for six days once defrosted
- The recipes are only formulated to meet the Growth and Maintenance AAFCO nutrient profiles, which could mean having to switch between foods
- The premium nature of the products means Raised Right is on the costly end of the scale
What Pet Parents Say About Raised Right
“A great change in his diet. I went to 75% Raised Right and 25% dry food. His energy level went up and his coat was smoother. Wonderful product.”
“Our puppy came to us with significant dysbiosis and we use Raised Right to feed him well, no artificial ingredients and wonderful balanced food to meet his growing needs while [feeding] his gut. He is doing so much better on the food, thank you for having a quality product for owners to be able to purchase for their dogs!”
Read more reviews at Raised Right.
Image sourced from the Raised Right website. Copyright Raised Right Pets LP.
BARF World
4.5
Best raw dog food for Rottweilers
We’ll level with you, BARF World suffers from a pretty unfortunate name, but what if we were to tell you that the first half is actually an acronym of ‘biologically appropriate raw food’ (‘or ‘bones and raw food’ to some)?
This is one of a growing number of companies producing dog food that’s a closer resemblance to a canine’s ancestral diet — this means lots of raw meat, organs and bones, plus some vegetables and vitamins thrown in for good measure.
At BARF World, these come in the form of freeze-dried nuggets, patties or chubs (or tubes). As you can imagine, these are full of protein and fatty acids, while there are also some low-fat options for Rottweilers on a diet.
One thing’s for sure, they’re certainly a lot more convenient than preparing a raw diet for your dog by yourself.
BARF World Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- The recipes include hearty helpings of meat, organs and bones, which are high in protein, fatty acids and vital minerals
- The wide array of products means parents should be able to find a product regardless of their dog’s dietary requirements
- The diversity of proteins and formulations increases the chances of finding the perfect recipe for your dog’s tastes
- The inclusion of low-fat formulations is helpful if your Rottweiler needs to lose some weight
Considerations & Concerns
- The wealth of meat in the recipes leads to the price being quite expensive
- The company issued a recall of its patties recipes in 2013
- The recipes are only available to buy on BARF World’s website
What Pet Parents Say About BARF World
“We turned to BARF 4 years ago to stabilize our newly rescued English Cream Retriever. And it solved her digestive and allergy issues and she LOVED the food. Due to multiple moves and work travel schedules, we had to switch to a locally sourced freeze dried options. They were fine, but we had been noticing increasing bad breath and inconsistent bowel movements (higher volume and terrible odor). Now that we are settled in one place and no longer traveling, we have switched Ella back to BARF after a 2+ year interval, and within 2 weeks her breath and bowel movements are noticeably better. Additionally, she is even more excited about meal time, which we didn't think was possible.”
“Since we switched them over to the BARF diet, Lily and Daisy have more energy. We needed Daisy to lose some weight and she is now starting to lean up. As a Rottweiler, she is supposed to have that hornet's waist and barrel chest and she is definitely getting her figure back. Daisy loves the food- just loves it. They'll always be on this diet!”
Read more reviews at BARF World.
Image sourced from the BARF World website. Copyright BARF World.
Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight
4
Best for weight loss or maintenance
When it comes to picking the best dog food for Rottweilers, you have to take into consideration their weight. If a vet has recommended your pet could do with shifting a few pounds, you should look for products that have a lower fat content.
Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight is one such dog food. There are only 231 calories per cup and a crude fat level sitting between 7 and 10%. At the same time, the crude protein levels are a respectable 24%.
There have been no shortcuts taken with the ingredients to achieve these figures — just real chicken or lamb as the first-listed ingredient and no poultry byproducts or artificial nasties. The addition of antioxidants helps with immunity, too.
Nutro Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- The high protein and low fat levels can encourage healthy weight loss
- The first listed ingredient is real chicken or lamb, rather than a meal or byproducts
- The absence of artificial ingredients should be reassuring for parents
- The separate large breed recipe provides an option for parents of larger Rottweilers
Considerations & Concerns
- Both of the recipes contain chicken meal, which is bad news for dogs with poultry allergies
- The company has issued two product recalls (one for dog food in 2009 and another for treats in 2015)
- The price at the time of writing (around the $2.50/lb mark) means it’s not budget-friendly
What Pet Parents Say About Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight
“First tried with one of the Pugs who had extra weight from digging up the squirrel stash. Did wonders for her and she is back to her normal weight and back on Fresh Pet. Currently using for the BIG Pittie who was a bit fat and kept getting tendon issues just from running around like the big dork he is. Got the weight off and no more tendon issues. This will be my go to food anytime anyone needs to [lose] weight.”
“Our lab has eaten Nutro since we got her as a puppy. I believe it is a good dog food and she likes the lamb. The price has doubled since we started on this food. I know things have gotten expensive but I hope it doesn't increase again for a while.”
Read more reviews at Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Mars Petcare, Inc.
Diamonds Natural Large Breed Puppy
4
Best dog food for Rottweiler puppies
Like all puppies, Rottweilers do a whole lot of growing in their first year or two. A good-quality dog food ensures that they receive all the nutrients and vitamins their body needs at this vital stage in life.
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy food has been created with bigger breeds in mind. This means there’s a controlled amount of calcium to prevent joints from growing too quickly, plus a healthy level of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from salmon oil to help with brain function.
Added to this, there are probiotics to aid with digestion and L-Carnitine to turn fat into energy. Oh, and the food itself is pretty good too, with lamb being the first-listed ingredient followed by healthy grains. That’s why we consider it the best food for Rottweiler puppy bellies.
Diamond Naturals Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- The recipe is catered around the requirements of large breeds, like the Rottweiler
- The DHA from salmon oil contributes to healthy brain growth
- The first-listed ingredient is real lamb as opposed to byproducts or meals
- The addition of probiotics to the recipe helps with digestion
- The price of $1.37/lb when bought in bulk isn’t unreasonable
Considerations & Concerns
- The presence of chicken fat means it’s off-bounds for dogs with poultry allergies
- The company has issued several product recalls, although not since 2012
- The grain-inclusive formulation might not be tolerated well by certain dogs
What Pet Parents Say About Diamond Naturals
“When we brought home our Great Dane puppy last year, we started him on another name brand food but it didn't agree with him. That's when I found Diamond Natural large breed puppy Lamb and Rice. He [thrived] on it. He's had slow, steady growth (important for Giant breeds) and his coat is incredibly shiny. After he turned 1, we gradually switched him over to Diamond Pro 89. He eats less, has regular formed stool and looks amazing. Next month we are bringing home a Great Danish Sheepdog puppy. I'll be providing her breeder with Diamond Natural large breed puppy Lamb and Rice when she's ready to start solid food.”
“Our 3 dogs are our "kids", we trust Diamond Naturals because we have fed our boys for years and never had a problem. It keeps them looking great and feeling great. The food comes in nice packaging and the boys like the different flavors. I am completely satisfied and have no intentions of switching.”
Read more reviews at Consumer Affairs.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright SCHELL & KAMPETER, INC.
Blackwood Wet Dog Food
4
Best wet dog Food for Rottweilers
As we mentioned at the start, Rottweilers have long been trained to be working dogs — not only are they athletically built, they’re pretty good at learning commands, too.
After a hard day’s work, these canines should be rewarded for their efforts with dog food that’s plentiful in calories and protein. This will help with muscle repair and replenishing energy levels.
Blackwood’s range of wet dog food is ideal for this purpose. These US-made recipes feature real meat or fish along with broth and organs as the first-listed ingredients, plus plenty of vegetables and vitamins, too. With each having more than 460 calories per can, they should well and truly satisfy a hungry dog’s appetite.
Another thing we also like is that all four recipes include green mussels — these are a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which have anti-inflammatory properties to soothe sore joints.
These are all reasons why Wag! thinks Blackwood is among the best dog food for Rottweiler parents to consider.
Blackwood Dog Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- The first few ingredients are always real meat, fish, broth and organs, which are premium sources of protein
- The addition of green mussels means there’s naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin in the mix
- The recipes are supplemented with pre- and probiotics to aid with digestion
- The company is family-owned and ran in the USA, and has never had a product recall in 40 years
Considerations & Concerns
- The wet dog food might be too calorie-dense for Rottweilers at immediate risk of obesity
- The range is comparatively small, with only four flavors (however, there are two poultry-free versions)
- The price of wet dog food might prove a stumbling block if you’ve got a Rottweiler with a big appetite or multiple dogs in the home
What Pet Parents Say About Blackwood
“My small dog (15lbs) tends to leave some wet food in her bowl, but she devoured Blackwood's Chicken wet food! Her bowl looked like we had just washed it. The first 4 ingredients are natural and 6 of the top 7 ingredients are natural with meats and vegetables topping the list. I'm happy to have found a delicious, thoughtfully curated wet food that my dog loves.”
“I bought this to help my senior husky with eating. I wet her dry food and mix in this wet food and she loves it. My 6 month old husky puppy goes crazy for it when I treat her with it as well.”
Read more reviews at Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Blackwood Pet Foods, LLC.
FAQ
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