Stepping into your local Maxizoo can be an inspiring experience for any pet owner, offering a wealth of ideas and a friendly, helpful staff eager to assist. While the store boasts a wide array of products, a discerning eye is needed to navigate through the offerings. Maxizoo does carry some genuinely high-quality items, and they even provide free samples of these premium products upon request.
While the ideal diet for pets is undeniably fresh food, the benefits of raw dog food are substantial. However, for those who opt for dry food, a small handful of high-quality, wheat-free kibble scattered outdoors can provide an engaging mental stimulation for your dog for about 15 minutes. And as the saying goes, life is too short to be a purist – a small serving of ice cream now and then won’t hurt!
On the downside, Maxizoo’s shelves are also stocked with numerous products of questionable quality that you wouldn’t want to feed your beloved companions. This exploration aims to highlight the good, the bad, and the ugly among Maxizoo’s product selection.
The Good
One standout brand in Maxizoo’s “premium” selection is Real Nature. Despite containing 50% fillers like potato and rice, this cold-pressed dry food is of remarkably good quality. Prepared at a gentle 40 degrees without steam, it primarily uses dried meats such as beef, duck, and herring. It also includes beneficial herbal additions like salmon oil, mussel, cranberries, and fenugreek, though the potency of these additions after processing and storage is uncertain. As Fressnapf manufactures most of its own products, it’s likely this dry food is produced in Germany, with hopes of using European meats.
For those currently feeding wheat-based dry food imported from China, which is common in many veterinary clinics and costs between €3-€5/kg, switching to Real Nature is a strong recommendation. Enhancing the diet with a few fresh meat additions would further elevate the nutritional value.
A superior option to Real Nature is their newer range, Wilderness, identifiable by the wolf graphic on the packaging. Priced between €7-€8/kg, this food uses high-quality ingredients similar to Real Nature but without the fillers. It boasts 70% decent meat content (primarily dried or fresh, with no derivatives and limited use of powdered meal) and 30% vegetables and fruits, along with natural extras. This makes Wilderness a top-tier dry food comparable in price to other highly regarded brands like Eden and Orijen.
While high-end “meaty” dry foods are commendable, at €7-€8 per kilo, considering a fresh meat diet might be a more cost-effective and nutritionally superior choice.
Particularly impressive are the Wilderness tins, an excellent option for pets with sensitivities. These tins offer a range of single-protein sources like goat, kangaroo, horse, and wild boar with venison. Although cooked and likely not using the prime cuts due to cost, these are invaluable for conducting elimination diets for dogs suffering from recurring skin and gut issues, or simply for adding variety to a fresh-fed diet.
Maxizoo also offers a line of specialized, scientifically formulated dry foods for dogs with specific health concerns. These are significantly more affordable than similar veterinary prescription diets, which can exceed €10/kg. These German-made foods utilize better ingredients, including being wheat-free. If you believe dry food is the solution for conditions like liver disease, kidney disease, or age-related issues, these products are a better choice than many alternatives.
Beyond food, Maxizoo’s leather leads are a notable item. Reminiscent of those used in guide dog training, these leads offer a comfortable feel and practical design with clips at both ends for adjustable length. They are strong and reasonably priced at €22, complete with a “Made in Germany” tag.
The Bad
Maxizoo’s slogan, “Everything You Need for Your Pet,” seems to omit fresh dog food. Despite the benefits of raw dog food, this hugely franchised company, with over 1600 outlets in Europe, has yet to embrace the vital importance of fresh food for pets.
Industry reports indicate that while dry food sales are stagnating, fresh food sales are booming. Maxizoo’s reluctance to adapt may stem from the lower profit margins associated with fresh food, as high-quality ingredients are costly. Furthermore, online sales of fresh and frozen dog food will always offer a price advantage over in-store retail, where a €3.50 online chub could cost upwards of €7. One might expect Maxizoo to at least stock brands like Nature’s Menu.
The Ugly
Maxizoo also carries other brands, including some very poor-quality dry foods. Regrettably, they also stock several ranges of suspicious meat fillet treats (imported and not manufactured by Maxizoo) that have received negative reviews from various sources. While specific brands cannot be named here, further information on imported, exceptionally cheap meat fillet treats can be found in related discussions. It is advisable to avoid these products.
Additionally, the presence of stale, cereal-based bones in unappealing packaging is another downside.
