Public revenue from dog taxes remains significantly high for the state, despite the halt in the steady growth seen in previous years. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), which reported on World Dog Day on October 10th, the public coffers collected approximately €429.7 million from the dog tax in 2025. This figure represents a slight decrease of 0.1 percent compared to the record amount of €429.9 million collected the previous year. However, when comparing the revenue to the ten-year period, it still shows a marked increase of roughly one-third (33.4 percent), rising from €322.0 million in 2015.
It is important to note that the dog tax is a municipal levy, meaning that the specific rates and structures are determined by individual local government units. Consequently, the amount dog owners must pay often depends on the number of animals in the household or the dog’s breed. As such, higher tax revenue does not automatically mean that the total number of dogs owned has increased.
Regarding consumer costs, prices for pet food have risen at a slower rate recently. In 2025, pet owners paid only 0.4 percent more for dog and cat food compared to the prior year, while overall inflation across private consumption stood at 2.2 percent during the same timeframe. However, looking at the medium-term price trend, the cost of pet food has increased more significantly; owners had to spend 35.8 percent more on feed in 2025 than they did in 2020. For comparison, overall consumer prices rose by 21.9 percent during that period, according to the Federal Office.
