Best Dog Foods For Boxers
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn More
A Boxer is a dog breed developed in Germany that is often of medium size and has short hair.
Having his descents from Molossus, this working-class dog has solid, strong jaws, broad and short skulls.
They also have smooth and tight-fitting coats, square muzzle, and an underbite.
This attention seeker is brave, energetic, playful, determined, intelligent, modest, clean, cheerful, honest and loyal. Moreover, the Boxer is an instinctive guardian that is prone to dental problems and obesity.
Compare Best Dog Foods For Boxers
BEST FOR SENIORS  4. Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Large Breed, Chicken & Barley Recipe | ||||
Protein 38% Min | Protein 20% Min | Protein 20% Min | Protein 20% Min | Protein 28% Min |
Fat 18% Min | Fat 12% Min | Fat 9% Min | Fat 11.5% Min | Fat 16% Min |
Fiber 4% Max | Fiber 6% Max | Fiber 3.5% Max | Fiber 4% Max | Fiber 4.5% Max |
Calories 3940 kcal/kg ; 449 kcal per 8 oz. cup | Calories 371 kcal/cup | Calories 350 kcal/cup | Calories 363 kcal/8-oz cup | Calories 381 kcal/cup |
Our criteria
As much as possible, we try to follow the criteria of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association when choosing the best dog foods for Boxers and other dogs.
We look for dog foods that meet the following criteria:
- AAFCO-approved foods, especially foods that have used food trials.
- Dog food companies that invest in nutritional research.
- We prefer dog foods that have been formulated by veterinary nutritionists.
- We value good quality control.
- We value nutrition over clever marketing. Remember that you won’t be eating the dog food, your dog will. It’s important to choose the food that is best for your dog even if the ingredients don’t sound appealing to you.
We also take into consideration the warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about a possible link between grain free dog foods and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. The FDA’s investigation has now expanded to include exotic proteins in dog foods. You can read the latest research in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association .
For this reason we don’t generally recommend grain free dog foods for most dogs. If your veterinarian recommends a grain free dog food for health reasons, you should definitely follow his or her advice. If your dog has a food allergy or food sensitivity or some other health issue that makes it difficult for him to eat foods with grains/cereals, please work with your vet to select a food for your Boxers.
These are the reasons why you won’t find some of the most popular grain free dog foods listed here. We follow current veterinary health research and try to provide you with the best advice possible for your dog.
Top 5 Best Rated Dog Foods For Boxers Reviewed
The feeding requirements vary according to age, environment, and activity.
There are so many brands and flavors of dog food in dog food markets all over the world.
To help with this process, we have come up with some of the best-loved and reviewed them in categories so that you will get a need-specific food for your dear pet. Here are some of the best dog foods for Boxers.
Orijen Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 38% Min
- Fat: 18% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 3940 kcal/kg ; 449 kcal per 8 oz. cup
- Great digestive system support
- Optimal calcium and phosphorus levels
- No artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or potatoes
- Quite expensive
The protein content is gotten from six different animals in WholePrey ratios including fresh meat, bones, fresh whole fish, organs, whole eggs, and cartilage.
With one-third of its meat gotten from air-dried chicken and turkey, and two-thirds either refrigerated (fresh) or flash-frozen (raw), this meal is biologically appropriate for Boxers.
The liver content serves to boost the flavor of this dog food and make it more delicious for your Boxers. Furthermore, other nourishing ingredients include fruits, vegetables, peas, russet potatoes, cranberries, apples and grasses.
Blue Buffalo Basics
Product Info
- Protein: 20% Min
- Fat: 12% Min
- Fiber: 6% Max
- Calories: 371 kcal/cup
- Very large kibble
- Contains glucosamine and chondrotin for joint support
- Nutrients for your dog’s heart
- Not suitable for puppies
It has LifeSource Bits which comprises vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that will boost your Boxers’ immune system and preserve nutrient potency while providing them with a healthy oxidative balance.
This dog food is developed with calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins needed to keep your Boxers’ teeth healthy and their bones strong.
The presence of fatty acids will ensure your Boxers have healthy skin as well as gleaming coat.
Flavored with a rich blend of turkey and potato recipe, this grain-free diet is delicious with fewer ingredients carefully selected to help dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Annamaet Grain Free Lean Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 20% Min
- Fat: 9% Min
- Fiber: 3.5% Max
- Calories: 350 kcal/cup
- Great for weight management
- Contains natural fiber and healthy grains
- Chelated minerals for effective utilization
- Above market average in cost
Mainly composed of chicken, herring, and duck, this formula is grain-free, rich, nourishing, complete, and preserved naturally.
It also has a lean formula comprising of chelated minerals for effective utilization and strengthening of your dog’s immune system, prebiotics to aid digestion, L-Carnitine and DHA for supporting brain development and improving cognitive function, and algae to provide your pet with Omega 3 fatty acids.
This is one low-fat dog food that is capable of giving your dog a healthy weight as well as a shiny coat.
Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Large Breed, Chicken & Barley Recipe
Product Info
- Protein: 20% Min
- Fat: 11.5% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 363 kcal/8-oz cup
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Has small morsels that are easy to chew and digest
- Helps with allergies and gastrointestinal problems
- Hill’s is currently recalling some of its Science Diet and Prescription canned foods because of excess Vitamin D. This only affects canned foods but it may cause some customers to be concerned.
Additional nutrition is added by vegetables and fruit gotten from apples, carrots, and cranberries to boost your dog’s immune system and natural defenses.
Moreover, the fiber content in the rice and flaxseed helps digestion and also keeps the Boxer’s skin and coat very healthy. This meal will give your senior Boxer complete nutrition in the right proportions.
Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 28% Min
- Fat: 16% Min
- Fiber: 4.5% Max
- Calories: 381 kcal/cup
- Keeps teeth white with no bad breath
- Affordable and of good quality
- Suitable for puppies
- The kibble is quite small for chewers
- Formula is inconsistent
This natural and grain-free recipe was cooked in the USA and boasts of 55% protein and 45% vitamins, minerals and fresh produce. Delicious and enriched with Omega6 and Omega 3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin, this food will improve your puppies’ skin, coat, hips, and joints. DHA is also added for the development of a healthy brain.
Boxers Dietary Needs
Boxers, with their medium size and muscled appearance, have an energy level that is really high.
The major dietary need of your dog is water – clean, a fresh and constant supply of water. Boxers depend on animal-sourced protein for building and optimally developing their muscles and ease digestion.
More so, your Boxers require a well-balanced amount of carbohydrates for energy.
Fats, on the other hand, provide concentrated energy and should complement the carbohydrates. If the carbohydrate content in your dog food is sufficient, it is advisable to reduce the fat content. You do this to avoid them from being overweight.
Your Boxers will also benefit a lot from chondroitin, glucosamine and probiotic microorganisms in their diet to help in strengthening their joints as well as improving their digestion process.
Taurine, minerals like calcium, and amino acids like L-carnitine are also very important in your Boxers’ diet to help in the development of the brain, heart function, blood flow, sight, weight loss, contraction of skeletal muscles, and overall optimum health.
Furthermore, your Boxers should not eat caffeine, candies, gums, fat trimmings, garlic, onions, chocolates, and yeast dough.
Nutritional Requirements
These are bouncy dogs with high energy levels. Boxers are prone to having stomach problems and gaining too much weight. Therefore, you should avoid foods high in calorie content. Here is a breakdown of the major nutritional requirements for your Boxers.
- Protein – This should make up a minimum of 25 – 30% of your Boxer’s food daily because of their size and energy levels. Additionally, your Boxer needs a protein that is lean and animal-based to increase stamina, improve their muscular health, help in the growth of bones, and also aid repair of tissues. Therefore, sources of protein that will be beneficial to your Boxer include turkey, lamb, lean chicken, duck, and tuna.
- Carbs – You should also add complex carbohydrates to your Boxer’s diet so that it will not break down easily. This will thereby keep them energetic for a long time. Carbs are very good sources of energy and your dog requires a lot of it to stay active. Furthermore, some sources of complex carbs are sweet potatoes, green peas, brown rice, and flaxseeds.
- Fats – Fats should make up about 15% of your Boxer’s daily diet. This nutritional requirement provides Boxers with additional energy, maintains proper food digestion, and stabilizes body temperature. Moreover, fats also help to maintain a healthy heart, provide joint support, and keep their coats soft and shiny. Prone to weight gain, fats should also be kept at a minimum level. Sources of fats that will do your Boxers good include fish, salmon, and flaxseeds.
- Fiber – Usually from carbs, fiber will help to reduce your Boxer’s anal gland issues as well as help maintain a healthy weight. Fiber-rich diets come in handy when your dog is overweight.
- Mineral and Vitamin – Boxers love to play and require strong bones, joints and muscles to allow them to enjoy their playful nature. Thus, a lot of calcium helps to encourage mobility irrespective of your Boxer’s age. Your dog also requires taurine and L-carnitine to maintain a healthy heart.
How Much Should You Feed Your Boxers By Age?
Boxers require varying amounts of nutrition based on their age. Puppies are the most demanding of all and the quantity of food you give them will determine how healthy they will be, how fast they will grow, and how well behaved they will be. Furthermore, when they grow to become adults, they will eat less.
However, they should be given quality food for good health and a longer lifespan. At 7 years, your Boxer becomes older, lazier and more prone to being overweight.
At this stage, they require food with fewer calories and more fiber in their diet. Puppies that are 2 – 6 months old should be fed 1-2 cups of dog food 4 times a day. Older puppies from 6 months to 1 year, should be fed same 1-2 cups of dog food 3 times a day.
- Adults can be fed twice a day with about 4-5 cups of dry kibbles per meal. Usually, a smaller meal in the morning and a larger one in the night.
- Seniors do not undergo a lot of exercises but require diets that will aid their digestion. Protein, fats, and fiber should not be allowed to get overweight.
Boxers Food Allergies And Food Related Health Issues
Boxers have different food allergies that can come from different ingredients in some food brands.
Basically, artificial flavors, by-products, artificial coloring and allergy triggers should not be part of your Boxers’ diet.
When your Boxers are suffering from an allergic reaction, they tend to lick their paws and legs.
This causes the skin in to become red, broken and hairless. Moreover, protein, being one of their basic dietary needs, is one of their allergens.
However, some Boxers are also allergic to proteins in particular meats or gains. Therefore, it is important to find out that particular meat your dog reacts to and look for a different brand of food immediately.
Final Thoughts
Conclusively, Boxers are very valuable dogs that deserve very special treatment.
The best way to treat your dog is to give him the best dog food. Look out for your dog so you do not miss any changes resulting from his diet.
If you see negative reactions, take him to see a vet regularly. There will certainly be a food that your dog will love among these reviews above. So, give your Boxer a treat by getting him one of them.
