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Are you looking for the best dog foods for boxers?
Boxers are one of the sweetest dogs and extremely athletic. It is easy to see why they have affected so many people by heart, and make sure you have the best food for boxer dogs and supplements to make them ensure healthy boxers in the long run.
Boxer puppies originally developed as a guard. Theboxer puppy is one of the sweetest, goofiest dog breeds you will ever encounter.
These dogs are known for their muscular bodies, friendly personalities, and people-oriented temperament.
They are also great pets because they are patient and gentle to children of all ages.
Boxers have their own needs and problems that distinguish them from the average dog, so let’s dive into what your boxer puppy needs to stay healthy and what you can do to address the severe health issues that this dear and a popular breed.
In this article, we will discuss the Boxer breed and explore some of its unique nutritional needs. We also give some tips for choosing the best dog foods for boxers and give you our top 10 choices.
Table Of Contents
- What Do You Need to Know About Boxers?
- Important Considerations for Choosing the Best Boxer Dog Food
- 10 Best Dog Foods For Boxers Of 2023
- 1. BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe High Protein Grain Free
- 2. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food
- 3. Royal Canin for Boxers
- 4. Nature’s Recipe Grain-free Dry Dog Food For Senior Boxers
- 5. Orijen Regional Red Dog Food
- 6. EUKANUBA Breed Specific Boxer Adult
- 7. CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Dog Food
- 8. Holistic Select Lamb Meal Puppy Recipe
- 9. Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Turkey and Venison Formula Dry Dog Food
- 10. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural
- Boxer Specific Nutritional Problems
- FAQs About Boxer Dog Food
- Conclusion
What Do You Need to Know About Boxers?
The boxer dog breed is a medium-sized breed known for its compact face, pointed ears, and a docked tail. This breed is a ball of energy, often channeled through agility, flyball, and obedience training. And sometimes, Boxers use their intelligence and patience to work as guides or therapy dogs.
By no means, Boxer dog is a small dog, and his muscular build makes him a little intimidating. From the moment you first contact a Boxer, it should be clear that these dogs are nothing or even sweet goofs.
They have a lot of energy, but they are very friendly and affectionate with family boxer owners, including children. They may not be the best with other dogs or cats, but early training and socialization can help.
Boxers weigh an average of 50 to 70 pounds, making them a large breed.
When the Boxer is not training or serving, he is a playful family dog during the day and a guard dog at night.
As such, they need a high-protein diet and exceptional boxer dog food to maintain lean body mass with an average fat and calorie content to meet their high energy needs without causing unhealthy weight gain.
The boxer dog breed is generally relatively healthy, but your dog needs to follow a balanced diet.
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Important Considerations for Choosing the Best Boxer Dog Food
As a large dog, your Boxer needs a protein-rich diet to build and maintain muscle mass.
Boxers have a reasonably high energy level, so that they may need more calories and fat than the average dog of a large breed.
He also needs critical vitamins and minerals and useful supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.
Boxers (and all other types, by the way) benefit from high-quality food – as the saying goes, you are what you eat. So, before we discuss some of the best dog food for boxers, let’s talk about some of the most important considerations for selecting food for your boxer.
Here are some things to look out for with good dog food for boxers:
Contain Nutritional Additives
Vitamin and mineral-rich foods are high because they can help reduce your dog’s chances of developing nutritional deficiencies. Still, other supplements – including antioxidants, probiotics, and omega fatty acids – are also valuable additions to your boxer puppy’s food.
High In Animal Protein
High-quality animal protein must be the first ingredient in your dog’s diet. Animal proteins are biologically more valuable than vegetable proteins, and they are complete proteins, which means that they contain all the essential amino acids that your dog needs.
Moderate Fat And Calories
Fat provides your dog with a concentrated energy source in the form of calories, and, ideally, it usually comes from animal sources such as chicken fat and salmon oil. Vegetable fats can be used to balance the omega-3 and omega-6 content in the food.
Strict Quality Control Standards
foods made in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Western Europe are generally subject to more stringent production methods than those produced in Asia and are probably not toxic or counterfeit.
Digestible Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates give your boxer puppies extra energy, as well as fiber and essential nutrients. Make sure they come from digestible sources such as whole grains or, if your dog is allergic, grain-free options such as sweet potatoes and tapioca starch.
Avoid foods that contain unidentified meat meals or by-products.
Contrary to popular belief, meat meals and meat by-products are not necessarily problematic and can provide valuable additional protein sources. However, you must know which animal supplied the raw materials for the flour or by-product.
A complete and balanced diet
Your dog’s food must be fully and nutritionally balanced according to AAFCO nutritional profiles, so check the label before you buy.
Try to avoid food with added unnecessary additives, such as colorings.
Your dog can see a little color, but it certainly doesn’t matter his food color. He only cares about how it smells and tastes – manufacturers color in food to appeal to owners. Dyes are not only unnecessary, but they can also cause food allergies.
10 Best Dog Foods For Boxers Of 2023
They are unique dogs, and they deserve food that fits them perfectly. Fortunately, several best dog food brand for boxers will keep your boxer healthy and happy for years.
What is the best food for boxer dogs? Finding quality and premium dog food is easy once you know what to look for. We have listed a few recommended products below to make it even easier.
1. BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe High Protein Grain Free
When it comes to a healthy boxer, you don’t want to cut back. Instead, you have to invest in a high-quality portion of food, and for an adult boxer, it is hard to beat Blue Wilderness.
With 28% protein and 13% fat, it is about right for adult boxers who are not working dogs, and it also has many different additives that promote joint and heart health.
Best of all, it is not one of the common allergens that boxers can handle. The variation in red meat is chock-full of boneless game, lamb, and bison. That is much better than the meal that you will often find, even with quality brands.
Moreover, it is packed with vitamin and antioxidant-containing fruits that also serve as a very nutritious carbohydrate source.
Because it contains no foods that can cause food allergies in your boxer, we highly recommend it to anyone who has one of these sweet dogs.
Without cereals, rich in proteins and fats and packed with additives such as glucosamine for joint and heart health, Blue Wilderness has surpassed itself with this excellent dog food.
- No grains or poultry
- Large nutritionalbalance
- Additives for joint and heart health
- No additives for color or taste
- Quite expensive
- A bit fiber-rich
2. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food
If you cannot decide what you want to feed your dog, you can always choose a recipe from a famous brand such as Taste of the Wild. This brand uses premium animal proteins in all their methods, fresh fruits and vegetables, probiotic supplements, and chelated minerals. For your Boxer, we would recommend Taste of the Wild Sierra dog food.
Features a single source of animal protein (lamb) to reduce the risk of causing an allergic reaction with sweet potatoes as a primary carbohydrate. However, it is a grain-free recipe, so keep that in mind.
It contains 25% protein with 15% fat and 338 calories per cup, making it an ideal ratio between essential nutrients and calories for a large variety. It also contains a relatively limited number of ingredients to reduce the risk of food allergy further.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie is a reasonably priced dog food for dogs that do not contain grains or soy. Made with various nutritious proteins, including buffalo, lamb, and chicken, it is designed to mimic wild dogs’ diet.
Taste of the Wild produces the best dog food, and their puppy food is no exception. The protein sources are mainly from beef and game, and the chunks are smaller so that your boxer puppy can dig.
- Smaller litter for puppies
- Contains probiotics
- High protein and fat content
- No grains or poultry
- Fairly expensive
- Can be more calorie-rich for boxer puppies
3. Royal Canin for Boxers
Royal canin for boxers helps the breed maintain an ideal muscle mass and a healthy weight, using just the right protein levels and L-carnitine. It has excellent support for cell health thanks to the unique antioxidant complex, and it is a boxer food that is so full of flavor that your puppy will probably love it!
Since boxers are sensitive to heart sensitivity and heart problems, it contains a healthy boxer dog taurine level, which is known to support healthy heart function. By choosing a variety of specific chunks such as these, made to meet every nutritional requirement of the boxer, you make a conscious choice for your dog’s health.
Royal canin boxer food Formula is specifically designed for the nutritional needs of boxers. According to the manufacturer’s claims, this boxer-specific recipe helps burn fat and prevent heart problems that often affect fighters.
It is great to see a product that (knows) for which breed it is made, and we are delighted that Taurine is on the content list for this dog food for a boxer.
- Uniquely shaped bits
- Taurine for cardiac health
- With protein and L-carnitine
- Boxer specific dog food
- Royal canin’s tailored dog food is rather expensive, and it contains several potential allergens, such as chicken by-product and wheat.
4. Nature’s Recipe Grain-free Dry Dog Food For Senior Boxers
Frankly, most senior food for dogs is made from rice and chicken, which is prohibited for boxers because they tend to have a certain level of allergies, no matter how healthy they are. Fortunately, this grain and chicken free dog food are perfect for senior boxers.
With crude protein that comes in at 27% and a fantastic fat content of 12%, it remains reasonably calorie-rich while also offering an optimum 4% fiber. If your dog still has bowel movements, you may need to add a fiber supplement.
Moreover, it seems excellent to promote the health of the skin and joints. There is not much you could ask if your boxer would come there in years.
Although not specifically formulated for older dogs, this was the best food we could find for our beloved and allergy-sensitive boxers, and it fits at the end of the day.
- Good nutrient profile for senior dogs
- Not overly expensive
- Contains fatty acids for joint and heart health
- Grain and chicken free
- Not formulated specifically for elderly dogs.
- Low calcium for senior dogs
5. Orijen Regional Red Dog Food
Orijen Regional Red Dog Food is a protein-rich, low-glycemic food designed to provide dogs with a portion of nutritious, energy-rich food. Most of the meat in the recipe is fresh or raw, which offers better nutritional value and a fantastic taste that boxers and other dogs love.
From small breeds to medium and large breeds, dog owners love their puppies. Enter this recipe. With a high percentage of high-quality proteins, as well as fruits and vegetables, this formula provides all the necessary nutrients that your young Boxer needs to support his growth and development.
- Made with a variety of protein sources, including beef, pork, lamb, bison, and herring
- Contains organ meats to mimic the diet of wild dogs
- Includes a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables, including Pears, Spinach, Greens, Carrots, and Blueberries
- 38% protein / 20% carbohydrates help keep your dog at a healthy body weight
- Boxer owners who value fresh- or raw-meats for their dog will be hard-pressed to find a better alternative than Orijen Regional Red Dog Food. Most owners who’ve tried the food report that their dog loves it and that their coat, energy level, and stools all improve shortly after switching.
- Owners who want the types of fresh and raw proteins included in this recipe, there aren’t many better options available.
6. EUKANUBA Breed Specific Boxer Adult
A variety-specific product that helps your Boxer to feel absolutely at its best. This Eukanuba boxer food has a 3D tooth defense system that reduces tartar buildup in less than 28 days. It is made from animal protein, promotes lean muscle and a healthy body, and helps your Boxer stay close to its ideal weight.
This food also contains L-carnitine and a natural source of Taurine, to protect that big and loving – yet sensitive – the heart of them. Glucosamine and Chondroitin help keep the bones and joints in shape, even in older animals, making these chunks the best dog food for boxers.
This is also a variety-specific product that is nutritious and generally proves to be competent dog food for Boxers. Plus points for reducing tartar, because oral problems in dogs are something that you want to avoid at all costs.
- Protects joints and bones
- Reduces tartar build-up in 28 days
- Tasty and hard to resist
- Promotes lean muscle
- Eukanuba’s Breed Specific formula derives most of its carbohydrate content from corn, which causes some dogs to suffer from itchy skin.
- It also contains chicken by-product, which is far from ideal.
7. CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Dog Food
Although most boxers nowadays find their way to family homes, they are still a working breed. They are used as police dogs, assistance dogs and are sometimes even used for herding cattle. Working dogs have different needs when it comes to their calories and nutrition, and CRAVE hit the nail on the dog’s head.
This is an extremely protein-rich food that contains 34% protein and is completely grain-free. With an incredible 34% protein, it provides the muscles and energy that your working dog needs in the field.
Of course, we recommend staying away from the chicken breed, but several different breeds are available that all contain almost precisely what your dog needs at the end of the day.
Everything is just right for an active boxer doing his job.
If you are one of the lucky ones who has a working boxer in his life, you should consider going with CRAVE.
- Nutrient-dense and high protein
- High calorie
- Available in multiple flavors
- No chicken or grains
- Expensive
- Too high calorie for dogs who are only pets
8. Holistic Select Lamb Meal Puppy Recipe
If you wonder what the best food is to feed a boxer puppy, our top choice is Holistic Select Lamb Meal & Oatmeal large & Giant breed Puppy recipe. This formula is designed to support your puppy’s healthy growth and development with high levels of premium animal protein and moderate levels of fat and calories.
Made with digestible whole-grain carbohydrates such as oatmeal and brown rice, fresh fruit and vegetables are added sources of fiber and essential nutrients. This formula contains a mix of omega fatty acids for healthy skin and fur, plus probiotic supplements for healthy digestion.
It contains chelated minerals and vitamins for complete and balanced nutrition and also contains many fibers and probiotics for digestibility. In general, this recipe offers 25% protein with 16% fat and 388 calories per cup.
- Formulated for large-breed puppies, rich in animal protein, digestible whole-grain carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, chelated minerals, probiotics, highly digestible
- Not a gluten-free recipe, some puppies may be sensitive to lamb or chicken.
9. Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Turkey and Venison Formula Dry Dog Food
If you can afford one of the others on this list, we highly recommend them, but we also understand that not everyone has the budget for super quality dog food. Fortunately, Purina ONE SmartBlend is pretty good for dogs, even if it contains some potential allergens.
It has a high protein content and also comes to 30%. The nutritional profile is generally quite good, but there are a few problems with it.
The first is that turkey can be an allergen, although it is less common than with chicken. The second problem is that it is not grain-free.
On the other hand, a boxer is not guaranteed to be allergic to cereals, and if you have one of those with a high tolerance to that type of food, you can save some serious dough by going with this food.
Although it may not work for all boxers, Purina ONE SmartBlend is an excellent choice for people with budgetary limitations. Carefully check your dog’s skin and coat to make sure there are no problems with allergies.
- Cheap
- Good nutrient profile
- Really high in protein
- Doesn’t contain chicken
- Not grain-free
- Turkey can be an allergen
10. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural
Rachael Ray is known for her cooking skills, and she makes sure people know that even her brand of dog food is made with quality products that she would use in her kitchen herself. Choose from different types, such as chicken, turkey, and beef, and choose the brands you think your Boxer likes best.
All products contain real meat as the first ingredient, followed by a meat meal (which is very rich) protein) and a mix of nutritious vegetables, fruit, and grains. It is entirely free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, as well as animal by-products, fillers, and wheat. Vitamins and minerals have been added to make this the best food for Boxers and other breeds that it could be.
Just reading the ingredients makes your mouth water, and who doesn’t want his Boxer quality food with meat-rich food? This is a completely natural food with everything your Boxer needs to stay strong, healthy, and active.
- All-natural ingredients
- Fresh meat and healthy vegetables
- Added vitamins and minerals
- No artificial flavors
Boxer Specific Nutritional Problems
Boxers are mostly a healthy breed, but they do experience some health challenges. That is why it is wise to keep these health issues in mind when selecting the best dog foods for boxers.
Some of the most common and significant health problems of boxers are:
Food Allergies
Every dog can develop a food allergy, but boxers do this more often than many other breeds. Try to limited ingredient dog food that you offer your puppy and only select high-quality, reasonable dog food formula without artificial flavors and colors to reduce the chance of this.
Heart Problems
Boxers suffer from many heart-related health problems, including aortic/subaortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Although these are genetic factors over which you have mostly no control, it is wise to look for foods that contain the amino acid L-carnitine to support heart health.
Bloat
Boxers are one of the varieties with the most significant risk of bloat. Try to encourage your boxer to slowly eat his food and find a piece that helps them chew on their food instead of just swallowing (some dogs chew larger pieces better than small ones, but the opposite tendency can also occur). Keep your boxer calm for at least half an hour after the meal.
Consider feeding your boxer with Kong toys. Kong’s toy contains a whole that can be filled with your dog’s meal and then frozen, causing you to scare the beast and take the time to eat slowly.
Joint Problems
Boxers often develop their joints’ problems based on their genetic makeup and their tendency to aggressive play. In light of these facts, it may be valuable to look for foods that contain chondroitin and glucosamine that can support joint health.
Recommended Reading: 10 Best Joint Supplements for Dogs That Safe & Works of 2023
FAQs About Boxer Dog Food
How Much Food Should You Give Your Boxer?
Knowing how much to feed your Boxer is just as important as knowing which best dog food for boxers.
Unfortunately, there are no fast and hard rules that you can follow when you give your dog his daily diet. The age of your Boxer, the development stage, any current medical or health status, and even the activity level can play an essential role in determining the amount of food.
In general, lactating bitches and pregnant mothers need more calories and nutrients to support the growing litter and puppies, respectively. As such, they will have to feed more. Puppies also need more proteins because they need this for optimal tissue development and development. Older dogs will benefit less from too many calories and proteins because their activity level usually begins to decline, and their kidneys are no longer as efficient at managing proteins.
To give you an idea of how much food you should provide your Boxer, here are some general guidelines. Remember that these may not reflect your dog’s real needs, so it is better to discuss this with your veterinarian.
Puppies from 2 to 6 months old
Puppies in this phase must have the following nutritional compositions:
- 35 to 45 percent of animal proteins
- 25 to 35 percent grain-free carbohydrates
Boxer puppies younger than three months old must eat four times a day. Until they reach the sixth of their lives, their diet can be reduced three times a day. Ideally, puppies need approximately 320 grams of food per day in this phase, divided into 4 or 3 meals, depending on age. As such, you give about 80 grams of food per meal for younger puppies, while you need 100 grams of food per meal for puppies of 3-6 months.
Puppies from 6 months to 1-year-old
Consider this phase as the transition period between puppy food and dog food for adults. Here you try to determine whether your Boxer puppy can feed twice a day. However, you still have to follow the same guideline of 300 grams per day. That means that you give around 150 grams per meal. If your dog happens to be suffering from the change in his meals’ frequency, you can return to daily meals three times. Introduce the twice-daily meal concept slowly. If there is one thing to watch out for, it gets blown up because boxers are sensitive.
Boxers for adults
By the time your Boxer grows up, they are already ready for a more stable twice-daily meal. If your dog weighs around 50 to 75 pounds, experts recommend giving him 4 to 5 cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. If you happen to have a Boxer that is more on the heavy side, say between 75 and 100 pounds, get ready to give it 5 to 6 cups or about 5 to 3 cups per meal every day.
Which foods should you not feed your boxer?
Boxers are sensitive to bloating and the development of stomach complaints. In some cases, they also tend to be overweight, especially if they receive high-fat, high-calorie foods, such as human food.
That is why we have listed a few meals here that you should avoid feeding your Boxer.
- Caffeine: Caffeine is a natural stimulant that can negatively influence the Boxer heart’s ability to pump at the average speed.
- Sweets and gums: these foods are usually peppered with artificial sweeteners, leading to a significant drop in blood sugar, causing liver failure and possible seizures.
- Garlic and onion: these well-known kitchen herbs produce anemia in dogs. You do not want your Boxer to be less energetic and less active.
They are dedicated, loyal, kind, and confident. These are just some of the correct descriptions of boxers. These dogs are also fearless, energetic, playful, cheerful, and even very brave. If you want your Boxer to live his life to the full, choosing the exceptional boxer dog food for this dog breed is necessary.
Do Boxers have food allergies?
The Boxer is slightly more sensitive to food allergies than other breeds, but it is unnecessary to change its diet unless it starts to show symptoms. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of grain-free diets and exotic proteins for dogs, so it is best to stay with healthy dog food unless your Boxer develops a problem.
If this is the case, perform a food test to identify the specific ingredient (s) for which it is allergic and then choose a dog food without that ingredient. When it comes to boxer dog food allergies, there are many options, so it can take some time to identify the culprit.
Is Grain Free bad for boxers?
According to a Food and Drug Administration warning released last week, grain-free foods can give dogs a life-threatening heart problem called dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM. The science is still preliminary and based on a possible link between diet and heart disease in less than 600dogs.
Can boxers eat rice?
The answer is yes. You may not even realize it, but rice is an ingredient sometimes found in commercial dog food. If you ask many pet owners what to feed their dog when he is sick, they will likely tell them that white rice is part of their pup’s diet.
Conclusion
Boxers are great dogs, and the best we can do for them is to provide them with nutritious food, exercise, and lots of love. It is important to remember that each Boxer is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. However, learning what to look for gives you a significant advantage in striving for boxer dogs’ best food.
One dog food formula may not work for every dog, so you may need to try a few before discovering what your specific boxer is working for. Remember that many dog food manufacturers supply the same products in different flavors, so if your Boxer cannot tolerate one taste, the other may work better.
Do not rush to choose a food for your Boxer – Finding the right diet is very important. If you have found the best dog foods for boxers, stick to that diet without changing it, if possible.
Recommended Reading: Best Dry Dog Food for Liver Disease (2023 Reviews & Guide)
