Many dog owners resort to purchasing a commercial dog food brand that is simply readily available and affordable for their dogs. While these qualities in food are important for convenience, for breeds like the Boxer, more attention should be given to your dog’s diet. Boxers are very muscular dogs with an abundance of energy, so you should give them high-protein food that will supply them with the energy they need. They are also prone to heart issues, so a food formulated properly for a Boxer that includes heart-healthy fats is ideal. Lastly, the Boxer’s short muzzle means specific food shapes can be challenging to pick up. There’s a lot to think about when picking your Boxer’s food!
With so many options and brands available both in stores and online, you may be overwhelmed by the myriad of food choices. To help you choose a dry dog food that will keep your Boxer energetic, satisfied, and as healthy as possible, we’ve put together these reviews of some of our top picks!
Turkey, kale, lentils, carrots, coconut oil, turkey liver, blueberries, pumpkin — if these ingredients sound like a recipe that you would eat yourself, you and your beloved Boxer will love the fresh dog food made by Ollie!
This New Jersey-based company works with veterinarians and nutritionists to ensure that the human-grade dog food that it makes has all the nutrients that dogs need to thrive. As a customizable subscription service, Ollie enables pet owners to choose the recipe that suits their dog’s needs, delivery frequency, and optional add-ons.
Many dog owners have noted health improvements in their pets after a few weeks of feeding them this food, including a shinier coat, less shedding, more appetite at mealtimes, more energy, and better overall health.
Ollie has four different flavors in its line of slow-cooked and fresh recipes: beef, chicken, lamb, and turkey. You should opt for the turkey recipe over the chicken if your Boxer has a chicken allergy, but if not, feel free to try any of Ollie’s tasty and fresh recipes.
However, since Ollie dog food is made mostly from fresh ingredients, you must have space to store most of the portions in the freezer and the next meals in the refrigerator. Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days in the fridge. As a high-quality fresh food, Ollie isn’t cheap, but we’re sure that the health benefits for your Boxer are well worth the cost!
In our opinion, Ollie is the overall best dog food for Boxers.
Pros
Packed with antioxidants, probiotics, and omega-fatty acids
High protein and low carb
No common allergy-triggering ingredients
100% human-grade recipes
Limited ingredients
Cons
On the pricier side
Requires freezer space
2. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy
This grain-free food from Taste of the Wild is another that is very high in protein, which is perfect for helping Boxers maintain muscle mass. It doesn’t contain any fillers, so it will provide your pooch with all of the energy they need to stay healthy. It’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and it also includes healthy fats like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which will help keep your pup’s heart healthy and functioning correctly. The protein comes from a variety of real meat sources so that it will be enticing to your Boxer as well.
We have noticed that it can lead to some gas when first switching over to this food, but it quickly went away. Our Boxers weren’t as crazy about the taste of this food, which kept it out of our number one spot, but especially given how healthy it is for them and the price, we think this is a great budget buy for your Boxer.
Another great way to get your Boxer the nutrients and calories they require is this food from Royal Canin, which is specifically made for Boxers! This food contains about 24% protein, which will supply your pup with the energy and calories they need. This protein, along with the added L-carnitine, will also help support muscle mass, a benefit that is critical for Boxer health. This food is packed with healthy fats that will help keep your Boxer’s heart as strong as possible, and their overall health will be benefited by the abundance of antioxidants.
The food is shaped specifically to promote chewing, and it’s apparently tasty because our Boxers couldn’t get enough! The pieces of food are on the larger side, and the food is formulated for adult Boxers, so this isn’t suitable for Boxer puppies. Additionally, it is on the pricey end of dog food, but the health benefits more than make up for the higher price.
It’s no surprise that Royal Canin‘s formula for Boxer puppies made our list, too! This food contains a high protein percentage, which will supply your Boxer puppy with plenty of energy. The protein will also help support muscle development in growing pups, mainly because the food also contains L-carnitine. The food is full of antioxidants and vitamins, which will keep your little guy healthy, and the healthy fats included will help maintain heart health as well. The pieces of food are made to be small enough for puppies, and the wavy shape both encourages chewing and makes it easy for your stubby-nosed Boxer puppy to pick pieces out of their bowl.
We noticed that this food caused some minor skin itchiness for our Boxer pup who has food allergies, so it may not be best for puppies with dietary restrictions. This food, although nearly perfect for Boxer puppies, is a bit expensive.
Pros
Contains a high amount of protein
Supports muscle growth
Full of antioxidants
Contains vitamins
Promotes a healthy heart
Small pieces are easy for puppies to eat
Cons
May cause food allergies for some dogs
Rather pricey
5. Eukanuba Breed Specific Boxer Adult Dry Dog Food
This dry food from Eukanuba is another food on our list that is formulated especially for Boxers. This food is about 25% protein by weight, and it contains L-carnitine and taurine, so it will help support your Boxer’s muscle mass. It provides a good source of vitamins to promote overall health, and it’s also designed to help maintain dental health as well. There is a healthy amount of fat, but not quite as much as our more highly rated options. This food does contain some fillers like corn, but it still maintains a good percentage of protein, which is most important. The pieces of food are also small and may present a bit of an issue for your Boxer, whose short snout can make it challenging to pick up smaller food pieces. However, this food still packs in a ton of nutrition at a reasonable price.
Pros
High in protein
Helps promote muscle mass
Provides vitamins
Helps maintain dental hygiene
Cons
Less healthy fat to promote heart health
Contains some fillers
Somewhat tricky for Boxers to pick up
6. Royal Canin Boxer Loaf in Sauce Canned Dog Food
This food from Royal Canin is the only canned wet food we have on our list, and only because our Boxers adore it. It’s a high moisture food that comes in gravy, and our Boxers can’t get enough. It includes healthy fats that promote heart health, as well as L-carnitine and taurine that help maintain muscle mass. Both of these benefits are critical for a Boxer’s health and wellbeing. It has a lower protein content by weight because it is wet food, but it still provides excellent nutrition for muscular Boxers. The canned food is relatively expensive, and it’s best offered as a supplement to your dog’s dry food rather than as a standalone source of nutrition.
This grain-free dog food is very high in protein, which will help maintain your Boxer’s energy levels and support muscle mass. The food includes a healthy amount of glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids, which will help promote your dog’s heart health. It’s also packed with vitamins and antioxidants from real food sources like vegetables, fruits, and flax seeds. We noticed that the food is relatively polarizing, so it may not be as enticing to your pooch as it was to one of our Boxers, and it’s rather pricey as well, especially if your dog ends up not liking it. The pieces of food are small and round, and this size and shape can make it difficult for Boxers to pick up with their short muzzles. We noticed that the food caused some gassiness in our dogs, so if your pooch has digestive issues, this may not be suitable for them.
Pros
Very high in protein
Helps support muscle mass
Promotes heart health
Contains antioxidants and vitamins
Cons
Not desirable for all dogs
Rather expensive
Small pieces can be difficult for Boxers to pick up
This dry dog food contains a very high percentage of protein, which will help maintain your Boxer’s energy levels, but it doesn’t contain L-carnitine or taurine, so it won’t promote muscle mass as well as other options on this list will. There is a decent amount of healthy fat that can help keep your Boxer’s heart healthy and functioning correctly, and it’s full of vitamins and minerals to promote overall health. Our Boxers weren’t head-over-heels about this food, so it may not be as enticing to your dogs as our more highly rated options. We noticed that the food caused gassiness in our dogs, and our main concern with this food is that the pieces are very small and were hard for our Boxers to pick out of their bowl with their short snouts.
This grain-free food from Nulo packs quite a lot of protein in, and the protein sources also include amino acids, which help promote muscle mass. There are no grains or fillers in this food, so it will help maintain your Boxer’s energy levels. It contains vitamins and minerals that will help promote overall health, but it lacks healthy fats, which are crucial for a Boxer’s heart health. Despite the grain-free formula, it wasn’t as enticing to our Boxers as previous products. Our biggest concern with this food is that it includes very small pieces, making it difficult for your brachycephalic pooch to pick up out of their bowl. It’s also on the more expensive side as far as dry foods go.
Our final pick on this occasion is the Ancient Stream formula by Taste of the Wild. This recipe is made with real salmon and has a smoked flavor. It also contains ancient grains, omega fatty acids, and K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics and prebiotics to maintain gut health and help dogs keep their energy up.
As per customer reviews, this is an affordable but high-quality recipe that is enjoyed by many dogs. However, some say that it is crumbly in the bag, and some say their dogs got gassy after starting it.
Pros
Reasonable pricing
Made with real salmon
Supports overall health
A large proportion of good reviews
Cons
Some users report dustiness in the bag
Some dogs may get gassy
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Food for Boxers
Boxers need a pretty specific diet to support muscle mass, heart health, and general well-being. Whether you choose one of the foods we’ve reviewed above, or you continue looking for other options, there are a few things you need to be on the lookout for to ensure the food you choose is adequately formulated for a Boxer’s dietary needs.
Image Credit: Lenkadan, Shutterstock
High Protein Content
Dogs digest meat and protein most efficiently. Animal products that are high in protein should be of the utmost importance when searching for dog food. Boxers have a particularly high energy level, and they naturally have a lot of muscle mass; a diet that contains a large portion of protein from animal products will help maintain your Boxer’s naturally high energy levels.
Promotes Muscle Mass
Boxers are naturally muscular and helping your pooch maintain that muscle mass will help keep them happy and healthy. While food with a high protein content will help feed your dog’s muscles, there are some additional compounds that can be beneficial for helping your pup maintain their muscularity. L-carnitine and taurine are two things you should look for in dry dog food for your Boxer, as these naturally promote muscle growth and maintenance.
Supports Heart Health
Boxers are naturally prone to heart problems, and while they can’t entirely be avoided, maintaining a proper diet can help reduce your dog’s risk of developing issues with their heart. Healthy fats like omega-3s and glucosamine help promote heart health, so these are beneficial in your Boxer’s food. Most breeds don’t necessarily need these fats in their diet, so you’ll need to look for these specific ingredients to make sure you’re helping maintain your pup’s heart health.
Contains Antioxidants and Vitamins
Lots of dog foods include fillers like corn, wheat, and other grains. Many of these aren’t necessarily detrimental to your dog’s health, but they don’t offer many benefits either. Alternatively, finding a dog food containing antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals from fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to pack some nutrition and healthy compounds into your dog’s diet. These support overall health, which is perfect for Boxers, who are prone to different health problems.
Image credit: Lenkadan, Shutterstock
Doesn’t Contain Small Pieces
Kibble size is often something many Boxer parents overlook, so you’ll want to pay careful attention to this one! Boxers are brachycephalic, which means they have a short muzzle. They also often have underbites. These two traits lead to the instantly recognizable and adorable Boxer face, but they can lead to problems picking up pieces of food that are too small. Dry food for Boxers should contain more substantial pieces of food that they can pick up easily out of their bowls, and certain shapes — specifically not round or flat — can also help make it easier for Boxers to eat.
Formulated for Your Dog’s Age
Lastly, you’ll want to choose food that is suitable for your dog’s age. Puppies need more nutrients than grown Boxers, merely because they’re growing at a fast rate and putting on muscle. More vitamins, nutrients, and joint-healthy fats like glucosamine are perfect for puppies and their developing bodies. Additionally, while adult Boxers may have difficulty picking up small pieces of food, puppies can choke on larger pieces and need overall smaller food pieces. The perfect menu for your Boxer will include the nutrients they need at their age, and it will be an appropriate size for them to eat safely.
Our Dog Foods for Boxers Selection Process
Our Hepper team includes experienced writers and editors who collaborate closely with licensed veterinarians to find the best, most beneficial pet products. Customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary insights, and, occasionally, hands-on testing are a few factors they consider when making their selections. Our goal is to choose and review only the highest-quality products to help our readers make informed decisions that benefit both them and their pets.
Why Trust Hepper?
Hepper has been an evolving online resource since 2007, specializing in innovating and retailing a range of cat furniture, gear, and toys, and pet consumables. This experience has given our team valuable insights into selecting dog foods for Boxers. Our passionate team of animal-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is truly committed to helping readers make the best choices for their pet companions. We are focused on delivering accurate information and recommending the highest-quality products available. Our team is wholeheartedly invested in the health and well-being of pets everywhere, believing that expert knowledge is key to success.
Conclusion
Finding a dog food suitable for your Boxer may seem like an easy task, but once you know all of the dietary needs specific to this breed, you may realize just how complicated finding the best food can be! You’ll need to find the right balance of protein and nutrients for muscle mass, healthy fats to promote heart health, and a kibble size that is easy for your short-snout Boxer to pick up. This is difficult enough, but add in the fact that there are hundreds of dry dog food options, and you’ve got yourself a difficult task to do! Hopefully, these reviews will help you narrow down your search.
Our top choice for quality, flavor, nutrition, and convenience is Ollie Fresh Dog Food since it is customizable, delivers right to your door, and is made from only fresh ingredients. If you’re looking for dog food that will provide everything your pooch needs on a budget, we recommend Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. It will keep your pup energized and healthy, all while being friendly to your wallet.
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
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Nicole is a lover of animals of all sizes but is especially fascinated with the feline variety. She’s the proud mom of Baby, a Burmese, and works every day so he can relax in the sunshine or by the fire. She’s always had a cat in her home and has spent countless days with others, observing behaviors and softening up even the grouchiest of the lot. Nicole wants to share her kitty expertise with you so you and your cat can live happy, healthy, and care-free.
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