| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Boxer Adult Loaf in Sauce |
| Best Grain-Free | Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Healthy Grains Dog Food |
| Best for Boxer Puppies | Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Boxer Puppy Food |
| Best Wet Food | Purina ONE SmartBlend Tender Cuts in Gravy |
As a pet parent, you want to do everything you can to help your boxer maintain their high energy level and playful disposition for a lifetime. One of the best ways to do this is by feeding them a dog food that meets a boxer’s nutritional requirements. For example, if you have a boxer puppy, it’s crucial to not feed them too much calcium. Excess dietary calcium and vitamin D can promote hip dysplasia in breeds that are genetically predisposed to the disease.
Below you’ll find a buyer’s guide that makes it easier for you to know what to look for when selecting the right dog food for your pup. We’ve also included honest reviews and a comparison chart. Let’s jump in with our overall favorite food for boxers.
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Specifically made for Boxers and their nutritional needs
- Packed with proteins and fats that keep Boxers healthy
- Contains chondroitin and glucosamine that support joint health
- Extra added vitamins and antioxidants
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dry Dog Food
- Contains Healthy Grains, Freeze Dried Dog Food
- Beef, lamb and rabbit delivers balanced nutrition for all breed sizes
Check Chewy Check Amazon- This kibble is specially formulated for boxer puppies eight weeks to 15 months old.
- The kibble's unique shape helps boxers pick and chew their food easily.
- It features an exclusive complex of antioxidants, including vitamin E, to support your puppy's developing immune system.
- Protein and L-carnitine support muscle development and weight management.
- High-quality proteins and prebiotics support healthy digestion and intestinal health as well as optimal stool quality.
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Made with turkey, venison, and beef
- A natural source of glucosamine, which helps support joint health
- Contains an antioxidant blend that will help with your dog’s overall immune system
- Added vitamins and minerals
Top Picks: The Best Food for Boxers Today
#1 Best Overall Best Food: Royal Canin Boxer Loaf in Sauce Canned Dog Food
The #1 Best Overall dog food for boxers is Royal Canin Boxer Loaf in Sauce Canned Dog Food. This recipe is specifically formulated to meet boxers’ unique nutritional needs. The manufacturer says that this recipe will keep your boxer in shape, burn fat, and avoid common cardiac health issues that plague this breed.
It’s important to mention that Royal Canin’s Boxer Formula is specifically for dogs that are at least 15 months old. It’s packed with proteins and fats that keep boxers healthy. Even the kibble size and shape is designed for the shape of a boxer’s mouth.
Pet parents like that i’s supplemented with chondroitin and glucosamine, which support joint health. It also includes a blend of vitamins and antioxidants that contribute to a boxer’s optimal health.
A sole reviewer reported that their dog had a serious allergic reaction to this food.
Pros and Cons of Royal Canin Boxer Loaf in Sauce Canned Dog Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This canned dog food is formulated specifically to meet boxers’ unique nutritional needs. | A single reviewer said that their dog had a serious allergic reaction after eatin this food. |
| According to the manufacturer, this recipe will keep your boxer in shape, burn fat, and avoid common cardiac health issues that plague this breed. | |
| It’s formulated for adult boxers that are at least 15 months old. | |
| It’s packed with essential proteins and fats. | |
| The kibble size and shape is designed for the shape of a boxer’s mouth. | |
| This recipe is supplemented with chondroitin and glucosamine for optimal joint health and a blend a vitamins and antioxidants to promote overall health. |
- Specifically made for Boxers and their nutritional needs
- Packed with proteins and fats that keep Boxers healthy
- Contains chondroitin and glucosamine that support joint health
- Extra added vitamins and antioxidants
2. Best Grain-Free Food: Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe is our choice for the best grain-free option available.
The main ingredients include freeze dried raw dog food bites, salmon meal, deboned beef, sweet potatoes, lamb meal, and potatoes. This nutrient-balanced kibble is best served to adult boxers. It’s high in protein and will help keep your dog’s muscles strong and their body fat low.
The high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are beneficial to your dog’s coat, skin, vision, and joint health. This food, like the previous option, contains chondroitin and glucosamine.
Some reviewers reported that this dog food didn’t include enough freeze dried raw dog food bites to keep their dogs’ interest.
Pros and Cons of Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This grain-free dog food includes freeze dried raw dog food bites, salmon meal, deboned beef, sweet potatoes, lamb meal, and potatoes. | A few buyers said that this dog food didn’t include enough dried dog food bites. |
| It’s high in protein to keep dogs’ muscles strong and their body fat low. | |
| It’s formulated with high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for coat, skin, vision, and joint health. | |
| It also contains chondroitin and glucosamine to support joint health. |
- Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dry Dog Food
- Contains Healthy Grains, Freeze Dried Dog Food
- Beef, lamb and rabbit delivers balanced nutrition for all breed sizes
3. Best Puppy Food: Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Boxer Puppy
Our choice for the best boxer puppy food is another Royal Canin formula: Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Boxer Puppy. We selected this formula since Royal Canin is known for its breed-specific formulas and because boxer puppies have such specialized nutritional requirements. It’s formulated specially for boxer puppies that are eight weeks to 15 months old.
This kibble has a unique shape that allows boxer pups to pick up and chew their food easily. It features an exclusive complex of antioxidants to support your baby boxer’s developing immune system, including vitamin E. Other nutrients include protein and L-carnitine to support muscle development and weight management and high-quality proteins and prebiotics for gastrointestinal health and optimal stool quality.
A few reviewers reported that their puppies didn’t like it.
Pros and Cons of Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Boxer Puppy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Royal Canin is known for developing breed-specific formulas, and this one is formulated just for boxer puppies that are eight weeks to 15 months old. | Some puppies didn’t like it. |
| The kibble is uniquely shaped so boxer puppies can pick it up and chew it easily. | |
| It includes antioxidants, including vitamin E, to support boxer puppies’ developing immune systems. | |
| Protein and L-carnitine support muscle development and weight management. | |
| High-quality proteins and prebiotics promote digestive and gastrointestinal health as well as optimal stool quality. |
- This kibble is specially formulated for boxer puppies eight weeks to 15 months old.
- The kibble's unique shape helps boxers pick and chew their food easily.
- It features an exclusive complex of antioxidants, including vitamin E, to support your puppy's developing immune system.
- Protein and L-carnitine support muscle development and weight management.
- High-quality proteins and prebiotics support healthy digestion and intestinal health as well as optimal stool quality.
4. Best Wet Food: Purina O.N.E. SmartBlend Adult Wet Dog Food
Whether you’re attempting to hide a medication capsule or your boxer is reaching his senior years, Purina O.N.E. SmartBlend Adult Wet Dog Food has plenty of uses.
It’s made with turkey, venison, and beef — for the protein that dogs need for muscle development and maintenance. Purina One also makes a version of this dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs, which is made with tasty chicken and rice.
The soft mix of food contains tender, meaty chunks, and crunchy kibble bits. It’s a natural source of glucosamine, which helps support joint health. Lastly, Purina One includes an antioxidant blend that will help with your dog’s overall immune system.
While most reviewers reported that their dogs loved this food, a few said that their pups wouldn’t eat it.
Pros and Cons of Purina O.N.E. SmartBlend Adult Wet Dog Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Soft foods are useful for hiding pills and for senior dogs. | Some dogs wouldn’t eat it. |
| This recipe is made with turkey, venison, and beef for muscle development and maintenance. | |
| The manufacturer also makes a version of this food for dogs with sensitive stomachs made with chicken and rice. | |
| This wet food contains tender, meaty chunks, and crunchy kibble bits. | |
| It includes glucosamine for joint health and an antioxidant blend to support dogs’ overall immune systems. |
- Made with turkey, venison, and beef
- A natural source of glucosamine, which helps support joint health
- Contains an antioxidant blend that will help with your dog’s overall immune system
- Added vitamins and minerals
Choosing the Best: What to Look For
Like all dog breeds, boxers and their health will benefit most from high-quality dog food. Here are some of the main things you should look for when you’re comparing one choice to another.
Nutritional Supplements
The best types of dog food contain nutritional supplements. When dog food is made with natural ingredients, like chicken or lamb meal, it can be hard to get all other important macros. Look for kibble that contains added antioxidants, omega fatty acids, probiotics, and vitamins.
Where Is the Food Made?
Believe it or not, where the food is made actually makes a big difference. Some countries have strict quality standards when it comes to pet food. Some of these countries include the United States, New Zealand, and Canada. These measures ensure that your pup’s food will be free from toxic chemicals and ingredients.
Protein
Speaking of ingredients, look at the order of the ingredients. You’ll want a protein as the top ingredient. This is usually in the form of real chicken, beef, lamb, or salmon. Dog food for boxers should also contain plenty of fruits and veggies, but these should be further down on the order of the ingredients.
Unnecessary Additives
While nutritional additives are a must, some additives should be avoided. The main one found in kibble is dyes. There’s no reason food for pets, or any food at all really, should need added color. Dyes added to appeal to pet parents can actually trigger food allergies and harm your furry friend.
The Different Types of Food for Boxers: Pros and Cons Compared
For any dog, you’ll usually find two main types of food: soft and dry. While there is another option for organic food made specifically for your pup, it tends to be incredibly expensive to the average pet owner. Take a look at the common pros and cons for soft and dry dog food to see what will work for your pooch.
Dry Dog Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Available in bigger bags | Can contain dyes |
| Usually a more budget-friendly choice | Will mold if not eaten quick enough |
| More options available | |
| Fantastic for dental health |
Soft Canned Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy for older dogs to eat | Isn’t beneficial for dental health |
| Its the perfect place to hide medication | Not usually available in large quantities |
| Most dogs prefer the taste of soft food | It’s more expensive than dry food |
| Convenient for travel |
Up Next
- The 4 Best Herding Balls for Dogs: Reviewed — Burn off your boxer’s excess energy with a herding ball!
- Try Out the Most Durable Dog Toys — We’ve rounded up the most durable dog toys to keep your pup occupied and entertained.
- The Best Puppy Toys — If your boxer is still a puppy, you’ll find the best toys for it to play with here.
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Boxer Adult Loaf in Sauce |
| Best Grain-Free | Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Healthy Grains Dog Food |
| Best for Boxer Puppies | Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Boxer Puppy Food |
| Best Wet Food | Purina ONE SmartBlend Tender Cuts in Gravy |
The Best Food for Boxers: Ranked and Reviewed FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How much food should I feed my boxer?
Great question! Feeding your dog the right amount of food, and making sure that they get enough exercise, will help them maintain their optimal body weight.
Start by feeding them the amount recommended on their dog food bag (or can). If your dog seems hungry, or gains weight, adjust the quantity up or down accordingly.
Be sure to consult your veterinarian if you need help figuring out how much to feed your boxer.
Do calcium and vitamin D prevent hip dysplasia in boxers?
In dogs, hip dysplasia begins during the growth stage. As the dog grows, the hip joint loosens, causing dysfunction and pain. Eventually, the bone and cartilage wear down, which can lead to mobility issues.
While feeding your dog extra calcium and vitamin D may sound like the logical way to prevent hip dysplasia, it’s not. In fact, feeding excess calcium and vitamin D to dogs with a genetic predisposition to hip dysplasia, like boxers, can actually contribute to the condition.
That’s why our recommended boxer puppy food (above) has just the right amount of calcium and vitamin D.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
