Best Dog Food for Boxers | Our Top Picks for Puppies and Adults

Boxers are a medium-sized breed of dog well-known for their squashed faces and tight muscles. As working dogs, they need plenty of energy and nutrients to lead their naturally active lifestyles.

That is why they need the best dog food for the boxer breed that are fit for their needs and provide them with energy along with ensuring they grow leaner muscles, strong bones, and a healthy system.

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Our top pick is the Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. The ingredients and formula of this food are ideal for boxers, and it helps them to remain healthy, strong, and active. It contains plenty of fruits and veggies. It is free of additives and fillers that can upset the tummy of your Boxer.

The Best Dog Food for Boxers Are:

ProductDetails
1. Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free, gluten-free, high-protein, no corn, wheat, or soy
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2. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free High Prairie Puppy Formula

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Puppy
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free
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3. Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Food for Adult Boxer Dogs

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free
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4. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free
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5. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free, Gluten-Free
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6. Crave with Protein from Chicken Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free, high-protein, no corn, no wheat, no soy
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7. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free
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8. Eukanuba Breed Specific Boxer Adult Dry Dog Food

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: High-Protein
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1. Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

This dog food contains real meat that provides a source for high-quality protein. It also has no meat by-products, which can be unsafe for consumption for dogs, and no preservatives.

However, that could mean that you cannot store your dog food for a long while, or else it will spoil and cause diarrhea.

The best solution for this is to buy enough food for the month and so it does not have to sit for weeks in your cupboard.

Wellness Core Natural also contains glucosamine, which can help young pups grow into healthy adult dogs.

It also promotes the five signs of wellness, which are better skin and coat, lots of energy, good digestive health, better eyes, teeth, and gums as well as a great immune system.

The top ingredients of this diet are deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, and potatoes. The potato is there as a great carb substitute for grains.

It is also rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, as it contains chicken fat, flaxseed, and salmon oil. There are also some veggies and fruits in this diet such as carrots, spinach, blueberries, and apples.

This food is available in three different sizes – 4, 12, and 26-pound bags.

It is free of corn, soy, wheat, and gluten. This formula is also very rich in protein, with a minimum crude protein content of 34 percent.

The crude fat content is 16 percent while the maximum fiber content is 4 percent. It contains sufficient amounts of glucosamine and chondroitin and the caloric content is 421 kilocalories per cup.

Specs

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free, gluten-free, high-protein, no corn, wheat, or soy

Pros

  • Super Rich in protein
  • Supports healthy bones and joints
  • Supports healthy skin and coat
  • Supports healthy digestion

Cons

  • A bit pricey

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2. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free High Prairie Puppy Formula — Best Dog Food for Boxer Puppies

This dog food has berry blends, which are the source of antioxidants, an omega fatty acid blend, as well as an optimal source for amino acids. Suffice to say, it can help boxer pups grow into healthier adults.

However, since the blends of this product are for the growing needs of puppies, it may not be the best for adult and senior boxers.

You have to find age-specific dog food for them, which has more proteins, and carbohydrates for energy and muscle growth.

Thanks to its grain-free formulation, dogs that have sensitive tummies can eat this easily. These are also smaller which helps pups eat slowly and chew more.

However, you have to be careful when buying online as it may be close to the expiration date or has sat in the store for too long.

Healthy dogs have a shiny coat, strong teeth, lean muscles, and have better cardiac health, and this food comes with enough omega fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins to cater to that.

The top five ingredients of this food are buffalo, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, egg product, and pea protein.

Other notable ingredients include roasted venison, roasted bison, flaxseed, beef, ocean fish meal, and salmon oil.

This food also contains DHA to enhance the vision and brain development of your puppy. It also contains an adequate level of protein for growing puppies.

The protein content is 28 percent while the minimum crude fat content is 17 percent. It contains a maximum crude fiber of 5 percent with a caloric content of 370 kilocalories per cup.

Specs

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Puppy
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free

Pros

  • Made with real buffalo
  • Grain-free formula
  • Contains healthy veggies and fruits
  • No additives

Cons

  • An issue with quality control

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3. Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Food for Adult Boxer Dogs

This dog food is only better for 15-month old Boxers and older. It is better to feed them once they hit 15 months so their muscle growth can be controlled.

DHA can also help in vision and brain development. Since boxers have this squished feature, these kibbles are specifically shaped so they can properly chew it that helps in proper digestion.

However, it does have chicken meal by-product. While most by-products are bad for your dog and you should stay away from it, there are some by-products that are FDA approved such as the liver, bones, and lungs.

You might want to check and read the label first before buying, that is why it is recommended that you buy in a real store or at least do your research about the ingredients.

Talking about ingredients, the top ingredients of this dog food are brown rice, brewers rice, chicken fat, chicken by-product meal, oat groats, wheat gluten, and pork meal.

It contains vegetable oil and fish oil to provide your dog with all the omega fatty 3 and omega fatty 6 acids it needs. If your dog is allergic to grains, you should consider any other option besides this one.

This food also supports cellular health, thanks to its blend of exclusive antioxidants. The kibble is also very easy for your pup to pick up and chew, as it is wave-shaped.

It is very rich in fat, as it contains a minimum crude fat of 18 percent while the minimum fat content is 24 percent.

The caloric content of this food is 335 kilocalories per cup while the maximum crude fiber is 4.5 percent. It also contains adequate levels of glucosamine and chondroitin to provide your pet with healthy and strong bones and joints.

Specs

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free

Pros

  • Supports healthy brain and vision development
  • Supports cellular health
  • Supports healthy cardiac function
  • Wave-shaped kibble

Cons

  • Made for only boxers over 15 months

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4. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets

Even without too many ingredients, Nature Balance still has a lot to offer when it comes to supporting your dog’s needs.

It contains salmon, which is the perfect source for amino acids, which promotes healthy muscle development as well as healthy and shiny fur and coat.

This dog food also contains sweet potatoes, which are the main source of carbohydrates.

However, Nature Balance has recently changed the formula of their dog food, which led to some dogs vomiting and having diarrhea.

The sudden change of formula could trigger distress especially when your dog has been on the same food and older formula for a long while.

You can try re-introducing the new formula to them little by little and observe for at least a week. If they continue showing signs, you might want to bring them to a vet for suggestions.

Other notable ingredients in this limited ingredient diet are duck meal, duck, canola oil, and potato protein.

The salmon oil and flaxseed are great sources of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to leave your dog with a skinny and healthy skin and coat. 

This dry dog food is free from pea protein, peas, corn, lentils, wheat, legumes, or soy. The protein content of this food is a bit low, at 21 percent.

It contains a minimum crude fat content of 10 percent, a maximum crude fiber of 4 percent, and a caloric content of 350 kilocalories per cup.

Specs

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free

Pros

  • Limited ingredients
  • Made with farm-raised duck
  • Ideal for boxers with sensitive digestion
  • Free of additives

Cons

  • Low protein content

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5. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

The Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is super rich in protein and other vital nutrients and minerals that your boxer needs to grow strong and healthy.

It is undoubtedly one of the best dog foods for this dog breed and it comes with many health benefits.

This food contains a perfect combination of fats and protein as well as adequate levels of gut-friendly probiotic species to provide your boxer with a complete and balanced diet.

The top five ingredients of this diet are buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, and peas.

Sweet potatoes are a great source of carbohydrate and a better alternative for dogs allergic to grains. This formula is free of cereal grains, making it a great option for Boxers with sensitive stomachs.

This food contains healthy and fresh veggies and fruits such as yucca, tomatoes, blueberries, and raspberries.

Other notable ingredients in this diet include roasted venison, roasted bison, egg product, beef, and ocean fish meal (which is a great source of omega fatty acids).

This food is also rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and these acids help to provide your pup with a shiny coat and healthy skin.

It contains enough vitamins and minerals to nourish the skin of your dog also. This food also supports the digestive health of a Boxer, thanks to its K9 strain probiotic blend.

The protein content of this food is 32 percent, the minimum crude fat content is 18 percent, the maximum crude fiber content is 4 percent and the caloric content is 370 kilocalories per cup.

Specs

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free, Gluten-Free

Pros

  • Supports healthy skin and shiny coat
  • Great protein sources
  • No artificial additives
  • Supports digestive health

Cons

  • Some picky dogs may reject it

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6. Crave with Protein from Chicken Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Next up is the Crave with Protein from Chicken Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food. This is another great dry dog recipe for Boxers.

This food contains real farm-raised chicken as the number one ingredient and the major source of protein. This adult diet is completely free of grains, corn, wheat, and soy.

It is also free of artificial ingredients such as colors, flavors, and preservatives. There are also no traces of chicken by-products in it, and this makes it a great option for dogs with sensitive skin and stomach.

The top five ingredients of this diet are chicken, chicken meal, chickpeas, split peas, and pork meal. It also contains lamb meal, chicken fat, and dried potatoes.

All the ingredients are stomach-friendly and they will not upset the tummy of your dog.

It provides your dog with all the nutrients it needs to develop and maintain a healthy, lean body, strong immune system.

This food is super rich in protein, with a protein content of an impressive 34 percent. The minimum crude fat content is 17 percent while the maximum crude fiber is 3.5 percent.

It also contains omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to keep the skin and coat of your dog healthy and shiny.

This food is also rich in calories, with a caloric content of a whopping 463 kilocalories per cup, making it a great option for active dogs.

Specs

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free, high-protein, no corn, no wheat, no soy

Pros

  • Great protein sources and content
  • High-calorie content
  • Made with farm-raised chicken
  • Supports a healthy body and strong immune system

Cons

  • Lacks glucosamine and chondroitin

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7. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain

If you are looking for the best ancestral diet to feed your Boxer, we highly recommend the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain.

This dog food made it to our list because of its unique recipe that helps Boxers remain healthy, strong, and active. It comes with a very tempting flavor that even the fussiest boxers cannot resist.

The top five ingredients of this diet are deboned beef, fish meal, peas, pea starch, and tapioca starch. If your boxer is bored of poultry-based dog food, then this is a great alternative to switch to.

The quality meat proteins in this diet will help to keep your dog lean and muscular. It also contains healthy fruits and veggies such as blueberries, cranberries, barley grass, and tomatoes – which are all rich in antioxidants.

It contains glucosamine for healthy joint function and overall mobility. The diet is grain-free and it is great for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

This food contains 30 percent protein, 15 percent fat, 6 percent fiber, and caloric content of 393 kilocalories per cup.

Specs

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: Grain-Free

Pros

  • Protein-rich diet
  • Animal-based proteins
  • Supports joint functionality and mobility
  • Contains healthy veggies and fruits
  • Grain-free formula

Cons

  • Lacks chondroitin
  • The fiber content might be too much for some dogs

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8. Eukanuba Breed Specific Boxer Adult Dry Dog Food

Next on the list is the Eukanuba Breed Specific Boxer Adult Dry Dog Food and it is specifically made for Boxers. This food is formulated to provide your Boxer with exactly what it needs to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

This food contains beta-carotene, vitamin E, L-carnitine, and natural taurine to support the bone, heart, joint health, and immune system of your dog.

The top ingredients of this diet are chicken, chicken by-product meal, cornmeal, ground whole grain sorghum, and ground whole grain barley.

It contains natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin, which help to provide your Boxer with healthy joints and bones.

This food also contains the 3D DentaDefense system that helps to reduce the buildup of tartar in 28 days.

The protein content of this diet is 25 percent while the minimum crude fat content is 16 percent. It contains a maximum crude fiber of 5 percent with a caloric content of 348 kilocalories per cup.

It is also rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids or healthy skin and coat.

Specs

  • Form: Dry Food
  • Life Stage: Adult
  • Special Diet: High-Protein

Pros

  • High-protein
  • Supports a healthy heart and overall health
  • Boosts the immune system
  • Adequate levels for chondroitin and glucosamine

Cons

  • Not ideal for Boxers allergic to grains and chicken

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Boxer Dog Nutrition

Dog food for boxer breeds are created specifically for the needs of your fur babies. Most of the time, they are categorized based on the age of your dog, especially that pups have different needs than adult dogs.

Some of you may be wondering, what is the best dog food for senior boxers? Many brands do not carry special senior treats for senior dogs; however, adult treats are good for them unless you are advised by your vet to find a specific type of food.

You can give your pet either wet or dry dog food. This should be based on your dog’s preference and whether they have conditions you should consider such as teeth sensitivity or digestive issues.

Some pet owners actually create their own food for boxer breeds and while this provides some obvious pros, making homemade dog food for boxer breeds may not have the right balance of nutrients your pet needs.

However, dog foods are made with the right balance of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your pet needs, especially when they are as active as boxer dogs. It is better to find the best dog food for your boxer to save money and time.

When it comes to finding the right dog food for boxers, there are things you should always consider:

Nutritional Value

Depending on how active and how old your boxer is, they need to consume 1,500 to 2,500 calories per day.

They will also require protein-rich treats for their muscles but make sure they have high-quality protein sources such as whole meat like chicken, lamb, or beef.

Meat by-products are often loathed but some are accepted by FDA such as livers and bones. Fat and carbs are also essential to provide them with energy.

Of course, partner all this with daily walks and exercise to keep them healthy.

Food Inclination

Some dogs react better to wet or dry food while some develop sensitive tummies and diarrhea when exposed to kibbles.

Each dog is different, even when they are the same breed so you should observe your dog’s eating habits and digestive traits so you can purchase the right kind of dog food for boxer breeds.

If you are at a loss, you can always visit your vet to know the cause of their indigestion or other health issues.

Food Allergies

Dogs are also known to get food allergies with some reacting negatively to poultry, fishes, grains, corn, and the likes. The only problem with this is that we will not know they are allergic unless we give it to them.

When you are giving new food to your pup, it is best that you do it slowly at first and then observe them. If you see signs of distress, itching, or respiratory issues, stop feeding them and bring them to a vet.

Ingredients

Checking the ingredients is the most important part of buying dog food for a boxer. Chemicals and by-products are not good for your dog and you will want to avoid BHT, BHA, and Ethoxyquin, which are preservatives.

These cannot be legally added to human food, but unfortunately, it can be added for pet food. That is why check and read the label carefully when you are buying.

Boxers that are more active will require more calories per day.

Taste Test and Quality

Our pets are like us – they only eat what they believe tastes good. If you are asking “What is the best dog food to feed a boxer puppy?”, you’ll likely go through a process of trial and error and find the best dog food for your boxer puppy that provides them with the nutrition they need while tasting good.

Some dogs are not keen on dry food, love wet food, and vice versa. There is also the consistency of the food that you have to consider. Is it too dry? Is it too wet and messy to eat?

Budget

Some dog foods can be extremely pricey, especially when it is a big brand and has better quality. As a dog parent, you will want the best but try to consider your budget as well.

After all, you will not be spending money on dog food alone, even if it is a budget you have set aside for them.

They also need to take vaccines, check-ups, grooming, and many accessories. There are some great-quality dog foods that are within a limited budget – you just have to look. If you can, it is better to buy in bulk.

Accessibility

You cannot just put your pup to a new diet if their brand of dog food runs out. That is why it is best to consider how common the dog food is in your area and whether you can get it whenever you want.

Some brands are harder to find and some have limited stocks and run out quickly.

Consult Your Vet

This is the best solution for those owners who have dogs with special needs or health issues. They may need a special type of dog food for boxer dogs that has an additional nutrient that they lack.

Or maybe they require a lower level of a certain nutrient or mineral. Even new parents who are overwhelmed by the whole dog food for boxer dogs business could ask some suggestions from their vet.

These are our tips for those struggling boxer moms and dads who are new to parenting or fostering boxer pups and even adult dogs.

While buying food shouldn’t be a hard task, it is better when you know what to consider in order to purchase the ideal dog food for your boxer.

Conclusion

Boxers have defining features and they also have specific needs as medium-sized breeds and working dogs.

The best dog food for boxer breeds can be different for pups and adults but each age-specific dog food provides them with the right blend of nutrients and minerals they need as they grow into adults.

The clear winner for the best dog food for boxers is the Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food because it contains all the nutrients and vitamins your Boxer needs to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

About the author

Sarah Andrews

Hi I'm Sarah, dog lover and blogger. I was born into a dog-loving family and have been a proud doggy mommy ever since I can remember. I love sharing my dog knowledge and love being an active part of the dog-loving community.