Active and muscular with a brave attitude, Boxers need a diet full of protein and nutrients to maintain their energy levels. If you’ve been looking for a four-legged walking or running partner, Boxers are a great choice!
Boxers are obedient when trained well and make great companions. As long as you feed them a brand of food with the proper amount of nutrients, they will live a healthy and active life.
With all the choices for dog food in the market today, selecting the best dog food for your Boxer can be a daunting task. This article will provide you with information about Boxer health and wellness so you can make the decision of which dog food to feed your Boxer with confidence.
Our selection of the top 5 best dog food brands for your Boxer
You should look for a brand of dog food with adequate protein and whose first few ingredients are real meat. Chicken, turkey and lamb are common ingredients that provide protein. Look for formulas with about 25% or more protein. Depending on how active your Boxer is, they might need a higher protein formula.
Boxers are particularly prone to developing food allergies. This being the case, you should select a food that is free from common allergens such as corn, wheat, soy and yeast.
Grain-free formulas are less likely to irritate your Boxer, however, to keep up their energy they need a source of carbohydrates. Non-grain ingredients that they can get carbohydrates from are oatmeal, sweet potatoes, lentils and peas.
Be sure that any dog food you buy has an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy or purpose. According to PetMd; “The “AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy or purpose” also called a “nutrition claim” is a statement that indicates the food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage, such as growth, reproduction, adult maintenance or a combination of these, or if the food does not meet the complete and balanced requirements than it is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.” What that means is that if the food claims to be for puppy stage growth, it will have the minimum necessary amount of ingredients and nutrients a growing puppy needs.
You should come up with a feeding schedule and stick to it. It is never recommended to leave food out for your Boxer as this can lead to overeating. Keeping your dog on a feeding schedule will make them much more obedient as well. A feeding schedule also helps to avoid accidents in the house. Make it a routine to have your Boxer go to their “potty spot” after eating.
The type of food you feed your Boxer will be a large factor in their overall health. While it may be tempting to buy the cheapest dog food available, you will be doing your dog’s health a disservice. Imagine what your health would be like if you only ate the cheapest food available!
Boxers grow significantly from their puppy phase. Male and female Boxers weigh around 55-71 pounds when fully grown. Boxers are considered adults at 2 years old.
In addition to feeding them a healthy diet, your Boxer needs regular exercise. Walking or running with your Boxer twice a day will keep them in great physical shape. Your health will improve too with the regular exercise!
You should always select a formula specific to your dog’s current stage in life. Check with your vet before moving your dog to an adult formula or before you make any changes to the food you’re currently feeding them.
Like with any dog, you should avoid feeding your Boxer human food. Not only will this result in begging behaviors, most human food is simply not good for dogs. A lot of human food is processed in some way or has ingredients (such as corn) that can easily upset your dog’s stomach. There might be other ingredients in your food that are toxic to your dog that you aren’t thinking about (onions, garlic, etc).
Dogs can lose interest in food for various reasons, some might not be apparent to you. It is always best to talk to your vet or go in for a checkup if your dog’s eating behavior changes or they stop eating.
While this can be a matter of debate, I recommend feeding your dog dry food. The choice is up to you, but for the purpose of this article I will discuss the benefits of feeding your dog dry food.
- Dry food tends to have a more balanced amount of nutrients
- Dry food is much easier to store
- Dry food lasts longer than wet food
- Dry food is cheaper than wet food
You can read about the benefits of wet food in this article by PetSmart.
Our recommendations
Orijen Adult Dog Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- Crude Protein (Min)38.00%
- Crude Fat (Min)18.00%
- Crude Fiber (Max)5.00%
- Meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance
- First 3 ingredients: chicken, turkey, eggs
- Limited ingredient and single-source protein
- ⅔ of meats are fresh or raw
- 85% Poultry, fish and egg
- 15% Vegetables & fruits
- High percentage of protein idea for weight gain
- Grain free
- Fish deliver omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy coat
Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food
- Crude Protein (Min)34.00%
- Crude Fat (Min)16.00%
- Crude Fiber (Max)4.00%
- Meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance
- First 3 ingredients: Turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal
- Nutrient-dense and enhanced with antioxidants and probiotics
- No meat by-products or fillers
- Grain free; no corn, soy, wheat-gluten or artificial preservatives, colors or flavors
- Fish and flax omega blend for healthy skin and coat
- Yucca Schidigera extract helps reduce odor in stool
- Glucosamine protects the joints and increases mobility
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Dry Dog Food
- Crude Protein (Min)32.00%
- Crude Fat (Min)18.00%
- Crude Fiber (Max)4.00%
- Meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance
- First 3 ingredients: Buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal
- Also contains Bison, Venison and Beef
- Easily digestible carbohydrates from sweet potatoes & peas
- Grain free
- Vegetables and fruits provide antioxidants
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain Free Dog Food
- Crude Protein (Min)24.00%
- Crude Fat (Min)14.00%
- Crude Fiber (Max)5.00%
- Meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance
- First 3 ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, brown rice
- Wholesome whole grains
- Vegetables and fruits supply antioxidants
- No chicken (or poultry) by-product meals
- No corn, wheat or soy
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
Royal Canin Breed Specific Boxer Dry Dog Food
- Crude Protein (Min)24.00%
- Crude Fat (Min)18.00%
- Crude Fiber (Max)4.10%
- Meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance
- First 3 ingredients: Brown rice, brewers rice, chicken by-product meal
- Helps your Boxer maintain ideal muscle mass
- Antioxidants promote overall health
- Supports healthy cardiac function
- Kibble shape is easy to grasp and chew
Feeding your Boxer a high quality brand of dog food will keep them active and healthy. To keep up their energy they will need plenty of protein and carbohydrates. Make sure you select a brand of food that doesn’t have ingredients that can upset their stomach (corn, soy, wheat, yeast).
Following the recommended feeding schedule on the bag of dog food you get is always a good idea. Remember that these are just recommendations (usually based on their size/age) so if your dog starts to get too fat or thin, adjust their feedings accordingly.
The type of food you select to feed your dog will have a large impact on their health. I hope that this article makes choosing the best dog food for your Boxer easier!
If you have tried out any of the dog food brands listed in this article I would love to hear about your experience. Feel free to leave a comment below!
