With their squishy, square faces and soulful eyes, Boxers are irresistible to the best of us – but as any Boxer owner will tell you, they can be challenging to a first-time pup parent. Athletic and energetic, these dogs need regular exercise to stay healthy, and a carefully monitored diet to avoid developing or triggering any medical conditions. Prone to allergies, Boxers often experience reactions to wheat, corn, soy and sometimes even meats like chicken and beef, making the job of picking the right kind of food for them a serious business – any old dog food mix, which sometimes comes with corn or wheat fillers of no real nutritional value, is not going to do and may even harm our pups.
Meanwhile, because of their energetic dispositions and large builds, it’s important to keep the protein profiles high in their nutrition to keep them lean, strong and charged-up, while at the same time moderating fats, which can lead to obesity and pressure their body, developing or worsening conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia. It’ll take some trial and error and careful moderation to find the suitable fit of dog food for your pup – and of course a consultation with your vet is always a good idea – but to get you started, we’ve rounded up our top picks for the best dog food options for Boxers.
KEN’S PICK
Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food With Roasted Bison And Roasted Venison
Grains are often responsible for triggering allergic reactions in Boxers, who may also be sensitive to poor quality ingredients sometimes found in commercial dog foods. You won’t have to worry about any of that with the Taste of the Wild’s High Prairie Canine Formula though – with premium roasted bison and venison meat and a grain-free formula, your pup is in for a treat every mealtime. Replacing the carbs of grains, corn and soy with easily digestible and high energy carbs of sweet potatoes and peas not only gives your Boxers the nutrients they need to be active and alert through the day but also removes potential allergens from the mix.
A 32% crude protein profile in the guaranteed analysis promises a protein-rich diet for your Boxer to keep him powered up and growing healthy, lean and strong. Though the fat profile is a tad high, it’s not high enough to be alarming and can be moderated with the adequate portions and proper exercising, and may even be a great energy-source for this athletic breed. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids ensure the healthy development of your dog’s brain, healthy coat sheens and skin, and a strong immune system resistant to disease. Probiotics included in the formula keep your Boxer’s digestive system healthy and functioning without straining itself, each helping nicely rounded off with the nourishing minerals, vitamins and free radical and disease fighting antioxidants in ingredients like blueberries, raspberries and tomatoes.
KEN’S BUDGET PICK
ORIJEN Freeze Dried Adult Dog Food
With no trace of grains or plant protein concentrates that might give your Boxers a tough time, this dog food strikes the perfect balance – making up an impressive 36% in the guaranteed analysis, the protein content consists of high quality chicken, turkey, eggs, fish, as well as cartilage and offal with the enriched nutrients dogs need to grow and develop healthily. The meat, delivered raw, preserves all its fresh goodness with the brand’s trademarked Biologically Appropriate freeze-drying technology.
As with our previous option, the fat profile is a little high, though not unusual or unexpected – remember that some fats are still needed by growing and large breed dogs to derive energy, the fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6 critical toward brain and eye development, healthy skin and the glossy sheen of coats, as well as a buffer against disease and infection. Included also are glucosamine and chondroitin, great for giving your pup’s joints and bones the support they need as your Boxer grows, calcium and phosphorus giving their bones and teeth strength and helping avoid musculoskeletal disorders and dental issues. Balanced out with the natural goodness of 10% botanicals – just enough to round up the nutritional needs of your Boxer with vitamins, antioxidants, low-glycemic carbs etc. – this high-quality feed is as pocket-friendly as is it is great for your pet.
RUNNER-UP
Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Puppy Formula
For healthy Boxers a healthy diet is an absolute must as soon as your pup graduates from weaning – the proper diet goes a long way in negating the risk of allergies and other medical conditions further down the line, especially with a breed susceptible to reactions from sudden nutrition changes or additives to their food. The Puppy Formula by Wellness CORE is designed to give your pups the most natural high quality diet close to what they are programmed for in their hereditary and genetic code, highlighting premium protein-rich chicken and other ingredients to build up your pup’s muscle, as well as a healthy dose of natural fats like chicken fat and DHA-rich fish oil to aid your pup’s activities and physical and cognitive development.
Grain-free, so you won’t have to worry about allergic reactions and cheap fillers like corn or wheat, the formula also contains calcium and phosphorus for strong bone and teeth growth, vitamins and minerals from botanicals, like magnesium- and iron-rich spinach, for a disease-resistant immune system, and fiber and probiotics to keep the digestive system working properly and without stress.
RUNNER-UP
Royal Canin Boxer Adult Dog Food
Formulated specifically to suit the dietary needs of Boxers, the kibble for this specially-engineered dog food is wave-shaped so short-muzzled Boxer mouths can effortlessly clamp on to the morsels and chew without trouble. With 24% protein content, the formula is also intended to develop the muscle mass characteristic of Boxers, keeping the fat profile lower at 18% – just enough to give your pups the energy they need without them putting on weight. The formula also contains L-carnitine and taurine, amino acid derivatives that can prevent certain types of heart disease in Boxers and encourage cardiac health, as well as EPA and DHA for stronger immune systems, healthier skin, sleek coats and more.