- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Boxers are easy to identify, with their large, muscular bodies and jowly, square snouts. While they may seem formidable, these are often some of the friendliest, goofiest pups around. They can, however, be challenging at times due to their large size and high energy levels. A nutritionally balanced diet is essential to meet your Boxer’s energy requirements and to provide the protein they need to maintain their muscle mass.
So what’s the best diet for a Boxer? Though all dogs big and small have similar nutritional requirements, it’s still a good idea to take breed into account when you’re choosing your dog’s food. As a medium to large breed, Boxers will typically benefit from large-breed formulas.
These muscly pups also need careful joint care, especially as they age. Recipes made with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for mobility are a good choice. Boxers also see more than their share of skin allergies and hot spots, so finding a blend with omega-3 acids and fish oil can help maintain healthy coat.
We’ve rounded up our favorite dog food formulas for Boxers, converting all nutrient analyses to a dry-matter basis so you can easily compare across food types. As always, consult your vet before establishing or changing your Boxer’s diet—they can help you know what’s best for your particular pup.
Best for Puppies: Wellness Complete Health Large-Breed Puppy Recipe
According to the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), puppy food should have a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat on a dry-matter basis. At 32% protein and 14% fat, this large breed puppy mix comfortably exceeds those numbers, which can benefit fast-growing Boxer puppies.
Featuring both chicken and salmon as the primary proteins, this formula is rich in lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA for brain health. It also has a nice mix of energizing carbohydrates, including brown rice, oatmeal, and barley. The blend also includes antioxidant-filled spinach and blueberries for overall immune health.
Nutritional Content:
- 367 kcal/cup
- Protein: 32%
- Fat: 14%
- Moisture: 10%
- Crude Fiber: 5.6%
Best for Adult Boxers: Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Boxer Adult Dry Dog Food
This breed-specific dry formula is made for Boxers 15 months and older. It provides 27% protein and 20% fat at 335 kcal per cup. The recipe is fortified with taurine, EPA, and DHA for heart health and L-carnitine for muscle tone and support.
You don’t always need a breed-specific dog food—but there are things about this brand that are handy, like kibble pieces that are sized to slow down Boxer speed-eating. That’s especially important in breeds prone to bloat. It also gets anecdotal support from reviewers, who note that this food helped with their Boxers’ sensitive stomachs.
Nutritional Content:
- 335 kcal/cup
- Protein: 27%
- Fat: 20%
- Crude Fiber: 5%
- Moisture: 10%
Best for Senior Boxers: Merrick Healthy Grains Senior Recipe Dry Dog Food
As your dog ages, sometimes it’s helpful to switch to a senior recipe to promote joint mobility and reduce the impact of degenerative conditions like arthritis. As with puppy and adult foods, there’s no all-encompassing senior food. Instead, different recipes will better target specific health conditions. Since Boxers are prone to joint and mobility issues, this recipe provides extra support to their hips and joints with glucosamine and chondroitin.
Protein is still essential in senior dogs’ diets, and this food’s first ingredient is deboned chicken, along with healthy carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, and barley. Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids help with skin and coat health, while DHA supports your dog’s brain function as they age.
Nutritional Content:
- 381 kcal/cup
- Protein: 30%
- Fat: 17%
- Crude Fiber: 3.9%
- Moisture: 11%
Best High-Protein: Victor Select Nutra Pro Active Dog and Puppy Formula Dry Food
For highly active Boxers, this high-protein blend provides 42% protein per serving with chicken meal and is low in carbohydrates. This all-stages, multi-protein dry kibble is fortified with essential nutrients and made with gluten-free grains.
Prebiotics and probiotics help digestion, especially for dogs with sensitive stomachs, and selenium yeast provides metabolic support. As a high-protein formula, it’s a good fit for very active dogs, as well as pregnant and lactating female dogs.
Nutritional Content:
- 401 kcal/cup
- Protein: 42%
- Fat: 30%
- Moisture: 9%
- Crude Fiber: 3.8%
Best for Food Allergies: Natural Balance Limited-Ingredient Lamb & Brown Rice Formula Dry Food
If your Boxer suffers from food allergies, this limited-ingredient dry kibble could be the right choice. It has one novel protein source—lamb—and carbohydrates like brown rice that provide fiber for digestion. Canola oil provides omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, and vitamin E offers extra immune support.
Since dog food allergies vary, there’s no one-size-fits-all food, but usually, trying limited-ingredient diets is a good first step. If your dog is allergic to lamb, there are other flavors, including Beef & Brown Rice, Salmon & Brown Rice, and Chicken & Brown Rice.
Nutritional Content:
- 370 kcal/cup
- Protein: 24%
- Fat: 13%
- Crude Fiber: 4.4%
- Moisture: 10%
Best for Weight Management: Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Recipe
Weight management is important for all dog breeds, but it’s especially important for Boxers, since carrying extra mass can strain their joints and overall health. This light dry dog food formula provides 37% protein from chicken and herring, with a relatively low 11% fat content.
The recipe uses low-glycemic grains, like spelt and oats, to help lessen spikes in blood sugar levels. It also includes a mix of dried vegetables and fruits, including pomegranate, apple, and spinach, for extra nutrients.
Nutritional Content:
- 338 kcal/cup
- Protein: 37%
- Fat: 12%
- Crude Fiber: 7%
- Moisture: 9%
Best for Joint Health: Hill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility Large Breed Chicken Meal, Brown Rice & Barley Recipe
If your Boxer suffers from joint and hip issues, this Healthy Mobility Large Breed Adult recipe provides EPA from fish oil, which has anti-inflammatory benefits, and natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy cartilage. Each serving contains 31% protein and 13% fat.
This dry kibble provides a mix of vitamins and minerals, like vitamin E for healthy skin and coat, and fiber from added flaxseed to promote healthy digestion.
Nutritional Content:
- 367 kcal/cup
- Protein: 31%
- Fat: 13%
- Crude Fiber: 3.3%
- Moisture: 10%
- Glucosamine: 250 ppm min
- Chondroitin Sulfate: 750 ppm min
Best for Sensitive Skin and Stomachs: Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon Adult Large Breed
This Sensitive Skin and Stomach blend is created specifically for large breed dogs and uses salmon as the main ingredient. It contains 29.5% protein per cup to support your pup’s muscles while being gentle on their stomachs. Along with salmon, this recipe includes fish oil that provides EPA for heart and joint health and a mix of antioxidants and prebiotic fibers for gut health.
The recipe uses easy-to-digest carbohydrates, like oatmeal, and omega-6 fatty acids to support your dog’s skin and coat. It also includes antioxidants for overall immune health and is made without artificial colors and flavors.
Nutritional Content:
- 404 kcal/cup
- Protein: 29.5%
- Fat: 13.6%
- Crude Fiber: 5.1%
- Moisture: 12%
Best Grain-Free: Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken & Freeze-Dried Raw Pieces
If your dog needs to follow a grain-free diet, this high-protein kibble blended with freeze-dried raw chicken could be a good option. It uses chicken as the first ingredient and contains natural probiotics for gut and digestion health. This blend is packed with 40% protein but is one of the list’s higher fat (22.5%) and calorie (508 kcal/cup) choices.
This recipe is made in the USA and includes a boost of omega fatty acids and antioxidants to support your pup’s immune health. It’s also available in Real Beef and Real Salmon.
Nutritional Content:
- 508 kcal/cup
- Protein: 40.7%
- Fat: 22.5%
- Crude Fiber: 4.4%
- Moisture: 9%
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
