Boxers are muscular dogs with a lot of energy, and they can seem to have an insatiable appetite. You want your dog to be healthy and happy, so you might be wondering, how much should Boxers eat?
An adult Boxer should be eating around 3 to 5 cups, or about 800 to 1000 grams, of dog food every day, spread across one, two, or three meals. Depending on their age, size, metabolism, and energy levels, your Boxer might need to eat more or less food. A general rule is that they should be consuming about 40 calories per pound of bodyweight that they have.
It can be difficult to know exactly what to feed your Boxer and how much to give them. This article will go into detail about what a healthy Boxer diet looks like and why it is important that your Boxer is eating right so that you can be sure you are giving your dog the nutrition they need.
How Much Should Boxers Eat Every Day?
All dogs have slightly different sustenance needs because they all have different bodies. For example, older dogs need to eat less than puppies and larger dogs need to eat more than smaller dogs. There are, however, recommended daily amounts that can help you to find the right quantities for your Boxer.
A good rule to follow is that a Boxer puppy should be consuming about 55 calories per day for every pound of bodyweight that they have while they are still growing. Once they have reached adulthood, this requirement goes down to about 40 calories per pound because they are using less energy for growth. To follow this guideline, you will need to weigh your dog carefully.
This usually translates to between 3 and 5 cups of food, depending on which type of dog food you choose. As puppies Boxers usually need to eat more frequently, so they should be having their daily intake spread across 3 or 4 meals. Adult Boxers, on the other hand, will generally be happy to have 1 or 2 meals a day.
What Affects How Much Boxers Should Eat?
Not all Boxers should be eating the exact same quantities of food every day and, while recommendations are extremely helpful, you will need to find a healthy balance for your dog. Most Boxers have a healthy appetite, and they are very unlikely to regulate their own food intake to suit their needs, so you need to be in charge of that for them.
The amount that a Boxer needs to eat on a daily basis will be affected by:
- Age. While Boxers are young and still growing, they will need to take on more energy in relation to their size. However, because they are still small, they will be eating smaller quantities.
- Size. The larger a Boxer is, the more food they will need. Male Boxers are usually larger than females and so they often require a higher number of calories as well.
- Weight. The weight of your Boxer is a good measurement to use for how much they need to eat, but if your Boxer is overweight, they will need a reduced diet to lose the extra pounds. It is important to know the healthy weight expected for the size of your dog so that you can set a healthy diet for them.
- Activity Levels. The more active and energetic your Boxer is, the more calories they will need to fuel their lifestyle. A very active Boxer can consume more calories as long as they are being burnt off through exercise. A more sedentary Boxer, on the other hand, will put on weight more easily.
- Health. Many health issues can affect the appetite and caloric needs of your dog. It is always important to consult with a vet about how to feed your dog when they are facing health problems.
- Metabolism. Some dogs have a faster metabolism than others and may need more calories to keep them fit and healthy. Keeping a close eye on any changes in your pet’s weight can let you know if they are burning off too much or too little of the food they are eating.
Ultimately, your dog’s diet needs to suit them. The best way to make sure you are feeding your Boxer properly is to follow recommendations and monitor their health and weight carefully. If you are ever unsure about what to feed your dog, you should always ask your vet for some help.
Are Boxers Prone to Obesity?
One of the most important aspects of establishing a healthy diet for your dog is making sure that they are getting all of the nutrition that they need without putting on too much weight. It is estimated that over 50% of the domestic dogs in the United States are currently overweight or obese, and that can have serious health implications for these animals.
Boxers are considered to be particularly at risk of becoming overweight or obese, partly because they often have a healthy appetite, and are not good at saying no to food. It is also common for Boxers to suffer from a condition called hypothyroidism, which lowers their metabolism and increases weight gain, and they need a good amount of exercise to keep their naturally muscular bodies from becoming fat.
Excessive weight gain is a serious concern for any dog. Ultimately, dogs that are overweight or obese live an average of 2.5 fewer years than those that are at a healthy weight. Becoming overweight can lead to many health problems for a Boxer, including:
- Breathing issues.
- Joint problems.
- Diabetes.
- Cancer.
- Heart conditions.
- Bloat.
Of course, it is also important that your Boxer is getting enough nutrition and calories so they don’t become malnourished, so a well-balanced diet is essential so that your dog can be as healthy as possible.
How Much Should a Boxer Weigh?
There is no single healthy weight for a Boxer, but it is important to keep an eye on whether or not your dog is in the right range for their size. A healthy adult male Boxer will normally weigh between 60 and 70 pounds (27-32kg) and a female will weigh between 55 and 65 pounds (25-30kg).
Larger or smaller dogs can weigh outside of those ranges and still be healthy for their size, so check with your vet if you are at all concerned.
As your Boxer is growing their weight will change rapidly, so it can be very helpful to know the expected growth that your dog will go through from birth to adulthood.
- Newborn: 1 – 4 weeks. In the first few weeks, Boxers will usually grow from around 2.4-3lbs (1.2-1.4kg) to 6-7lbs (2.5-3kg).
- Puppy: 4 weeks – 6 months. While they are maturing, Boxers grow rapidly and males will generally reach a weight of between 41 and 48 pounds (18-22kg), while females usually weigh a bit less.
- Adolescent: 6 months – 2 years. Once they have reached 6 months old, your Boxer’s growth rate will slow down, and they will gradually reach the size that they will likely be for the rest of their lives.
- Adult: 2 years+. A Boxer is officially considered an adult at 2 years old. By this point, their weight should have stabilised at around 60-70lbs.
What Should Boxers Eat?
There are many different options out there when it comes to feeding your dog, so it can be difficult to choose between all of them. Your Boxer may have a strong preference for certain dog foods over others, but there are some important things to look out for.
High-quality dog food is often more expensive, but the cheap stuff can be bad for their health. Avoid any dog food that contains filler ingredients, artificial coloring or flavoring, synthetic preservatives, or excessive fats and sugars. All-natural food is always healthier, and you want your Boxer to be eating real meat, vegetables, and fruits, as well as some grains like rice or oats (unless your vet recommends otherwise).
Wet food is often a favourite among Boxers, but dry food is actually better for healthy teeth and gums. You might give your dog a mix of the two if they are not particularly keen on the dry stuff.
Can Boxers Eat Treats and Snacks?
All dogs deserve to be getting some delicious treats and rewards as part of their training, and extra food can just be a nice gift. It is important, though, to be selective about what extras you are adding to your Boxer’s diet.
You may offer your dog some snacks to satiate their appetite between meals and chews for them to work their teeth on, as well as the special treats that you use for training. You want to avoid anything artificial or unhealthy and keep a close eye on how many extra calories they are taking in.
The Verdict: How Much Should Boxers Eat?
So, how much should Boxers eat? They should be getting around 40 calories per day for each pound of body weight that they have, which usually averages to between 3 and 5 cups of food.
Every dog has a unique body that will have unique needs, and meeting those needs is the most important job that an owner has. Your Boxer should be eating a well-balanced diet that is giving them all of the nutrition that they require while keeping them at a healthy weight. Boxers also need a good amount of exercise to go alongside the food that they are eating.
Every owner wants their dog to be fit and healthy and giving them the right sustenance is a big part of that. At the end of the day, a well-fed Boxer is a happy Boxer, and there’s nothing better than a happy Boxer.