What Do Boxers Eat?

Boxers need to eat a diet that meets all their nutritional requirements to live a good quality of life. If you’re considering adopting a Boxer, you may be wondering “what do Boxers eat?“

Boxers are hardy eaters who do best when they are fed good-quality dog food. They need to eat dog food that is at least 40 % protein from an animal source. Boxers also do best with lean protein, which is good because this breed loves to eat poultry.

Feeding your Boxer a good diet is essential for it to live a long and happy life. On this page, we’re going to discuss what dog owners should be feeding their Boxers. We will also talk about how the food affects them and how often you should feed your Boxer. Keep reading to learn more about what Boxers eat.

The food you choose to give your Boxer plays a substantial role in the dog’s well-being. This is when dog owners need to do some research and start reading labels. The right dog food for your Boxer will be well balanced, with a good source of lean protein and healthy fats and carbs.

As a dog owner, it’s likely been suggested to you to put your dog on a grain-free diet. While this option may be healthy for some breeds, it’s not a good diet for Boxers. There have been links to grain-free dog food and dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart disease found in dogs. Unfortunately, Boxers are prone to dilated cardiomyopathy so grain-free food can put them at risk.

Not all grains are bad for dogs. Try to find a dog food that features a healthy grain, such as oats, millet, or brown rice. However, there should always be more protein than grain. Always make sure the dog is eating a quality protein and 40% of it is from an animal.

One thing you strongly need to avoid when choosing dog food for a Boxer is filler. Many low-grade brands of dog food will use filler ingredients to bulk up the food. These are cheap ingredients that provide no nutritional value. In most cases, the dog will pass the food through its system too quickly without digesting it properly, leaving the Boxer still feeling hungry.

Should a Boxer Eat Dry or Wet Food?

In the dog food section of the pet store, you will notice a variety of options for both wet and dry food. If your Boxer could have things it’s way, it would be fed canned food for every meal. While canned food may be more appealing, Boxers need to eat dry food to maintain a healthy diet.

You see, Boxers need a certain level of dental care. While you do need to brush their teeth a few times weekly, you won’t have to brush them daily because the dry food cleans their teeth. As the Boxer chews on the hard food pellets, they break up and scrape plaque and tartar from the dog’s teeth.

There’s no harm in feeding your dog canned food now and again. After all, a good quality wey food will have a significant amount of nutrients and helps to keep the dog hydrated. However, dry food is a must for Boxers on a daily basis to keep their teeth healthy.

Tip: If your Boxer doesn’t like dry food, you can make it more appetizing for them by mixing the kibble with a small amount of wet food.

Can Boxers Eat Human Food?

If you’re feeding your Boxer a well-balanced diet, there is no harm in allowing them to have a treat every now and again. While you shouldn’t get into the habit of feeding your dog table scraps, there are some human foods that are good for Boxers. A little sample of human food now and then is okay for your Boxer.

Boxers can eat most fruits and vegetables. They are especially keen on bananas, especially when they get a piece of banana with peanut butter. Keep in mind, that while most fruits and vegetables are healthy, some can be toxic to dogs. Always avoid feeding them garlic, onion, grapes, mushrooms, tomatoes, and avocados.

When it comes to meat, it’s best to stay lean. Boxers love chicken, turkey, and fish. They also enjoy beef, as long as it’s not a fatty piece. Try to avoid giving your Boxer processed meats or meat that has spices and seasoning on it. Salt and certain spices are not good for Boxers. Boiled or steamed is the best way to cook meat for a Boxer.

Additionally, Boxers enjoy unsweetened peanut butter and plain yogurt. Whenever you are giving your Boxer human food of any variety, make sure it isn’t flavored or sweetened. It’s best to be as natural as possible when choosing food.

How Much Do Boxers Need To Eat?

It’s best to create a routine when it comes to feeding your Boxer. These dogs are big and muscular, so they will need to eat 1500 calories each day to maintain a healthy weight. This averages out to be roughly 4 cups of good quality dry food a day.

Feeding your dog the right amount of calories each day is essential for its health. If you don’t measure out the food portions, you can risk feeding the dog too much or too little. If the dog eats more than recommended, it could become obese. Yet, if it doesn’t eat enough calories it will be hungry and its nutritional needs will not be met. Both can make the dog unhealthy.

When it comes to feeding your Boxer, you also need to add treats into the mix. The Boxer will consume some calories from treats, which is okay. However, it’s important to keep treats to a minimum. Treats should never account for more than 10 percent of a Boxer’s diet.

How Do You Feed a Boxer?

It’s important to feed your Boxer its food in portions. This way, you can balance out its nutrients throughout the day. If you were to put all of the Boxer’s food in a dish when you wake up in the morning, it will likely gobble down the entire portion for breakfast. This will lead it to get hungry before its next feeding.

As the dog owner, you will need to judge how often your dog needs to be fed by its eating habits. Ideally, you should separate its food into 2 to 4 portions per day. While some Boxers are content to eat twice a day, others get too hungry waiting that long so they should have smaller portions.

A sign that your Boxer is too hungry is if it eats very quickly when you put food down for it. Eating quickly isn’t good because the Boxer won’t chew properly. It will also end up swallowing a lot of air, which will make it gassy.

Best Food For Boxers

Every Boxer dog is different from the next. This is why we urge you to speak with a vet before choosing the right food. The vet can help you choose the best food based on your dog’s health conditions and any allergies it may have.

If your dog doesn’t have any pre-existing health concerns, you still need to feed it good-quality food. Below are some of the top recommended foods to feed a Boxer.

Royal Canin Boxer Adult Dry Dog Food
Orijen Original Dog Food (All breeds)
Eukanuba Boxer Adult Dry Dog Food
Purina One SmartBlend True Instinct With Real Turkey
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Chicken and Barley

There are some health problems that can present themselves if you aren’t careful with what you feed your dog. We can’t stress enough how important it is to avoid feeding your dog food with fillers. This is because fillers are known to trigger a lot of digestive problems with Boxers. They can also cause bloat in the dog, which may require emergency medical attention.

Boxers are also prone to allergies. If your Boxer has sensitive allergies, it may be best to search for hypoallergenic food. This can prevent further problems from what your dog is eating.

Final Thoughts

What do Boxers eat? Boxers eat good quality dog food that’s formulated for larger dogs. When choosing dog food for your Boxer, always choose one with lean protein and healthy grain. Pay attention to what’s listed on the ingredients so you can spot the good from the bad. Although it may cost more, good-quality food is essential for your Boxer dog’s health. Ask your vet about food recommendations.

When choosing food, always avoid brands that use a lot of filler. Dog foods with filler are known to cause health problems for Boxers. Filler ingredients are difficult for the dog to digest. They often pass through the Boxer’s system too quickly, so the dog is unable to digest the food properly. This has them losing nutrients and still feeling hungry after they have eaten. Good food makes a difference.