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7 Best Foods for Boxer Puppies – 2024 Reviews & Guide

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

boxer puppy

What you feed your Boxer puppy is extremely important. Your Boxer is built to grow up big and strong, but they can’t do that without proper nutrition. And not just any dog food will do: So many options out there are filled with unnecessary ingredients like processed animal by-products and artificial flavors and colors. Your pooch deserves a high-quality food that will support their fast growth and optimal nutrition intake.

But how do you know what kind of food you should be feeding your Boxer puppy? There are a variety of excellent options on the market; you just have to weed out the lesser-quality foods so you can focus on the good stuff. Lucky for you, we’ve done the hard work of finding and reviewing awesome food options for Boxer puppies. Keep reading to find out what we think are the best foods for Boxer puppies.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated in 2024)

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription
  • Natural and fresh ingredients
  • No artificial ingredients
  • Slow cooked and then frozen to retain nutrients and freshness
  • Budget Buy
    Second place
    Iams ProActive Iams ProActive
  • Made for puppies up to 24 months
  • Made with natural fish oil
  • Features whole food ingredients
  • Third place
    Royal Canin Boxer Royal Canin Boxer
  • Easy-to-chew kibble shape
  • High in quality protein
  • Supports healthy bone growth
  • Diamond Naturals Diamond Naturals
  • Affordable
  • Features pasture-raised lamb
  • Made in the United States
  • Hill’s Science Diet Hill’s Science Diet
  • Budget-friendly
  • Neutral smelling
  • Provides proper bone support
  • The 7 Best Foods for Boxer Puppies

    1. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription — Best Overall

    Ollie dog food in bowl beef and chicken flavors

    Boxer puppies are highly active and energetic, so they’ll need a diet that can meet their nutritional requirements. Ollie’s fresh dog food is formulated for dogs of all life stages and made with the highest quality ingredients. For those reasons, we believe that Ollie Dog Food is the best dog food available for Boxer puppies.

    When you place your first order, you need to fill in a bunch of information about your puppy, including their current weight, age, breed, body composition, and activity level. This enables Ollie to design a meal plan for your puppy, as part of the subscription service. Ollie sends the food in appropriate proportions to your door when you need it. This also means you don’t need to lug dog food home from the grocery store.

    Ollie has fresh recipes with beef, turkey, chicken, and lamb meats that are chopped up and combined with fresh vegetables and fruit. This food is slow-cooked and immediately frozen to retain the nutrients and freshness. There are also kibble recipes in beef and chicken flavors that are gently baked in small batches.

    The only con with this food is that it’s only available within the continental U.S., which means Hawaii, Alaska, and the rest of the world must miss out. Plus, it won’t fit all budgets.

    Check with your vet before buying any new dog food, but overall, Ollie Dog Food is an ideal diet for almost any puppy.

    Pros
    • Natural and fresh ingredients
    • No artificial ingredients
    • “Buy it and forget it” subscription
    • Slow-cooked and then frozen to retain nutrients and freshness
    • Perfect for most energetic Boxer puppies
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Only available to the continental U.S.

    2. Iams ProActive Health Puppy Dry Food— Budget Buy

    Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy Dry Dog Food

    Iams ProActive Health Smart puppy food is specially designed for puppies like Boxers. Your pup can enjoy this food for up to 24 months before switching to adult food. This is considered one of the best dog foods for Boxer puppies for the money, and for good reason — you get more bang for your buck. This nutritious dog food features natural fish oil, chicken, and eggs, to name just a few healthy ingredients your pooch is sure to enjoy devouring.

    While this recipe has complete nutrition for your Boxer puppy, it doesn’t feature the same important antioxidants from fruits and veggies that our first pick on this list has. Even though this option is a little more affordable than our first pick, it’s still a financial responsibility that can be burdensome to keep up with as your little Boxer puppy becomes a big Boxer dog.

    Pros
    • Specially made for puppies up to 24 months
    • Made with natural fish oil
    • Features whole food ingredients
    Cons
    • Lacks in fruit and veggie nutrition compared to other options
    • More expensive than other similar options

    3. Royal Canin Boxer Puppy Food

    Royal Canin Boxer Puppy Dry Dog Food

    What’s great about Royal Canin Boxer puppy food is that it is formulated specifically for Boxer puppies up to the age of 15 months. This puppy food has ingredients like L-Carnitine, meant to support healthy bone growth so your Boxer is less likely to develop health problems when they get older. It’s also been developed to enhance digestion health and includes an array of antioxidants that promote a strong immune system.

    Most importantly, this puppy food for Boxers is high in quality protein, which is necessary for healthy growth physically and mentally as your puppy grows into an adult. Royal Canin Boxer puppy food also features a wavy shape that makes it easy for the Boxer breed to chew and digest. But this is one of the most expensive options on the market, so it may not be financially feasible for some owners. Luckily, there are other high-quality options to choose from that are more affordable.

    Pros
    • Designed specifically for Boxer puppies
    • Features an easy-to-chew kibble shape
    Cons
    • One of the most expensive options on the market
    • The package tends to rip, requiring separate containment
    • Can be tough to transition from this kibble to an adult option

    4. Diamond Naturals Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food

    Diamond Naturals Puppy Formula Dry Dog Food

    This is a large breed puppy food that, while not specifically made for Boxers, still delivers all the nutrients your Boxer needs as they become an adult. Diamond Naturals puppy formula is an affordable option that your pooch can eat from puppyhood through adulthood, which takes all the guesswork out of proper nutrition.

    This food features pasture-raised lamb and includes added vitamins and minerals to help ensure well-rounded nutrition throughout all the puppy years. Made in the United States, it has no filler corn, wheat, or artificial preservatives to worry about either. But you’ll find higher quality ingredients in some of the other options found on our reviews list.

    Pros
    • Made for large breed puppies like Boxers
    • Affordable price tag
    Cons
    • Not meant for adult nutrition
    • Missing quality ingredients that other options feature

    5. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Dry Dog Food

    Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Dry Dog Food

    Hill’s Science Diet puppy food is formulated for large breeds like Boxers. We like the affordable price tag and the ingredients list isn’t bad. It features controlled calcium levels to provide proper bone support. This dog food for Boxers is another good option made in the U.S.A., and it doesn’t contain any artificial flavors. But this food does include fillers like oats and chicken meal that aren’t as high-quality.

    Pros
    • Budget-friendly and neutral smelling.
    • Features flavors that dogs love
    Cons
    • Includes filler ingredients that aren’t typically necessary in a puppy’s diet
    • Consumers find it hard to keep the food package closed once opened

    6. Blue Buffalo Life Puppy Dry Food

    Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Dry Dog Food

    Formulated with real meat, fruits, veggies, and antioxidant-rich ingredients, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula for puppies is another great option for Boxers because it provides all the essential nutrients that this larger breed needs, while offering up a host of additional vitamins and nutrients designed to allow your puppy to thrive and feel their best as they age.

    Included are essential omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, which are necessary for a shiny and soft coat of fur. The kibble pieces are tiny, so your Boxer puppy should be able to start eating quickly. This food comes in a convenient bag that’s easy to store and pour, so there is no need to invest in a separate food container if you don’t want to. But one downside of this option is that it’s on the costly side, and Boxers can eat a couple of cups of this high-quality dog food every day.

    Pros
    • Puppies love the flavor and texture
    • It’s easy for puppies to eat
    • It features convenient packaging
    Cons
    • It’s more expensive than many other options on the market
    • Feeding instructions are confusing to some pet owners

    7. Eukanuba Puppy Dry Dog Food

    Eukanuba Puppy Dry Dog Food

    This large breed puppy dog food is an excellent choice for Boxer owners because it features plenty of quality animal protein, as well as calcium and phosphorous that puppies need for strong and healthy bones. Containing DHA, Eukanuba can apparently help puppies better focus their minds so training is easier on owners.

    Chicken is the number-one ingredient, but this food does lack some of the fruits and veggies that you’ll find in other high-quality dog foods. Although this is a less expensive option, it isn’t as budget-friendly as other similar options available on the market.

    Pros
    • Chicken is the number-one ingredient
    • Formulated for better focus and performance
    Cons
    • Not as high quality as many other options on our list
    • Not as budget friendly as similar puppy foods on the market

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    Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Food For Boxer Puppies

    When choosing a high-quality puppy food for your Boxer, you will have to read the ingredients list. Once you choose a puppy food to feed your Boxer puppy, you should stick with it until you are ready to switch to adult food. Changing foods is hard on the digestive system and can result in problems like constipation, diarrhea, and discomfort.

    You should feed your Boxer puppy food designed specifically for puppies until they are at least a year old before you consider feeding them adult dog food. This will help ensure that your pooch gets all the nutrients they need while growing.

    What to Look For in Puppy Food

    When choosing a puppy food for your Boxer, the most important thing to consider is quality. Even if the food you’re interested in is more expensive than you anticipate, remember that the puppy food is just temporary. In just a few months, your pup will be able to eat adult dog food.

    The money you spend now on quality food for your Boxer will result in a more well-rounded, happy, and healthy pooch. So, when choosing food for your Boxer puppy, you should look for real meat as the first ingredient. If grains or meal is the first ingredient, your pup may not get the vital nutrients and quality protein they need in order to thrive.

    Your chosen Boxer puppy food should have ingredients that include real fruits and vegetables, not just powders and concentrates. Avoid foods that include artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives whenever possible.

    Trying Out New Puppy Foods

    It’s always a good idea to give your Boxer puppy a small amount of food that is new to them, especially when you bring them home for the first time. Any food you decide to feed your puppy might not agree with their digestion at first, depending on what they have been fed up to this point. Offer up just a quarter cup of the food you want to feed your puppy to start.

    If no obvious digestion issues result, you can go ahead and continue feeding the new food to your new Boxer. If you decide to switch to a new brand at any point during puppyhood, mix the new stuff with the old stuff for about a week to make transitioning easy.

    You should do the same when it comes time to feed your Boxer adult dog food — mix the puppy and adult food for a few days before switching straight to adult food. Once you are sure your dog can handle the adult food, you can switch over completely.

    If You Just Aren’t Sure

    If you aren’t sure whether your Boxer puppy is taking well to their food or if you would like expert guidance when it comes time to transition your pup to adult food, don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian. They’ll be able to recommend high-quality food options based on your Boxer’s age, health, and past food experience.

    Make a list of food options you’re considering feeding your Boxer puppy, along with the pros and cons of each one. Take the list to your vet to gain extra insight and learn which would be the best option for your Boxer puppy.

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    Final Verdict

    The type of puppy food you decide to feed your Boxer is up to you. There are so many high-quality options on the market, you shouldn’t find it tough to keep your pup satiated and full of energy. Just know that lower-quality foods might taste good to your pup, but they will also fill them up with artificial ingredients that won’t be any good for their health.

    Focus on the options that feature whole foods such as real meat instead of meal. Oils shouldn’t be present unless they’re fish or animal fats. There should never be artificial ingredients in play. Don’t overlook the Ollie Fresh Dog Food, which has all the nutrients your Boxer puppy needs, with no fillers to worry about. Another awesome option is the Royal Canin Boxer puppy food because it’s not only high quality but also budget-friendly compared to other similar foods on the market.

    Hopefully, our reviews of the best dog food for Boxer puppies has made your job easier.


    Featured Image Credit: FiledIMAGE, Shutterstock

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