This Boxer dog feeding chart shows how much to feed at every age, from an 8 week old puppy to a senior dog. Boxers grow for up to two years and have a deep chest, so the calculator includes a young adult stage and the page covers bloat safety.
Last updated November 11, 2026
Boxer at a glance
Enter your dog's weight and age. Puppies also get an estimate of their adult weight. Open "Your food" to add the numbers from your bag, mix in wet food or work out a monthly cost. Then fine tune using body condition, since every dog and every food is a little different.
Life stage: adult
Activity, goal and neuter status apply from 2 years. Growing dogs are fed by age and weight.
Dry food label
If the bag lists kcal per kg as well, grams per cup = kcal per cup ÷ kcal per kg × 1,000.
Mixed feeding
Use the kcal per can, tray or pouch printed on the wet food label.
Cost
Exact amount: 3.5 cups
Based on a dry food with 456 kcal per cup. If you give treats, take their calories out of the daily total, and recheck body condition every two to four weeks.
Resting energy (RER) is 70 times body weight in kilograms raised to the power of 0.75, then multiplied by a factor for life stage and activity. The Merck Veterinary Manual uses 3 times RER for puppies under 4 months and 2 times RER after that. The Pet Nutrition Alliance lists 2 to 3 times RER for growth, 1.8 for an intact adult, 1.6 for a spayed or neutered adult, 1.2 to 1.4 for an overweight prone or inactive adult and 1.0 for weight loss, and stresses that individual dogs can vary by as much as 50 percent from these estimates.
How this page applies them: 3.0 under 4 months, 2.5 from 4 to 6 months, 2.0 from 6 to 12 months and 1.8 from 12 to 24 months while Boxers fill out. The 2.5 and 1.8 growth steps are our own estimates inside the published growth range. Adults use 1.5, 1.8 and 2.2 for low, moderate and high activity, and seniors 1.3, 1.5 and 1.7; apart from 1.8 these are our own estimates. Spayed or neutered adults and seniors get about 11 percent less, the same gap as between 1.8 and 1.6.
Calories are divided by your food's energy density, 456 kcal per cup and 120 g per cup unless you enter your own. Treats are capped at 10 percent of the daily total and water is estimated at about one ounce per pound. The adult weight estimate divides your puppy's weight by the typical share of adult weight for its age from the growth table below, plus or minus 12 percent.
The fastest way to see how much a Boxer eats at each stage. Ranges run from a smaller female to a larger male of the same age, using a dry food with 456 kcal per cup.
| Age | Typical weight | Meals per day | Cups per day | Grams per day | kcal per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 to 10 weeks | 10 to 16 lb | 4 | 1.5 to 2 | 170 to 245 g | 650 to 930 |
| 3 to 4 months | 16 to 35 lb | 4 | 2 to 3.75 | 245 to 440 g | 930 to 1,670 |
| 4 to 6 months | 22 to 49.5 lb | 3 | 2.25 to 4 | 260 to 475 g | 980 to 1,810 |
| 6 to 9 months | 31 to 64 lb | 3 | 2.25 to 3.75 | 270 to 460 g | 1,020 to 1,750 |
| 9 to 12 months | 40 to 72 lb | 3 | 2.75 to 4.25 | 325 to 505 g | 1,230 to 1,910 |
| 12 to 24 months | 45 to 80 lb | 2 | 2.75 to 4 | 320 to 490 g | 1,210 to 1,860 |
| Adult, moderate activity | 50 to 80 lb | 2 | 3 to 4 | 345 to 490 g | 1,310 to 1,860 |
The adult row covers intact dogs. Spayed or neutered adults need about 11 percent less, shown in the adult chart below.
Four things decide the daily number: current weight, life stage, activity level and neuter status. The Boxer is a muscular working breed, and the American Kennel Club lists males at 65 to 80 pounds, with females about 15 pounds lighter. In a study of 3,219 Boxers in UK vet practices, adults averaged 33 kg (about 73 pounds) for males and 27.6 kg (about 61 pounds) for females.
Boxers mature slowly. Most reach their adult height around their first birthday but keep adding chest and muscle until about 2 years, which is why this page has a young adult stage from 12 to 24 months instead of jumping straight to adult portions.
Boxer puppies of the same age can differ by 10 pounds or more, so feeding by current weight is more accurate than feeding by birthday. Find your puppy's weight in the left column, then read across to its age.
| Puppy weight | 2 to 4 months | 4 to 6 months | 6 to 12 months | 12 to 24 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 1.5 cups, 170 g | not typical | not typical | not typical |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 2 cups, 230 g | not typical | not typical | not typical |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 2.5 cups, 290 g | not typical | not typical | not typical |
| 25 lb (11.3 kg) | 2.75 cups, 340 g | 2.5 cups, 285 g | not typical | not typical |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 3.25 cups, 390 g | 2.75 cups, 325 g | not typical | not typical |
| 35 lb (15.9 kg) | 3.75 cups, 440 g | 3 cups, 365 g | 2.5 cups, 290 g | not typical |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | not typical | 3.5 cups, 405 g | 2.75 cups, 325 g | not typical |
| 45 lb (20 kg) | not typical | 3.75 cups, 440 g | 3 cups, 355 g | 2.75 cups, 320 g |
| 50 lb (23 kg) | not typical | not typical | 3.25 cups, 380 g | 3 cups, 345 g |
| 55 lb (25 kg) | not typical | not typical | 3.5 cups, 410 g | 3 cups, 370 g |
| 60 lb (27 kg) | not typical | not typical | 3.75 cups, 440 g | 3.25 cups, 395 g |
| 65 lb (29 kg) | not typical | not typical | 4 cups, 465 g | 3.5 cups, 420 g |
| 70 lb (32 kg) | not typical | not typical | 4 cups, 490 g | 3.75 cups, 445 g |
| 75 lb (34 kg) | not typical | not typical | not typical | 4 cups, 465 g |
| 80 lb (36 kg) | not typical | not typical | not typical | 4 cups, 490 g |
Daily totals for a food with 456 kcal per cup. Split into four meals before 4 months, three meals until 12 months, then two.
Energy needs per pound are at their lifetime peak. Four small meals of a large breed puppy food keep growth steady and the stomach comfortable.
The calculator steps down from 3.0 to 2.5 and then 2.0 times RER, our own gradual taper for a slow maturing breed. Large breed puppies do best growing at a steady pace; a lean puppy with a visible waist is the goal, not the biggest puppy in the litter.
A one year old Boxer looks grown but is still adding chest and muscle. The calculator uses 1.8 times RER for this window, our own estimate. Switch to adult food once the dog is close to its expected adult weight.
Use this to check whether your puppy is on track. Shaded bands show the typical range for males and females, and the line shows the middle of each range. The calculator uses these same figures to estimate your puppy's adult weight.
| Age | Male weight | Female weight | Share of adult weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 months | 13 to 16 lb | 10 to 13 lb | About 20% |
| 3 months | 21 to 25.5 lb | 16 to 21 lb | About 32% |
| 4 months | 28.5 to 35 lb | 22 to 28.5 lb | About 44% |
| 6 months | 40 to 49.5 lb | 31 to 40 lb | About 62% |
| 9 months | 52 to 64 lb | 40 to 52 lb | About 80% |
| 12 months | 58.5 to 72 lb | 45 to 58.5 lb | About 90% |
| 18 months | 63 to 77.5 lb | 48.5 to 63 lb | About 97% |
| 24 months | 65 to 80 lb | 50 to 65 lb | Adult |
Adult ranges follow the AKC breed profile (males 65 to 80 pounds, females about 15 pounds less). Published growth standards note that larger breeds can take up to 24 months to reach adult weight, but no Boxer specific growth curve exists, so the monthly figures are our own estimate. The parents' size is a useful guide to your puppy's likely adult size.
Many male Boxers end up near or above 70 pounds, so a large breed puppy food is the safer choice for most Boxer puppies.
The AAFCO floor for puppy food. Adult maintenance food needs at least 18%. Most quality puppy formulas run a few points higher.
Adults need at least 5.5%. Fat is the most calorie dense nutrient, so a rich puppy food makes overfeeding easier.
AAFCO caps calcium for puppies expected to weigh 70 pounds or more as adults. The calcium to phosphorus ratio should sit between 1:1 and 2:1.
These figures come from the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles (published in the AAFCO Official Publication). They are floors and ceilings, not targets, and any food labelled "complete and balanced" for growth or for all life stages already meets them.
Do not add calcium supplements to a complete puppy food, since growing large breed puppies cannot switch off calcium absorption the way adults can. Measured meals keep growth steady. If you are comparing labels, our guide to puppy food brands is a good place to start.
Feed by current weight and activity, then adjust every few weeks based on body condition. Most pet Boxers fit the moderate or neutered column.
| Weight | Low activity | Moderate activity | High activity | Neutered, moderate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 lb (23 kg) | 2.5 cups | 3 cups | 3.5 cups | 2.5 cups |
| 55 lb (25 kg) | 2.5 cups | 3 cups | 3.75 cups | 2.75 cups |
| 60 lb (27 kg) | 2.75 cups | 3.25 cups | 4 cups | 3 cups |
| 65 lb (29 kg) | 3 cups | 3.5 cups | 4.25 cups | 3.25 cups |
| 70 lb (32 kg) | 3 cups | 3.75 cups | 4.5 cups | 3.25 cups |
| 75 lb (34 kg) | 3.25 cups | 4 cups | 4.75 cups | 3.5 cups |
| 80 lb (36 kg) | 3.5 cups | 4 cups | 5 cups | 3.75 cups |
| 85 lb (39 kg) | 3.5 cups | 4.25 cups | 5.25 cups | 3.75 cups |
Daily totals for a food with 456 kcal per cup, split into two meals. Low, moderate and high use 1.5, 1.8 and 2.2 times RER for an intact dog. Neutered moderate uses 1.6.
Cups change from brand to brand. Calories do not. If your food is denser or lighter than 456 kcal per cup, work from these numbers and divide by the kcal per cup printed on your bag, or enter that number in the calculator.
| Body weight | Resting energy (RER) | Intact adult (1.8) | Neutered adult (1.6) | Weight loss (1.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 kg (51 lb) | 735 kcal | 1,320 kcal | 1,180 kcal | 740 kcal |
| 25 kg (55 lb) | 783 kcal | 1,410 kcal | 1,250 kcal | 780 kcal |
| 27 kg (60 lb) | 829 kcal | 1,490 kcal | 1,330 kcal | 830 kcal |
| 30 kg (66 lb) | 897 kcal | 1,620 kcal | 1,440 kcal | 900 kcal |
| 32 kg (71 lb) | 942 kcal | 1,700 kcal | 1,510 kcal | 940 kcal |
| 34 kg (75 lb) | 986 kcal | 1,770 kcal | 1,580 kcal | 990 kcal |
| 36 kg (79 lb) | 1,029 kcal | 1,850 kcal | 1,650 kcal | 1,030 kcal |
Weight loss calories should be calculated from the target weight, not the current one. The calculator does this for you.
Muscle is not fat. A fit Boxer is heavily muscled, so a healthy dog can weigh more than you expect. Judge by the waist and ribs, not the number on the scale alone.
The AKC puts Boxer life expectancy at 10 to 12 years, and the UK study recorded a median of about 10.5 years. Most Boxers slow down after age 7 and need fewer calories, even if their weight has not changed yet.
| Weight | Low activity | Moderate activity | Neutered, moderate | Meals per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 lb (23 kg) | 2 cups | 2.5 cups | 2.25 cups | 2 |
| 55 lb (25 kg) | 2.25 cups | 2.5 cups | 2.25 cups | 2 |
| 60 lb (27 kg) | 2.5 cups | 2.75 cups | 2.5 cups | 2 |
| 65 lb (29 kg) | 2.5 cups | 3 cups | 2.5 cups | 2 |
| 70 lb (32 kg) | 2.75 cups | 3 cups | 2.75 cups | 2 |
| 75 lb (34 kg) | 2.75 cups | 3.25 cups | 3 cups | 2 |
| 80 lb (36 kg) | 3 cups | 3.5 cups | 3 cups | 2 |
Daily totals for a food with 456 kcal per cup. Low and moderate use 1.3 and 1.5 times RER for an intact senior. Neutered moderate uses about 1.33.
Four meals until about 4 months, three until about 12 months, then two for life. Here is what that looks like in a normal day.
Exact times do not matter. Consistency does. Leave at least an hour between a meal and hard exercise in either direction, and keep play calm after meals, a sensible precaution for any large, deep chested dog.
Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), or bloat, is an emergency where the stomach fills with gas and can twist. It is most common in large, deep chested dogs, and the Boxer has that build.
In a study of large breed dogs, risk rose with the volume of food per meal, and dogs fed a large amount once a day had the highest risk.
A Purdue study of large and giant breeds linked fast eating to a higher risk of GDV. A slow feeder helps a Boxer that gulps.
The same study found raised food bowls were associated with more GDV cases, not fewer. Unless your vet advises otherwise, feed from the floor.
Know the signs. Retching without bringing anything up, a swollen or tight belly, drooling, restlessness and pacing after a meal need an emergency vet straight away. Bloat can become fatal within hours.
Those studies did not include Boxers themselves, so the advice is general large breed guidance rather than Boxer specific data. If your Boxer has a close relative that bloated, ask your vet whether a preventive gastropexy makes sense.
A few Boxer health issues come up again and again in feeding questions. Here is what the evidence actually says.
The common Boxer heart condition, ARVC, is linked to a gene deletion and is treated with heart rhythm medicines, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, not with diet.
A 1991 report described a family of dogs with heart muscle carnitine deficiency that improved on L-carnitine, but in a later case report in Boxers, raising carnitine did not help. Use it only on a cardiologist's advice.
Granulomatous colitis is a rare bloody diarrhea of young Boxers. A 2006 study found invasive E. coli in the colon of every affected Boxer tested, which is why it is treated with antibiotics, not a food change.
In a UK primary care study, Boxers had about ten times the odds of hypothyroidism compared with crossbreeds. Weight gain without eating more is a typical sign.
Boxers also have short muzzles. In a UK study of heat related illness, dogs heavier than the average for their breed and sex had higher odds of heatstroke, another reason to keep a Boxer lean.
The American Boxer Club recommends heart and thyroid screening for the breed. If your Boxer tires easily, faints or gains weight on the same food, see your vet before changing the diet.
The charts give a starting point. Your dog's body tells you whether it is right. The WSAVA 9 point body condition scale puts the ideal at 4 to 5 out of 9.
View from above
Ribs, spine and hip bones are easy to see. Muscle loss may be visible. Feed about 10 percent more and recheck in two weeks.
View from above
Ribs are easy to feel under a thin layer of fat. From above you see a waist behind the ribs, and from the side the belly tucks up.
View from above
Ribs are hard to feel, there is no clear waist, and fat builds up over the back and base of the tail. Cut food by about 10 percent and trim treats.
A Boxer's short coat makes checking easy. From above, you should see a waist behind the ribs. From the side, the belly should tuck up. You should be able to see the last rib or two when the dog moves, and feel the others easily.
Boxers are not among the breeds most prone to obesity, but neutered, less active Boxers gain weight easily, and extra weight makes heat harder to cope with.
Start with an honest count of everything your Boxer eats, including chews and table scraps. Staying lean pays off over a lifetime: in a 14 year feeding study, dogs fed 25 percent less than their littermates lived longer and developed chronic disease later.
Add exercise in the cool parts of the day rather than cutting food too hard, and never push an overweight Boxer to exercise in the heat. Very large cuts should only be made with a vet, since dogs fed too little can lose muscle along with fat.
A healthy Boxer on a complete and balanced food does not need anything added. Heart supplements in particular should come from a cardiologist, not a pet shop.
EPA and DHA from fish oil have the strongest research behind them for stiff joints. In a controlled study of dogs with osteoarthritis, those fed a food high in fish oil omega-3s bore more weight on their sore legs than dogs on a control food.
Widely used and generally well tolerated, but studies disagree on how much they help. Worth a trial for an older dog with a vet's input, not something a young healthy dog needs.
These are part of treatment for some dogs with diagnosed heart disease. For a healthy Boxer on a complete food, there is no need to add them without your vet's advice.
Everything your Boxer eats or drinks counts, not just the main meals.
Plan on about one ounce per pound of body weight a day, roughly 50 to 80 ounces (1.5 to 2.4 liters) for an adult. Boxers overheat easily because of their short muzzle, so needs rise sharply in warm weather. Keep water available all day and carry it on walks.
Keep treats under 10 percent of daily calories. For a Boxer eating 1,600 kcal a day, that is about 160 kcal. Choose healthy dog treats and break them into small pieces for training.
Small habits that make any feeding chart work better.
Worth doing
Worth avoiding
The daily calorie target stays the same whatever the format. What changes is volume, cost, prep and how easy it is to keep the nutrients balanced.
| Format | Typical energy | Prep | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry kibble | 350 to 500 kcal per cup | None | Easy portion control, lowest cost | Large calorie differences between brands |
| Wet or canned | Much lower per gram | None | Picky eaters, extra moisture | Cost and volume for a large dog |
| Raw | Varies with fat content | Thawing, strict hygiene | Owners willing to follow a complete recipe | Bacteria, calcium balance in puppies |
| Fresh or home cooked | Varies by recipe | High | Food sensitivities, full ingredient control | Unbalanced homemade recipes |
For raw diets, the FDA's testing of commercial raw pet foods found Salmonella and Listeria in a meaningful share of samples, a risk for the people in the house as well as the dog. Home cooked diets are safe from that angle but easily drift out of balance on calcium and other minerals. Whichever format you use, pick a recipe that is complete and balanced for your dog's life stage, or one written by a board certified veterinary nutritionist.
Itchy skin and upset stomachs are common reasons Boxer owners change food. Boxers are among the breeds with higher odds of atopic dermatitis, an environmental allergy that often looks like a food problem.
Itching all year round, especially the paws, face, ears and rear end, repeated ear infections, and sometimes soft stool or more frequent bowel movements. Seasonal itching points more toward environmental allergies.
A review of published cases found beef, dairy, chicken and wheat were the most commonly reported food allergens in dogs. The trigger is almost always a protein, so "grain free" alone rarely solves it.
Blood, hair and saliva tests sold for food allergies are not reliable, and vets generally do not use them to diagnose one. During the trial, enter the new food's kcal per cup in the calculator, since therapeutic diets often differ a lot from regular kibble.
For a sensitive stomach without allergy signs, the fix is usually simpler: a gradual food change, consistent meal times, fewer fatty extras and gentle treats. Bloody diarrhea in a young Boxer, or diarrhea lasting more than a day or two, needs a vet rather than another food switch.
Whether you are moving from puppy to adult food or changing brands, go slowly over 7 to 10 days.
Recalculate portions when the switch is done. A new food almost never has the same kcal per cup as the old one, and feeding the same number of cups can quietly add or remove a lot of calories. If stools go soft at any step, stay at that ratio for a few extra days before moving on. For a second opinion on the new portion, our dog food calculator works out daily amounts in cups, grams and ounces for any breed.
The charts on this page assume a healthy dog. These situations need a different plan.
Energy needs stay fairly stable until the last third of pregnancy, then rise to about 1.6 to 2 times resting energy. At peak lactation, three to four weeks after whelping, the Pet Nutrition Alliance puts needs at 2 to 6 times resting energy, so a mother with a large litter can need more than twice her normal amount. Many breeders switch to a puppy or all life stages food in late pregnancy.
A Boxer diagnosed with ARVC or dilated cardiomyopathy needs a diet and supplement plan from the vet or cardiologist. General heart supplement advice does not replace it.
Colitis, hypothyroidism, allergies, kidney disease and pancreatitis all change what and how much a dog should eat. The diet should come from your vet, and the chart becomes background information.
A severely underweight dog needs a gradual refeeding plan from a vet. Jumping straight to a full portion can cause serious problems.
Feeding a different large breed as well? Compare with our Rottweiler feeding chart, Doberman feeding chart, German Shepherd feeding chart and French Bulldog feeding chart, or use the general dog calorie calculator for mixed breeds.
The amounts on this page are general estimates meant as a starting point, not a substitute for veterinary advice. Every dog's metabolism, health and food are different, so confirm portions with your vet, especially for puppies, seniors, pregnant females and dogs with health conditions.
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