The scores
Royal Canin Boxer: C (58/100) — Average. Brown rice and brewers rice lead, with chicken fat at #3 and chicken by-product meal at #4. A grain-and-fat-heavy formula.
Taste of the Wild: B (78/100) — Above average. Buffalo as the first ingredient, lamb meal and chicken meal as concentrated protein sources, with sweet potatoes and peas for grain-free carbs.
The 20-point gap spans the C-to-B grade boundary. Royal Canin’s Boxer-specific kibble shape doesn’t bridge an ingredient quality gap this wide.
How the ingredients compare
Royal Canin Boxer: Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Chicken Fat, Chicken By-Product Meal, Oat Groats
Taste of the Wild: Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Chicken Meal
Royal Canin’s Boxer formula has a striking weakness: the first animal protein doesn’t appear until position #4, and it’s chicken by-product meal. Positions 1-3 are two rice varieties and chicken fat. That means the three heaviest ingredients by weight contribute carbohydrates and fat — not protein.
Taste of the Wild leads with buffalo (a lean, novel protein), followed by lamb meal (concentrated protein) and then sweet potatoes and peas for carbs. Chicken meal at #5 adds a third animal protein source. The formula also includes roasted bison and venison further down, plus probiotics and real fruits (blueberries, raspberries) that deliver natural antioxidants.
Where Taste of the Wild pulls ahead
Real meat first, multiple protein sources: Buffalo as #1, lamb meal #2, and chicken meal #5 deliver three distinct animal protein sources. Novel proteins like buffalo and lamb may be better tolerated by Boxers with food sensitivities. Royal Canin’s sole protein source is chicken by-product meal at position #4.
Antioxidant-rich whole foods: Boxers have one of the highest cancer rates among large breeds. Taste of the Wild includes blueberries, raspberries, and tomatoes — whole food sources of antioxidants that support cellular health. Royal Canin includes dried tomato pomace (a processing by-product) but no whole fruits or berries.
Probiotics for digestive health: TOTW includes dried Lactobacillus and Bacillus fermentation products for gut health. Boxers are prone to digestive issues and food sensitivities, making probiotic support genuinely relevant. Royal Canin’s formula contains no probiotics. Shop on Amazon →
Where Royal Canin Boxer holds its own
The Boxer formula includes L-carnitine and taurine — both important for heart health in a breed prone to cardiomyopathy. Taurine deficiency has been linked to dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs, and its explicit inclusion is a meaningful breed-specific addition. The kibble is also designed for a Boxer’s brachycephalic (short-nosed) jaw, making it easier to pick up and chew.
Pork meal provides a secondary animal protein source beyond the by-product meal, and dried tomato pomace offers some lycopene. Glucosamine and chondroitin support joints in this large, athletic breed. These targeted supplements address real Boxer health needs.
Price is roughly comparable between these two brands, so cost isn’t the deciding factor it can be with premium foods like Orijen. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Taste of the Wild offers significantly better ingredient quality — real buffalo first, multiple animal proteins, whole food antioxidants, and probiotics — at B/78 vs C/58. For Boxer owners, the antioxidant and protein quality difference is especially relevant given the breed’s cancer and heart disease risks.
Royal Canin Boxer’s taurine and L-carnitine are valuable heart-health additions, but you can supplement these separately while feeding a higher-quality base diet. Read our full reviews of Royal Canin Boxer and Taste of the Wild for the complete ingredient breakdown.