Top 10 Best Dog Food For American Staffordshire Terriers

Top 10 Best Dog Food For American Staffordshire Terriers

As one of the many “bully breeds” often collectively known as pit bulls, the American Staffordshire Terrier is an intelligent, athletic, and affectionate breed that has as many enthusiasts as it does enemies. The dogs make loving pets with proper socialization and training, but they aren’t for everyone.

If you share your home with a hungry American Staffordshire Terrier, this article is for you. We’ve gathered reviews of what we think are the 10 best dog foods for American Staffordshire Terriers this year. After you read them, check out our buyer’s guide for additional help in deciding which diet is ideal for your Staffie.

The 10 Best Dog Foods for American Staffordshire Terriers

Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dry Dog Food – Best Value

Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Salmon and rice
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 467 Kcal/serving cup

The best value dog food for American Staffordshire Terriers is the Purine Pro Plan sensitive skin and stomach dry dog food. This food contains easily digestible ingredients, and it is free from corn, wheat, and soy which makes it ideal for dog breeds that are prone to food sensitivities. It contains salmon as the first ingredient, along with rice and oatmeal to increase the digestibility of the food. This food is a good option for American Staffordshire Terriers that should be on a corn and wheat-free diet, if necessary, because of food sensitivities.

This food contains a blend of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to nourish a dog’s coat and support their joint health and mobility. The live probiotics and prebiotics help to keep your dog’s digestive system functioning properly.

Cons
  • Has a very potent salmon scent
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Contains protein-rich salmon as the first ingredient
  • Easily digestible formula

The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe – Best Overall

the farmers dog chicken greens

Main ingredients: Chicken
Protein content: 5%
Fat content: 5%
Calories: 1,300 kcal/kg

The best overall dog food for American Staffordshire Terriers is from The Farmer’s Dog. This is a subscription-based dog food service that delivers fresh dog food to your door, which means that it cannot be bought in-store or through large retailers but rather directly from the website.

The chicken recipe seems to be the most promising recipe for this dog breed, and it contains the highest protein content out of the other recipes from this brand. The first few ingredients include chicken, Brussel sprouts, chicken liver, broccoli, and bok-choy. All the ingredients are combined into a raw dog food with no legumes, and it contains an organic zinc compound and other minerals.

Cons
  • Can only be purchased through a subscription
Pros
  • High protein content
  • Simple ingredients
  • Contains essential vitamins and minerals

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Formula – Premium Choice

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Formula
Main ingredients: Chicken and brown rice
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 377 kcal/serving cup

Our premium choice is the Blue Buffalo life protection adult dry dog food. This is a 30-pound bag of dry dog food that contains high-quality ingredients and optimal nutrition to support dogs. It features high-quality protein from the chicken as the main ingredients to support healthy muscle development and carbohydrates to keep your dog active.

It contains essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus to help keep your dogs’ bones and teeth healthy, with glucosamine for joint and mobility health. This food was created as a source of holistic dog food with real meat and whole grains as the main ingredients. The food is enhanced with antioxidant-rich ingredients and does not contain any corn, wheat, soy, chicken, and any by-product meals which makes it better suited for dogs with food sensitivities to these ingredients.

Cons
  • Some dogs refuse to eat the “Life source” bits
Pros
  • Contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals
  • Protein-rich formula
  • Affordable considering the food’s quality

ACANA Wild Atlantic Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – Vet’s Choice

ACANA Wild Atlantic Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Fish
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 392 kcal/serving cup

 

The Acana wild Atlantic is our Vet’s choice of dry dog food. This food is grain-free and does not contain any added soy, wheat, corn, or tapioca if those are ingredients you want to avoid feeding your dog due to allergies or health reasons. It has a high protein content and contains four fish-based ingredients at the top of the list, such as herring, mackerel, silver hake, and redfish.

This food also includes fresh vegetables and fruits such as whole pumpkin, butternut, apples, pears, and greens that are high in fiber. The kibble is coated with freeze-dried cod to enhance the fish taste of the food and encourage fussy dogs to eat this food. The ingredients are sourced in the USA for a high-protein, natural, and grain-free dog food.

Cons
  • Pricey in comparison to other dog foods in this review
Pros
  • Ideal for dogs prone to allergies to grains
  • Has a high protein content of 33%
  • Recommended by veterinarians as a top choice

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal and Barley Dry Dog Food – Best for Puppies

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal and Barley Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Chicken and barley
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 374 kcal/serving cup

This is a complete and balanced food for puppies which makes the Hill’s Science Diet chicken meal and barley dry dog food our best option for American Staffordshire puppies. It contains a blend of high-quality fish oils that can be fed to support your dog’s eye, brain, and skeletal development from the natural DHA levels. It contains a mixture of antioxidants along with vitamin E and C to support a growing puppy’s immune system and all the ingredients are formulated without artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors.

Chicken is the main ingredient in this food and the food is manufactured in the United States to meet the strict requirements of puppy food, and even exceeds the industry’s standards for nutrition according to the manufacturing website.

Cons
  • For puppies only
Pros
  • Contains natural DHA levels from fish oils
  • Helps to support a puppy’s growth and development
  • Does not contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Nutro So Simple Adult Dry Dog Food

Nutro So Simple Adult Beef And Rice
Main ingredients: Beef, whole grain brown rice, whole grain sorghum
Protein content: 22%
Fat content: 14%
Calories: 388 kcal/cup

If you’re looking for a different flavor of dog food for your Staffie, consider Nutro So Simple Beef And Rice Dry Food. It’s made in the USA with non-GMO ingredients. Although beef is the first ingredient, the recipe does contain chicken meal. Nutro keeps the number of ingredients to a minimum, focusing on simplicity and flavor. However, the recipe does contain legumes (split peas), which are controversial in pet food, as we already mentioned. Nutro So Simple comes in a range of bag sizes, although some giant breed owners wished it was available in a larger option than 27 pounds.

Pros
  • Simple, non-GMO ingredients
  • Made in the USA
  • Available in multiple sizes
Cons
  • Contains legumes

Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Taste Of The Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Bison and venison
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 422 kcal/serving cup

 

This is a high-protein dry dog food that contains bison and venison as the main protein sources to support a dog’s bones and lean muscle development. It is made with a blend of essential vitamins and minerals sourced from real fruits and superfoods, along with omega fatty acids that help nourish a dog’s skin and coat.

This food is grain-free which makes it ideal for dogs with sensitivities to corn and wheat with probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants to support your dog’s digestion and immune system. It contains a live source of naturally occurring microorganisms from probiotics and prebiotics.

Cons
  • High-fat content
Pros
  • High protein content at 32%
  • Contains live viable probiotics and prebiotics
  • Rich in essential vitamins and minerals

Iams Adult MiniChunks Small Kibble High-Protein Dry Dog Food

Iams Adult MiniChunks Small Kibble High-Protein Dry Dog Food
Main ingredients: Chicken and whole grains
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 380 kcal/serving cup

This is a high-protein dry dog food recipe from Iams that contains real farm-raised chicken as the main ingredient that helps to encourage muscle development and maintenance in dogs with a blend of fibers and prebiotics for digestive health.

This food also contains antioxidants to support a dog’s immune function and the kibble size is small which makes it easier for small to medium-sized adult dog breeds to eat. It contains no artificial flavors and preservatives and although the kibble is in a smaller size, it will work well for the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Cons
  • Small kibble size
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Contains no artificial flavors or preservatives
  • Includes antioxidants for immune support

Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocken Canned Food

Solid Gold Hund-n-flocken Lamb, Brown Rice, and Barley Canned Food
Main ingredients: Lamb, water sufficient for processing, lamb liver
Protein content: 8.5%
Fat content: 8.5%
Calories: 545 kcal/can

Canned food isn’t the most cost-effective option for larger dogs like American Staffordshire Terriers, but if your older dog needs soft food or a picky pup needs a healthy food topper, consider Solid Gold Hund-n-flocken Lamb, Brown Rice, and Barley canned diet. This tasty food is also high in protein and made without legumes. Although Solid Gold labels the recipe as made with holistic ingredients, keep in mind that this term is not regulated and doesn’t necessarily indicate anything regarding the quality of the food. Solid Gold is free of chicken and wheat, making it a possible option for Staffies with food sensitivities. It is high in calories per can, so be careful how much you feed, especially to pups struggling with obesity. Some owners reported their dogs didn’t like the texture of the canned food.

Pros
  • High in protein, no legumes
  • No chicken or wheat
Cons
  • High in calories
  • Some dogs don’t care for the texture

Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken Paw Pie Wet Dog Food

Rachael Ray Nutrish Chicken Paw Pie Wet Dog Food
Main ingredients: Chicken and egg
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 235 kcal/8 oz tub

This wet dog food comes in a tub and contains chicken and egg products as the two main ingredients. It is rich in vitamins and minerals that are necessary to keep your dog healthy and has a high moisture content of around 78%. This is a natural dog food that has no gluten, corn, wheat, or soy , which makes it better for dogs who have issues digesting gluten or grains as advised by a veterinarian.

The Racheal Ray Nutrish chicken paw pie wet dog food has no by-products or fillers, and the ingredients are kept simple and nutritious without the addition of artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors. If your American Staffordshire Terrier has issues with digestibility, allergies to grains and gluten, or is prone to obesity then this is a great wet food to check out. However, it does contain a potentially harmful ingredient called Menadione sodium bisulfite complex which has only been approved for poultry feed and is not a regulated ingredient in dog food.

Cons
  • Contains a potentially harmful ingredient
Pros
  • Ideal for dogs with food sensitivities and allergies
  • Does not contain any artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors
  • High moisture content to keep food moist and fresh

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Food For American Staffordshire Terriers

What Should You Feed an American Staffordshire Terrier?

  • This dog breed should be fed high-protein dog food that is either wet, dry, or in a raw formula. This medium-sized and muscular dog breed does best on foods that have lean meats as the first and main ingredients and ingredients that will benefit their skin and gut health.
  • Foods that contain chicken in the ingredients list are ideal for American Staffordshire Terriers who do not have any allergies to poultry or if it is in small amounts so that it does not trigger their allergies. Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are beneficial for this dog breed for their coat and skin health.
  • You can choose between raw foods (such as our best overall food, The Farmer’s Dog) which contains a balance of vitamins, minerals, and meat to keep your dog healthy, or, you can opt for the classic dry kibble-based dog foods that have a decent protein percentage and high-quality ingredients. Foods that exclude grains and gluten are better suited for dogs who have allergies and digestive issues from corn, wheat, and soy if it has been advised by your dogs’ veterinarian.
  • Looking for dog food recipes that do not contain many artificial ingredients such as colors, preservatives, or flavors is also something to look out for if you do not want to expose your American Staffordshire to these ingredients.

Do American Staffordshire Terriers Need a Special Diet?

Feeding your American Staffordshire Terrier a healthy and balanced diet is important for this dog breed—just like any dog. But since they are muscular and athletic dogs, they need a high number of animal-based proteins and carbohydrates to fuel their energy. Some owners of this dog breed will recommend a grain-free diet as American Staffordshire Terriers seem to be more prone to food sensitivities and allergies caused by grains, however, this needs to first be discussed with a veterinarian. All types of dog food will work for this dog breed, but raw and wet dog foods seem to be the top pick along with high-protein dry dog foods.

Final Thoughts

Of all the foods for American Staffordshire Terriers in this review, we have chosen five as our top picks. The first top pick is The Farmer’s Dog raw dog food because it contains simple ingredients and an easily digestible recipe.

The next pick is the Purina pro plan sensitive skin and stomach dog food because it is affordable and contains a blend of fatty acids for skin and coat nourishment. The premium choice of Blue Buffalo life protection recipe contains high-quality ingredients at an affordable price while the Hills prescription diet for puppies contains essential vitamins and minerals needed for a puppy’s growth and development. Our Vet’s Choice is Acana Wild Atlantic because it contains a high level of healthy proteins which is ideal for the American Staffordshire Terrier dog breed.

There are a ton of food options for your Staffordshire Terrier, and hopefully, our reviews have helped you find the perfect choice for your pooch

Edward Hollon is an avid dog lover and writer, knowing all there is to know about our furry friends. Edward has been writing for petdii for three years now, wanting to use her knowledge for good and share everything she can with new dog owners. Edward has two dogs herself - a German shepherd called Banjo and a chocolate labrador called Buttons. Edward knows more than anyone how adjusting to new life with a puppy can turn your life upside down, and she wants to ease some of the burdens through her articles.