10 Best Dog Foods For American Staffordshire Terriers – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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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. These 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.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
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Best Overall
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Ollie Baked Chicken Recipe |
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Budget Buy
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Purina One Natural True Instinct Dry Food |
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Orijen Original Grain-Free Dry Food |
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Purina Pro Plan Puppy Dry Food |
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Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein Dry Food |
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The 10 Best Dog Foods For American Staffordshire Terriers
1. Ollie Baked Chicken Recipe – Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, oats, whole dried eggs, chicken liver |
| Protein content: | 26% |
| Fat content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 3850 kcal ME/kg |
Our choice for the best dog food for American Staffordshire Terriers is Ollie Baked Chicken And Carrot Recipe. Produced by a small company, Ollie uses simple, fresh ingredients in all their recipes. Nutritionally balanced and created with the help of veterinarians, Ollie will appeal to owners who would love to cook for their dog but don’t have the spare time. This recipe features chicken and whole eggs for plenty of healthy protein to fuel energetic American Staffordshire pups. The protein, grains, fruit, and veggies are baked into a crunchy kibble.
Ollie is only available from the company’s website and is shipped to your door on a schedule of your choice. However, shipping is not available to Alaska, Hawaii, or international addresses.
- Made of simple, fresh ingredients
- High in protein
- Formulated with assistance from veterinarians
- No shipment to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally
2. Purina One Natural True Instinct Dry Dog Food – Budget Buy
| Main ingredients: | Turkey, chicken meal, soy flour, beef fat |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 17% |
| Calories: | 365 kcal/cup |
Our pick for the best dog food for American Staffordshire Terriers for the money is Purina One Natural True Instinct High Protein Dry Food. This recipe contains 30% protein and three different meat sources: turkey, chicken meal, and venison. Fatty acids lend support to your pup’s skin and coat, while antioxidants boost overall immune health. Despite containing venison, a novel protein, this recipe is not a good choice for dogs with food sensitivities because it also contains wheat and chicken meal, common allergens1.
Purina ONE receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from owners, with most reporting that their dogs love the taste and texture of this food. A few mentioned that their dogs seemed to lose interest in ONE over time.
- High in protein
- Contains antioxidants and fatty acids
- Most dogs like the taste
- Not good for dogs with food sensitivities
- Some dogs grow bored with it
3. Orijen Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, turkey, flounder |
| Protein content: | 38% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 473 kcal/cup |
For those who prefer food with a high meat content, consider Orijen Original Grain-free Dry food. This recipe contains 85% meat and fish, according to the company, and features a robust protein content. Orijen kibble is coated in freeze-dried raw flavor, making the recipe extra palatable. Nutrient-dense, Orijen Original is high in calories per serving, and it can be easy to overfeed a food-loving American Staffordshire Terrier. While some owners prefer feeding grain-free food, it’s generally not necessary unless recommended by a veterinarian.
Thanks to the whole food ingredients, it’s one of the most expensive brands on our list. Most users reported positive experiences, although some noted their dogs didn’t like the taste, which could translate to a costly bag of wasted food if yours is one of them!
- High in protein
- Made with 85% animal ingredients
- Expensive
- Some dogs dislike the taste
4. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach – Best for Puppies
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, rice, barley |
| Protein content: | 28% |
| Fat content: | 13% |
| Calories: | 417 kcal/cup |
For the youngest American Staffordshire Terriers, try Purina Pro Plan Development Sensitive Skin And Stomach Puppy Food. As a breed, American Staffordshire Terriers are often prone to skin trouble, which could even start in puppyhood. This recipe contains fish oil, sunflower oil, and vitamin A to promote skin and coat health. It’s also made with easy-to-digest salmon, rice, and oatmeal so your puppy can absorb as much nutrition as possible to fuel its growth. Added probiotics help keep the puppy’s gut balanced and healthy.
Since it’s free of chicken and wheat, Pro Plan is a good option for pups showing early signs of food sensitivities. Users report that it has a strong, fishy smell which some dogs don’t like.
- Contains additives to support skin and coat health
- Good option for puppies with early food sensitivities
- Easy-to-digest ingredients
- Strong smell
- Some dogs dislike fishy taste and smell
5. Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Brewer’s rice, hydrolyzed soy protein, chicken fat |
| Protein content: | 19.5% |
| Fat content: | 17.5% |
| Calories: | 332 kcal/cup |
If your vet suspects that your American Staffordshire has food allergies, they may suggest switching to a diet such as Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein Dry Food. This prescription food contains protein broken down into pieces too small for the dog’s immune system to detect, minimizing the chances of an allergic reaction. It’s suitable for all life stages and also contains fatty acids and other nutrients to strengthen the skin and coat.
Royal Canin takes extra precautions when manufacturing to avoid contamination with potential allergens, setting it apart from over-the-counter allergy diets. Because it is a veterinary-exclusive diet, Royal Canin is one of the highest-priced options on our list. Some owners reported that their dogs didn’t enjoy the taste and texture of this food. Ask your vet if samples are available before you commit to buying a full bag.
- Formulated specifically for dogs with food allergies
- Contains nutrients to support skin and coat health
- Strict production standards to avoid contamination with potential allergens
- Requires a prescription
- High priced
- Some dogs don’t like the taste and texture
6. Canidae Pure Goodness Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal |
| Protein content: | 32% |
| Fat content: | 14% |
| Calories: | 459 kcal/cup |
Canidae Pure Goodness Salmon And Sweet Potato Dry Food is a limited-ingredient diet, free of common allergens like chicken, beef, and wheat. It is high in protein, exclusively from fish sources, making it a potential option for American Staffordshire Terriers that need a novel protein diet. It’s supplemented with probiotics after cooking for maximum impact, and Canidae also contains fatty acids and antioxidants. The recipe is grain-free, which, as we mentioned, isn’t necessary for all dogs.
It also contains several legumes, including peas, which are ingredients under investigation for their possible role in the development of a heart condition. Canidae receives mostly positive reviews, but some users claimed that a recent formula change has not been well received by their dogs.
- Limited ingredient diet, free of common allergens
- Contains antioxidants, fatty acids, and probiotics
- High in protein
- Contains legumes
- Some concerns over the recent formula change
7. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice |
| Protein content: | 20% |
| Fat content: | 9% |
| Calories: | 324 kcal/cup |
If your American Staffordshire Terrier packs on a few too many pounds, consider feeding Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Chicken And Brown Rice Diet. It’s made with whole chicken, filling grains, vegetables, and fruit and is low in fat and calories per cup. It contains the amino acid L-carnitine, which helps build lean muscle. Because excess weight can be hard on a dog’s joints, this food contains added glucosamine and chondroitin. Healthy Weight is available in multiple sizes, making it very convenient.
Most users reported that their dogs seemed to do well with the recipe. However, some observed that their dogs avoided or picked out the “Lifesource” kibbles.
- Low in fat and calories to help dogs lose weight
- Contains supplements for joint health and lean muscle building
- Available in multiple sizes
- Dogs may dislike the Lifesource kibbles
8. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, cracked pearled barley, whole grain wheat |
| Protein content: | 20% |
| Fat content: | 11.5% |
| Calories: | 363 kcal/cup |
Hill’s Science Diet is a well-known and respected brand commonly recommended by veterinarians. The Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken And Barley diet is a solid option for healthy American Staffordshire Terriers. However, it is not suitable for pups with food sensitivities because it contains chicken and wheat, among the top ingredients. With added fatty acids and antioxidants, the recipe supports skin and coat health and general wellness.
Hill’s contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives and is lower in protein than many of our top picks. Most users had positive experiences with this food, especially noting that it seemed easy to digest. Some found that their dogs didn’t like the taste.
- Commonly recommended by veterinarians
- Contains fatty acids and antioxidants
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Lower protein content
- Some dogs don’t like the taste
9. Nutro So Simple Adult Dry Dog Food
| 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.
- Simple, non-GMO ingredients
- Made in the USA
- Available in multiple sizes
- Contains legumes
10. Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocken 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.
- High in protein, no legumes
- No chicken or wheat
- High in calories
- Some dogs don’t care for the texture
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Food for American Staffordshire Terriers
Before you decide on a brand for your American Staffordshire Terrier, here are a few extra points to consider.
Does Your Dog Have Any Health Conditions?
American Staffordshire Terriers are generally fairly healthy dogs, but some of the medical conditions they suffer from can influence your food decisions. Skin disease and allergies commonly occur in the breed, requiring a special diet. However, make sure to consult with a veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet because many symptoms of food allergies can also indicate other health problems.
If your vet recommends a diet trial, you’ll likely need to look for a recipe without allergens like chicken and wheat.
Does Your Dog Need to Lose Weight?
American Staffordshire Terriers are often big fans of food and possess excellent begging faces, perfect for charming extra snacks out of their humans. Because of this, they can easily become overweight. Several foods we reviewed are high in calories and may not be a good option for pudgy pups. If you choose one of these recipes, work with your vet to determine how many calories your dog needs per day and stick to that number.
Do You Need Multiple Bag Size Options?
If you’re changing diets, you might not want to commit to a large bag of expensive new food until you know your dog will like it. If you have multiple mouths to feed, you might not be interested in a brand that doesn’t come in a bag larger than 30 pounds.
Is Cost a Factor?
The dog foods we reviewed vary quite widely in price, and you’ll need to consider which option best fits your budget. Remember that all dog foods sold in this country must meet the same basic nutrition standards, and paying for the more expensive food doesn’t always mean you’re getting healthier food. Look for a brand you can afford consistently, especially if your pup has a sensitive stomach.
Conclusion
As our top dog food for American Staffordshire Terriers, Ollie Baked Chicken Recipe provides simple nutrition shipped to your door. Our best value pick, Purina One Turkey And Venison, has high protein at a lower cost. Orijen Original is a grain-free, meat-heavy diet that contains plenty of protein, making it our third choice.
We hope you found our reviews of these 10 brands helpful as you shop for your American Staffordshire Terrier.
Featured Image Credit: BoJack, Shutterstock
