The American Staffordshire Terrier is a medium-sized dog breed that will benefit from wet or dry dog food rich in lean meats. This muscular dog breed needs a well-balanced diet to meet their nutritional requirements while providing them with the necessary vitamins, minerals, and caloric content to fuel their energy and support them through their life stages.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is not particularly picky when it comes to selecting the right foods for this dog breed, however, some foods do best with this dog breed. Read on below for our in-depth reviews of some of our favorites.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription
High protein content
Simple ingredients
Contains essential vitamins and minerals
Click to Save 50%
- Get Free Shipping!
Best Value
Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dry Dog Food
Affordable
Contains protein-rich salmon as the first ingredient
Easily digestible formula
Check Price
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Chicken and Brown Rice Formula
Contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals
Protein-rich formula
Affordable considering the food’s quality
Check Price
Best for Puppies
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken Meal and Barley Dry Dog Food
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
Check Price
Vet’s Choice
ACANA Wild Atlantic Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Ideal for dogs prone to allergies to grains
Has a high protein content of 33%
Recommended by veterinarians as a top choice
Check Price
The 8 Best Dog Foods for American Staffordshire Terriers
1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall
Click Here to Save 50% + Get Free Shipping with The Farmer’s Dog
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.
Pros
High protein content
Simple ingredients
Contains essential vitamins and minerals
Cons
Can only be purchased through a subscription
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.
High protein content
Simple ingredients
Contains essential vitamins and minerals
- High protein content
- Simple ingredients
- Contains essential vitamins and minerals
Can only be purchased through a subscription
- Can only be purchased through a subscription
Main ingredients: Salmon and rice
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 467 Kcal/serving cup
Check Price on Chewy
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.
Pros
Affordable
Contains protein-rich salmon as the first ingredient
Easily digestible formula
Cons
Has a very potent salmon scent
Blue Buffalo Life Protection adult dry dog food is another great choice for American Staffordshire Terriers. 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 ingredient to support healthy muscle development and carbohydrates to keep your dog active.
Affordable
Contains protein-rich salmon as the first ingredient
Easily digestible formula
- Affordable
- Contains protein-rich salmon as the first ingredient
- Easily digestible formula
Has a very potent salmon scent
- Has a very potent salmon scent
Main ingredients: Chicken and brown rice
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 377 kcal/serving cup
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.
Pros
Contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals
Protein-rich formula
Affordable considering the food’s quality
Cons
Some dogs refuse to eat the “Life source” bits
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.
Contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals
Protein-rich formula
Affordable considering the food’s quality
- Contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals
- Protein-rich formula
- Affordable considering the food’s quality
Some dogs refuse to eat the “Life source” bits
- Some dogs refuse to eat the “Life source” bits
Main ingredients: Chicken and barley
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 374 kcal/serving cup
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.
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
Cons
For puppies only
Disclaimer: Grain-free diets are currently under investigation for being potentially linked to canine heart disease.
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
- 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
For puppies only
- For puppies only
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.
Pros
Ideal for dogs prone to allergies to grains
Has a high protein content of 33%
Recommended by veterinarians as a top choice
Cons
Pricey in comparison to other dog foods in this review
Ideal for dogs prone to allergies to grains
Has a high protein content of 33%
Recommended by veterinarians as a top choice
- Ideal for dogs prone to allergies to grains
- Has a high protein content of 33%
- Recommended by veterinarians as a top choice
Pricey in comparison to other dog foods in this review
- Pricey in comparison to other dog foods in this review
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.
Pros
High protein content at 32%
Contains live viable probiotics and prebiotics
Rich in essential vitamins and minerals
Cons
High-fat content
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.
High protein content at 32%
Contains live viable probiotics and prebiotics
Rich in essential vitamins and minerals
- High protein content at 32%
- Contains live viable probiotics and prebiotics
- Rich in essential vitamins and minerals
High-fat content
- High-fat content
Main ingredients: Chicken and egg
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 235 kcal/8 oz tub
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.
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
Cons
Contains a potentially harmful ingredient
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.
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
- 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
Contains a potentially harmful ingredient
- Contains a potentially harmful ingredient
Main ingredients: Chicken and whole grains
Protein content: 0%
Fat content: 0%
Calories: 380 kcal/serving cup
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.
Pros
Affordable
Contains no artificial flavors or preservatives
Includes antioxidants for immune support
Cons
Small kibble size
Buyer’s Guide
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.
Affordable
Contains no artificial flavors or preservatives
Includes antioxidants for immune support
- Affordable
- Contains no artificial flavors or preservatives
- Includes antioxidants for immune support
Small kibble size
- Small kibble size
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.
Conclusion
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 Blue Buffalo life protection recipe dog food 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.
Featured Image Credit: Radomir Rezny, Shutterstock
