Best Dog Food for American Staffordshire Terriers : 15 Healthy Options + Helpful Answers to Feeding FAQs

Affectionately known as the Staffy or Amstaff, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a medium-sized breed with a muscular body and a short coat.

Originally developed in the 19th century, the American Staffordshire Terrier was bred from the bull and terrier. These dogs were developed for use by butchers to help manage bulls and by hunters to bring down wild boars – they were also used as farm dogs and kept as family companions. Unfortunately, due to their history of use with bull-baiting and dog-fighting, the American Staffordshire Terrier has a bad reputation for being a dangerous or aggressive breed.

Anyone who actually owns an American Staffordshire Terrier will tell you that they are some of the friendliest and most people-oriented breeds you’ll come across. If you own one, you’ll have to deal with the challenges that come with the stigma against bully breeds. You’ll also have to do the work to find a high-quality dog food to feed your Staffy.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this article:

Understanding an American Staffordshire Terrier’s Diet Requirements

All dogs have the same basic nutritional needs and the American Staffordshire Terrier is no exception. Protein is the most important nutrient for dogs because it helps puppies develop strong and healthy muscles then helps adult dogs maintain lean muscle mass – this is particularly important for a muscular breed like the American Staffordshire Terrier. Fat provides a concentrated source of energy for dogs to fuel their metabolism. Both of these are best when they come from animal-based sources, though plant-based sources can be used to supplement protein or fat.

Dogs don’t have specific requirements for carbohydrates in their diet, but whole-grains, vegetables, beans, and legumes provide dietary fiber as well as essential nutrients. Your dog can also benefit from certain supplements such as prebiotic fibers to support healthy gut flora, probiotics for regular digestion, and chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption. Glucosamine and chondroitin are also beneficial for medium- to large-sized dogs to support healthy joints.

• Puppy American Staffordshire Terriers  Diet– As a puppy, your American Staffordshire Terrier needs a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat in his diet. It is best to feed your dog a high-quality puppy food to make sure he gets the energy and calories he needs to grow and develop properly.
• Adult American Staffordshire Terriers Diet – At 12 months of age, switch your dog to a high-quality adult dog food. This will provide a minimum of 18% protein and 5% fat, though you may want to look for a protein range between 25% and 30% with moderate protein to help your dog maintain lean muscle mass without gaining an unhealthy amount of weight.
• Senior American Staffordshire Terriers Diet – As your American Staffordshire Terrier gets older, his metabolism will start to slow down and his risk for obesity increases. Switch to a senior dog food to reduce his calorie intake and to provide extra joint-supporting nutrients.

In addition to protein, fat, and carbohydrates, you should look for fresh fruits and vegetables in your dog’s food. They provide a natural source of key vitamins and minerals and are more biologically valuable than synthetic supplements.

Special Dietary Considerations for American Staffordshire Terriers

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a medium-sized breed with a fairly long lifespan averaging 12 to 15 years. Unfortunately, these dogs are prone to a number of health problems which could limit the dog’s lifespan if you don’t seek treatment.

Here is a quick list of the health problems to which the American Staffordshire Terrier may be prone:

• Allergies
• Autoimmune Disease
• Cerebellar Ataxia
• Demodectic Mange
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Heart Disease
• Hip Dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Osteoarthritis
• Patellar Luxation

Let’s take a closer look at some of these health problems.

Most of the health problems to which the American Staffordshire Terrier is prone are musculoskeletal issues. Hip and elbow dysplasia are deformities of the joint which can cause the bone to slip in and out of place. Untreated, these conditions can lead to severe arthritis later in life. Patellar luxation is a condition in which the kneecap slips in and out of joint. Maintaining a healthy body weight and eating a diet rich in glucosamine and chondroitin can help with the management of these conditions.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is also prone to several genetic diseases including hypothyroidism, cerebellar ataxia, and heart disease. Hypothyroidism is a problem with the thyroid gland in which it doesn’t produce enough hormone. Cerebellar ataxia is a neurological disease that can affect the dog’s ability to walk and heart disease takes several forms. This breed also seems to be predisposed to developing autoimmune disorders.

In addition to these health problems, there are a few problems common in the American Staffordshire Terrier which may require dietary restrictions. Many dogs of this breed develop food allergies and sensitivities, for example. Dogs can develop allergies to any ingredient, but wheat, corn, and soy are some of the most common, as are proteins like chicken, beef, and pork. You should also keep in mind the breed’s propensity for musculoskeletal issues and look for a dog food that contains plenty of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.

American Staffordshire Terrier Feeding Chart

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a medium-sized breed that stands 17 to 19 inches tall and weighs 40 to 60 pounds. As a dog of this size, your American Staffordshire Terrier may require anywhere from 20 to 30 calories per pound of body weight per day. For the most part, a high-quality adult dog food will be sufficient to meet your dog’s nutritional needs, though very active dogs may require additional feeding or an active breed formula.

In terms of actually feeding your American Staffordshire Terrier, you’ll be feeding him anywhere from 1 to 2 cups of dry food per day, depending on his age and body weight. Refer to the feeding recommendations on the package to see how much to feed your dog and then divide that amount by the number of desired meals per day. Puppies may need three small meals a day to fuel their growth and development while adult dogs may do fine with just two meals.

The Best Dog Food for American Staffordshire Terriers: Our 2023 Top 15 Picks

Now that you have a better understanding of your American Staffordshire Terrier’s nutritional needs, you’re ready to start shopping for dog food! Remember, the best American Staffordshire Terrier food will be rich in animal protein, moderate in healthy fats, with digestible carbohydrates and joint-supporting nutrients. Also, due to the breed’s propensity for allergies, you might consider a grain-free or limited ingredient diet. Here are our top 15 picks:

Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Most Affordable	American Journey LID Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Food	$1.12/lb	A+
Most Popular	Taste Of The Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food	$1.55/lb	A+
Super Premium	NomNom Fresh Food Delivery	Varies	A+
Allergies	First Mate Australian Lamb Meal Formula Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Food	$2.50/lb	A
Sensitive Stomachs	Wellness Simple LID Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Dry Food	$2.63/lb	A

American Journey LID Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Food

Most Affordable Food: If you have a limited budget to work with, you can still provide your dog with a healthy diet in this American Journey LID Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Food. This recipe features a limited number of main ingredients to reduce the risk for triggering food allergies and sensitivities. It features fresh salmon and salmon meal as the first two ingredients which act both as a quality source of protein and a rich source of omega fatty acids. This recipe features grain-free carbohydrates like peas and sweet potatoes with chelated minerals for nutrient absorption and plenty of natural flavor.

• Pros: Single source of animal protein, limited number of ingredients, rich in essential fatty acids, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, chelated minerals, no artificial additives
• Cons: Contains some plant protein (pea protein), main source of fat is plant-based, may be too high in fiber for some dogs

Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food

Most Popular Food: If you’re not sure what to feed your American Staffordshire Terrier, why not go with a popular choice like this Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Dry Food. This formula features a novel source of animal protein as well as digestible grain-free carbohydrates, so you know it has a low risk for triggering food allergies and sensitivities. It contains fresh salmon and ocean fish meal as the first two ingredients with grain-free carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and potatoes. It is supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables as natural sources for key nutrients as well as dried fermentation products for probiotic support. It also contains chelated minerals.

• Pros: Novel source of animal protein, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in omega fatty acids, chelated minerals, prebiotics and probiotics
• Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil)

NomNom Fresh Food Delivery

Super Premium Food: If you want to give your American Staffordshire Terrier the best money can buy, consider this fresh food delivery service. To start, you simply go to the company’s website and fill out a profile for your dog. From there, you select a recipe and then you start receiving monthly shipments of fresh dog food delivered right to your door. The food comes in perfectly portioned packages that you can refrigerate or freeze and it is always made with the highest quality ingredients. If your dog has allergies or specific dietary requirements, you can customize his diet accordingly.

• Pros: Made with the freshest ingredients, custom meals for your dog, delivered fresh to your door, perfectly portioned pouches, automatic shipments
• Cons: Limited number of recipe options, very expensive to feed, delivery restrictions in some areas

First Mate Australian Lamb Meal Formula Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Food

Best Food for American Staffordshire Terriers with Allergies: If your dog suffers from food allergies, you need to find a recipe made with a limited number of ingredients, including a novel source of protein. This First Mate Australian Lamb Meal Formula Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Food fits the bill exactly, made with 78% protein ingredients and 22% vegetables and supplements. It features Australian lamb as a single source of novel protein with digestible grain-free carbohydrates like potatoes. It contains fresh fruit for antioxidants and fiber as well as prebiotics and probiotics for healthy digestion. It is also rich in glucosamine and chondroitin.

• Pros: Single source of novel protein, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, rich in essential fatty acids, fresh fruits for antioxidants, chelated minerals, glucosamine and chondroitin
• Cons: May be too high in fiber for some dogs, expensive to feed as a staple diet

Wellness Simple LID Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Dry Food

Best Food for American Staffordshire Terriers with Sensitive Stomachs: For dogs with sensitive stomachs, this Wellness Simple LID Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Dry Food is a great option. Made with high-quality salmon as the first ingredient, this formula is made with digestible grain-free carbohydrates like potatoes and peas. It contains plenty of essential fatty acids, plus dried fermentation products for probiotic support. It is completely free from grains, gluten, and by-products and doesn’t contain any artificial additives that might upset your dog’s stomach. Plus, it contains 25% protein and 12% fat which is a good balance for maintaining healthy body weight.

• Pros: Made with a limited number of ingredients, single source of animal protein, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, prebiotics and probiotics, chelated minerals
• Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil), may be too high in calories for some dogs

3 more Top Rated (5 Star) American Staffordshire Terrier Adult Foods

Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Adult Food	Blue Buffalo Basics LID Grain-Free Duck & Potato Recipe	$1.58/lb	A+
Adult Food	Earthborn Holistic Venture Turkey Meal & Butternut Squash LID Grain-Free Recipe	$2.52/lb	A
Adult Food	Go! Sensitivity + Shine LID Grain-Free Turkey Recipe	$2.27/lb	A

Blue Buffalo Basics LID Grain-Free Duck & Potato Recipe

Another great choice for American Staffordshire Terriers with food allergies or sensitivities is this Blue Buffalo Basics LID Grain-Free Duck & Potato Recipe. This recipe features a limited number of ingredients including deboned duck and duck meal as well as grain-free carbohydrates like potatoes and peas. It is rich in natural sources of glucosamine and omega fatty acids, plus it is supplemented with prebiotic fibers, probiotics, and chelated minerals.

Earthborn Holistic Venture Turkey Meal & Butternut Squash LID Grain-Free Recipe

If your dog suffers from food allergies, try this Earthborn Holistic Venture Turkey Meal & Butternut Squash LID Grain-Free Recipe. This recipe is a limited ingredient diet made with novel protein and carbohydrate sources like turkey meal and butternut squash. It is completely grain-free and free from artificial additives, fillers, and by-products. It provides a full 31% protein with 13% fat to help your American Staffordshire Terrier maintain lean muscle mass.

Go! Sensitivity + Shine LID Grain-Free Turkey Recipe

For a high-quality limited ingredient diet, try this Go! Sensitivity + Shine LID Grain-Free Turkey Recipe. This recipe is designed for dogs with food sensitivities, so it contains a limited number of high-quality, natural ingredients. It features premium deboned turkey as the main ingredient with grain-free carbohydrates like tapioca, peas, and lentils. It also contains prebiotic fibers and chelated minerals.

3 More Top Rated (5 Star) American Staffordshire Terrier Puppy Foods

Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Puppy Food	AvoDerm Natural Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Puppy Recipe	$2.62/lb	A+
Puppy Food	Canidae Grain-Free PURE Foundations LID Puppy Recipe	$2.17/lb	A
Puppy Food	I And Love And You Naked Essentials Grain-Free Puppy Recipe	$2.36/lb	A

AvoDerm Natural Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Puppy Recipe

To get your American Staffordshire Terrier puppy off to the right start, try this AvoDerm Natural Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Puppy Recipe. This recipe features high-quality ingredients with a delicate balance of protein and fat for healthy growth and development. It contains chicken meal as a concentrated source of protein with whole-grain carbohydrates. It also contains avocado as a rich source of healthy fats.

Canidae Grain-Free PURE Foundations LID Puppy Recipe

Whether your puppy already has food allergies or you’re trying to prevent them, this Canidae Grain-Free PURE Foundations LID Puppy Recipe is a great option. Made with a limited number of main ingredients starting with chicken, this recipe is highly digestible and completely free from by-products and artificial additives. It contains an ideal blend of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics as well to ensure optimal nutrition and healthy digestion.

I and Love and You Naked Essentials Grain-Free Puppy Recipe

When it comes to a high-quality diet for your American Staffordshire Terrier puppy, it’s hard to do better than this I and Love and You Naked Essentials Grain-Free Puppy Recipe. This recipe features high-quality natural ingredients in a grain-free recipe designed to support healthy growth and development. It contains fresh chicken and chicken meal as well as peas, lentils, chicken fat, and fish oil.

2 More Picks for Senior American Staffordshire Terrier Foods

Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Senior Food	Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken Senior Recipe	$2.17/lb	A
Senior Food	Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Senior Recipe	$3.79/lb	A

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken Senior Recipe

As your American Staffordshire Terrier gets older, his metabolism slows down and it becomes even more important to maintain a healthy body weight. This Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken Senior Recipe is a great recipe because it contains lean proteins, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, and plenty of antioxidants for healthy aging. It also contains an ideal balance of protein, fat, and fiber.

Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Senior Recipe

To ensure that your senior dog’s needs are met in the healthiest way possible, try this Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Senior Recipe. This recipe features organic natural ingredients and is uniquely formulated for senior dogs. It is an excellent source of glucosamine and chondroitin, plus it contains a special blend of nutrition-boosting superfoods like blueberries, flaxseed, and coconut oil.

Our FAQ and American Staffordshire Terrier Feeding Guide

In addition to thinking about what to feed your American Staffordshire Terrier, you need to think about how to feed him and how to keep the food fresh. Your dog will be eating somewhere between ½ cup and 1 cup of food per meal, so you’ll need a decent-sized bowl. Look for something made from stainless steel or ceramic as these options are durable, easy to clean, and they won’t harbor dangerous bacteria. If your dog has a tendency to eat too quickly, you might even try a slow-feed bowl.

When it comes to storing your dog food, you want to keep it in an airtight container because exposure to air will cause it to lose some of its nutritional value over time. The best thing to do is put the whole bag in an airtight container and store it in a cool, dry location. The inside of the bag is treated to help preserve the food, so you don’t want to lose that benefit by just pouring the food into a new container.

And now, here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about feeding a American Staffordshire Terrier:

How much food should I feed my American Staffordshire Terrier?

The amount of food you give your American Staffordshire Terrier depends on his age and body weight as well as the calorie content of the food you choose. Generally speaking, your dog will be eating between 1 and 2 cups of food per day, but you’ll need to refer to the feeding instructions on the package to see exactly how much to give him. Remember, this recommendation is for the whole day, so you’ll need to divide it into two or three meals.

How many times a day should I feed my American Staffordshire Terrier?

As a puppy, your American Staffordshire Terrier may need three meals a day until he reaches about 80% of his adult size. From there, you can drop down to two meals a day and should start thinking about switching to an adult dog food recipe. As an adult, feed your dog two meals per day – one in the morning and another in the evening.

What kind of food do American Staffordshire Terriers eat?

The best dog food for your American Staffordshire Terrier is one made with high-quality, natural ingredients. If you can afford it, fresh food is the best option because it offers the highest bioavailability for nutrients and is less likely to trigger food allergies and sensitivities. If you can’t afford fresh food, dehydrated or freeze-dried food is a good option. A high-quality dry food is also fine, if that’s what you can consistently afford. Just make sure it is all-natural, easy to digest, and nutritionally balanced.

What vegetables are good in a American Staffordshire Terrier food?

Vegetables provide dietary fiber as well as natural sources for vitamins and minerals. As such, they are a valuable addition to any high-quality dog food. Here are some of the best vegetables for American Staffordshire Terriers:

• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Cucumber
• Green beans
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Spinach
• Sweet potato
• Zucchini

Even if the dog food you choose contains fresh vegetables, you might still want to consider supplementing his diet with veggies as a healthy snack. Just make sure they are safe for dogs to eat and that you clean them thoroughly before feeding. You should also feed small amounts to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach from an overload of fiber.

Do American Staffordshire Terriers need grain-free dog food?

The American Staffordshire Terrier has a higher risk for food allergies than other breeds, so a grain-free diet may be warranted. If your dog suffers from recurrent ear infections or skin problems, it could be a sign of a food allergy. Switching to a grain-free diet made with a limited number of ingredients (including a novel source of protein) should resolve the issue.

Staffordshire Terrier Dog Food – A Final Word

Now that you know the basics about your American Staffordshire Terrier’s nutritional needs, you’re ready to start shopping for the best American Staffordshire Terrier food. Remember to look for a product that is rich in animal protein, moderate in healthy fats, with digestible carbohydrates and joint-supporting nutrients. Also, due to the breed’s propensity for allergies, you might consider a grain-free or limited ingredient diet.

If you’re still not sure where to start in choosing the best American Staffordshire Terrier dog food, try one of our top 15 picks reviewed above!