Staffordshire Bull Terriers are NZ's most popular breed. We compare the best dog foods for Staffies available in New Zealand — covering skin health, muscle maintenance, and realistic pricing.
Last updated
By Jess Aldridge 
Black Hawk Adult Lamb & Rice is the best all-round kibble for Staffies in NZ — skin-friendly, protein-solid, and around $2.50–3.50/day. If your Staffie’s already got skin problems, Ivory Coat Lamb & Sardine is the limited-ingredient switch worth making. No budget ceiling? ZIWI Peak Lamb is as good as it gets — NZ-made, single protein, nothing you’d need to squint at on the label.
For puppies: Black Hawk Puppy Lamb & Rice keeps things gentle from day one.
Staffies will eat anything. That’s the problem.
Beneath the easy-going appetite is a breed with a few genuine nutritional weak spots:
Skin issues are almost a given. Staffies are one of the breeds most prone to atopic dermatitis and food-related sensitivities. Itching, hot spots, ear infections, and paw-licking are practically the Staffie tax. Diet doesn’t cause all of it, but it’s often the easiest lever to pull first. For comprehensive elimination diet guidance, see our dog food allergies guide.
They’re built for muscle. Staffies carry a lot of muscle for their size — more than most dogs their weight. That muscle needs consistent, quality animal protein to maintain. Not extreme amounts, just reliable quality.
They gain weight fast. An under-exercised Staffie turns into a barrel with legs before you know it. A kilogram of extra weight on an 11 kg dog is significant — it shows, and it loads their joints.
They’re gassy. Cheap fillers, artificial additives, sudden food changes — Staffie owners know the consequences. Their digestive tract doesn’t forgive shortcuts.
Named animal protein as the first ingredient — lamb, fish, kangaroo. Aim for 26–32% for adults. Chicken is fine for Staffies that tolerate it, but it’s one of the most common allergens in the breed. If your dog has skin issues, try chicken-free first before reaching for anything more drastic.
Moderate fat (12–16%) keeps them lean. More importantly: look for omega-3s from fish oil, sardine, or flaxseed. EPA and DHA — the omega-3s from marine sources — directly support skin barrier function and reduce inflammatory skin responses. This isn’t a selling point; it’s genuinely useful for a breed that struggles with their skin.
Lamb first, rice as the carb, added fish oil for skin and coat. Black Hawk ticks the important boxes without any of the ingredients that commonly cause Staffie skin grief. It’s an Australasian formula, stocked at Animates, PetStock, and most independent pet stores across NZ.
Not cheap, but it hits the right balance of skin-friendliness, nutritional quality, and genuine NZ availability. Find a Staffie that does well on it and stay there.
Check price at Pet Direct →
Full breakdown: Black Hawk dog food review
If the itching’s already started — skin, ears, paws — this is where you go next. Ivory Coat Lamb & Sardine is a short-ingredient formula with lamb and sardine, which means omega-3 from whole fish and no chicken. The ingredient list is transparent enough to make elimination feeding straightforward.
The sardine inclusion is genuinely pulling its weight — it’s one of the best natural sources of EPA and DHA. That’s the same thing vets often recommend as a supplement for inflammatory skin conditions, built into the food itself.
Full breakdown: Ivory Coat dog food review
Check price at Pet Direct →
Made in NZ from New Zealand lamb. Air-dried, so more nutritional integrity than standard kibble. Single protein, ~96% meat, organs, and bone. No grains, no fillers. Green-lipped mussel adds natural omega-3. For a skin-prone breed, this ticks every box.
Feeding a Staffie on ZIWI Peak full-time runs roughly $250–360/month. Plenty of owners use it as a topper over a quality kibble base — that works well and brings the cost down to something manageable.
Full breakdown: ZIWI Peak dog food review
If the budget won’t stretch past $60–70/month, Eukanuba Adult Medium Breed is a solid mainstream pick. Chicken is the primary protein (so skip this one if your Staffie has skin issues), but it includes fish oil and has decent nutritional specs for the price.
Not a skin specialist. But for Staffies without allergy issues, it does the job without punishing your wallet.
Start gentle, stay consistent. Black Hawk Puppy Lamb & Rice mirrors the adult formula with calcium and protein adjusted for growth. Lamb-first means you’re not front-loading chicken into a puppy whose skin sensitivities haven’t fully declared themselves yet.
More options: Best puppy food in NZ
Most adult Staffies sit between 11 and 17 kg. Rough daily amounts for standard kibble (like Black Hawk):
| Weight | Activity level | Daily amount | Approx. daily cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 kg | Low–moderate | 180–220g | $2.00–2.50 |
| 14 kg | Moderate | 220–280g | $2.50–3.50 |
| 17 kg | Active | 280–350g | $3.00–4.00 |
Two meals a day. Don’t free-feed — Staffies will eat until there’s nothing left and then look at you like they haven’t been fed in three days. A dog puzzle feeder extends mealtime and gives their brain something to do — useful for a breed that tends to bolt food and then beg for more.
Run your hands along their sides. You should feel ribs without pressing hard. No ribs detectable? Cut portions by 10% and check again in two weeks. From above, there should be a visible waist. From the side, a slight tummy tuck. If they look like a sausage from both angles, that’s your answer.
Assuming chicken is fine. Often it is — but if your Staffie has itchy skin, ears, or paws, try chicken-free for 8–12 weeks before investing in allergy tests. It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s frequently the fix.
Overfeeding because they “look hungry.” They always look hungry. That’s just their face. Measure portions.
Ignoring teeth. Staffies can be prone to dental issues. Dry kibble over wet food, and dental chews are worth including in the routine.
Changing food constantly. If your Staffie has a sensitive gut — and many do — chopping and changing makes everything worse. When you find something that works, stay on it.
Staffies generally do well on raw. Our raw dog food delivery guide reviews all major NZ services including Raw Essentials, K9 Natural, and regional producers.
If you go raw:
For most Staffie owners, quality kibble is simpler, safer, and more affordable. Raw is a legitimate option, not a requirement.
Staffies are easy to feed badly — they’ll eat anything. The job is giving them something worth eating: enough protein to hold their muscle, enough omega-3 to calm their skin, and controlled calories so they don’t inflate.
Black Hawk Lamb & Rice for most Staffies. Ivory Coat Lamb & Sardine when skin issues show up. ZIWI Peak Lamb if the budget allows.
If your Staffie has ongoing skin or digestive problems, talk to your vet — diet is usually a big part of the picture, but it’s not always the whole story.
For most adult Staffies, Black Hawk Adult Lamb & Rice is an excellent all-round pick — it's gentle on skin, provides enough protein for their muscular build, and is widely available in NZ at a reasonable price. If your Staffie has skin issues, a limited-ingredient formula like Ivory Coat Lamb & Sardine is worth trying.
Staffies benefit from moderate-to-high protein (around 26–32%) to maintain their naturally muscular build, but they don't need bodybuilder-level protein. Quality matters more than quantity — look for named animal protein as the first ingredient rather than chasing the highest percentage.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers are genetically predisposed to atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies) and food sensitivities. Their short coat offers less protection from irritants, and their skin barrier function tends to be weaker than longer-coated breeds. Common triggers include chicken, beef, wheat, and environmental allergens like grass and pollen.
Only if your Staffie has a confirmed grain sensitivity. Many Staffies do perfectly well on grain-inclusive food, and grains like rice and oats are generally gentle on digestion. The bigger priority is avoiding common protein allergens (especially chicken) if your dog shows skin or gut issues.
Most adult Staffies weigh 11–17 kg and need roughly 200–350g of kibble per day, split across two meals. Start with the feeding guide on the bag, then adjust based on body condition — you should be able to feel ribs without pressing hard, with a visible waist when viewed from above.
Yes, Staffordshire Bull Terriers are one of the breeds most prone to food allergies and sensitivities, particularly to chicken, beef, and wheat. Environmental allergies (grass, pollen, dust mites) are also very common. If your Staffie shows skin issues, try elimination feeding before reaching for allergy tests.
Staffies generally do well on raw diets, but you need to ensure proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratios and stay current on worming treatments since raw meat increases tapeworm exposure. Commercial options like Raw Essentials or K9 Natural are safer than DIY raw feeding.
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