The best dry dog food for Pitbulls contains a high concentration of protein to support their muscle mass and powerbuilt nature. It’s important to shop carefully when looking for dog food for Pitbulls because you don’t want to feed them just anything.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the best options for Pitbulls and what makes them the right choices.
9 Best Dry Dog Foods for Pitbulls
Crave High Protein Beef Dry Dog Food
Best Overall Dry Dog Food for Pitbulls (Top Pick)
4.8 out of 5
- Beef as the main and first ingredient
- Loaded with complimentary ingredients rich in protein as well
- 34% crude protein and 17% crude fat for active dogs
It’s important to understand that your Pitbull not only needs food that is rich in protein. Fruits and vegetables are also needed to complement your dog’s diet as well. For this reason, we chose the Crave formula as our top pick.
Not only does it contain a ton of high-quality protein sources in beef and chicken meal but it also uses peas, lentils, and a variety of vitamins to help round out the overall health of your bully.
The only complaint we have is the addition of some questionable ingredients like “natural flavor” and salt. Those are never preferred in a dog’s food because they’re unnecessary. That’s why it received a 4.8 instead of 4.9.
Front of the Pack Air-Dried Chicken
Best High Quality Dry Dog Food for Pitbulls
4.9 out of 5
- Organic cage-free chicken and sweet potato as the first ingredients
- Loaded with fruits and vegetables as complimentary ingredients
- Freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and flavor
As you could imagine, FOPT’s food is about as high-quality as you can get but it does come with a cost. The formula is freeze-dried which not only makes it easier to keep over time but it locks in the flavor and nutrients that are often lost when food is heated to extreme temperatures (which is how most manufacturers do it).
The one thing you can ensure about the Front of the Pack food is that it’s all backed by science and designed by medical professionals. They’re in the business to provide a great dry dog food for pit bulls and other breeds and they do a great job of it.
Wild Earth Complete Protein
Best Plant Based Dry Dog Food
4.7 out of 5
- Plant-based diet loaded with tasty superfoods
- Rich in omega-3s, protein, and high-quality ingredients
- Full and whole ingredients with no fillers
The issue you run into with plant-based dog foods is that they become full of fillers like oats, meals, and grains. That’s not the case with Wild Earth. There’s no mystery to their ingredients and everything that is added has a calculated purpose.
Some of the main ingredients are yeast, chickpeas, oats, sweet potato, and flaxseed meal. Are these better ingredients than some of the whole meat protein options you’ll get in other foods? Probably not, but if you believe in feeding your dog a cruelty-free, plant-based diet, this is the best food money can buy.
Orijen Large Breed Puppy Food
Best Dry Puppy Food for Pit Bulls
4.7 out of 5
- Uses 85% animal ingredients
- First five ingredients contain true animal protein
- Made in the USA with a freeze-dried coating to improve flavor
This recipe from Orijen is a perfect example of why you don’t need to add natural flavoring to dog food. All the flavor you need should come directly from the ingredients used and that is certainly the case here.
Chicken, turkey, flounder, mackerel, liver, giblets, herring, and eggs, all make up some of the top ingredients you’ll find in this food.
These ingredients are so important to the health of your young Bully because they need a lot of animal protein and fat to grow and develop the muscles they will need throughout adulthood. The food contains a high 38% crude protein with a bunch of healthy bacteria to help them digest. This food is ideal for puppies of large breed dogs.
Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken and Oatmeal
Best Grain Free Dry Dog Food
4.5 out of 5
- Designed and formulated without the presence of any GMOs
- All healthy and scientifically-backed ingredients
- Made in the USA
Grain-free dog food is a highly debated topic and one that we’re not sure will ever end. The way we see it is, if you feel or know that your dog is allergic to grain, you feed them grain-free.
Most manufacturers have a ton of grain-free options and while they might not contain grain, they’re using other methods of getting your dog the carbohydrates they need. This food contains brown rice, barley, and sweet potatoes which do the trick without risking an allergic reaction.
This recipe also contains a lot of healthy bacteria to help aid digestion for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It’s an affordable option as well for those who don’t have a hefty budget for some of these other recipes.
American Journey Lamb and Sweet Potato Recipe
Best for Sensitive Stomachs
4.5 out of 5
- Grain-free without corn, wheat, or soy
- Lean protein source in deboned lamb
- Rich in fiber to help digestion
Finding the best dog food for Pitbulls with sensitive stomachs requires you to think outside the box. Less grain, leaner protein, and plenty of fiber all become important pieces of the puzzle. That’s what makes this formula from American Journey such a great choice.
It uses deboned lamb which is a unique but tasty protein source that is lean and rich in amino acids. This protein is great for helping your Bully develop lean but dense muscle mass which supports their joints and overall bone health.
Complimentary ingredients like blueberries, carrots, and kelp help round out the overall diet while salmon oil and flaxseed provide necessary fatty acids to help with your Bully’s skin and support a healthy coat.
Diamond Naturals Chicken and Rice Formula
Best Budget Dry Dog Food for Pitbulls
4.6 out of 5
- Nearly half the cost of many other formulas
- Includes an important K9 strain probiotic blend
- Real chicken as the first ingredient
Cheap doesn’t always have to mean “bad” when you’re looking for dog food. The important thing to realize is that you don’t need to settle for cheap brands when looking for affordable food. Diamond Naturals is a well-respected brand that isn’t a bottom shelf dog food.
It contains chicken, brown rice, barley, and flaxseed as some of the top ingredients. The formula is made without fillers like corn and wheat and it’s all made in the USA by a small family-owned company.
Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition
Best dry food for Older Pitbulls
4.7 out of 5
- Specialized formula to support longevity
- Helps support large breed bones and joints
- Large sized kibble
As your Pitbull ages, they need different food to help with the issues they face at that time. Some of these issues include bone, joint, and cellular health. This recipe contains a blend of antioxidants designed to promote healthy aging.
You also get ingredients like Glucosamine which are known for helping dogs bones and joints as they age. Feeding this to them on a regular basis can help reduce the issue of long-term joint pain increasing their quality of life as they age.
The main downside is that chicken by-product meal is the first ingredient so it’s not a whole protein source. That said, the jury is open on whether or not by-products are bad but we hate to see it as the number one ingredient.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe
Best High Protein
4.5 out of 5
- Chicken is the primary protein source
- 34% crude protein
- Complemented by healthy carbs like sweet potatoes
We have a soft spot for Blue Buffalo because they have a great story, a wonderful company, and a strong reputation. This formula is high in protein with real chicken to help your Pit bull develop lean muscle mass as opposed to unnecessary bulk.
The recipe also contains omega fatty acids to help support healthy skin and coat, while the LifeSource Bits offer up all the vitamins and minerals your dog needs as they age. This formula does not contain any by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy artificial flavors, or coloring.
Choosing the right Dry Dog Food for your Pitbull
Making the right choice when buying dog food for your Bully isn’t easy. You want to make sure you’re giving them something they enjoy but that it’s also healthy and supporting their growth. In the following sections, we’ll break down some of the methodology that goes into these top 9 choices.
What Is the Best Food to Feed Your Pit bull?
According to pitbulls.org, the breed should have around 34-40% protein in their diet. This is not always easy to come by and even some of the highest protein foods only contain 34% protein so you need to shop carefully.
Is Grain Good for Pit bulls?
A huge misconception is that grain-free is “better” and that’s simply not the case. There is zero scientific evidence stating that a grain-free diet is healthier for your dog. The only case where it is better is if your dog has food allergies related to gluten or something similar that would naturally be found in a grain-inclusive recipe.
Should Pit bulls Eat Dry Food?
Yes, your Pitbull should be on a regular diet of kibble. As a large breed, they need to consume at least three cups of dry food per day spread throughout the day. It’s recommended that you choose a diet that is rich in meat-based protein instead of grain or corn fillers.
This is not unique to Pit bulls though and should be the case with any dog. Always look for real meat as the first ingredient and healthy complimentary protein sources like beans.
Is Dry Dog Food Better than Wet Food?
Each type of food has its own advantages and a lot depends on how you choose to feed your Pit bull. Many people will claim that wet food is better because it has more water which forces your dog to hydrate itself.
But, they neglect to realize that you can always add water to hard food too.
Hard food has its advantages because it forces your dog to eat slower and chew their food which is better for digestion.
It all comes down to the food you choose, not the method of feeding them. If you choose a low-quality wet food, it’s not healthier than a high-quality hard food in any way.
Hard food also helps prevent tartar buildup and periodontal disease. Feeding your Bully a combination of both wet and dry food is a good policy if you’re concerned about which is the healthier option.
Is Beef or Chicken Better for Pitbulls?
When it comes to the best dog foods neither option is “better” than the other. What’s most important is to look at the complimentary ingredients and overall crude protein.
Also, pay attention to the quality of the ingredient itself. Is it whole chicken and beef or chicken and beef meal? While chicken meal contains a higher amount of protein in most cases, it’s generally deemed to be lower quality.
Look for by-products in the food as well. If you find beef by-products in your dog’s food it means that lower quality pieces of the animal are being used in the production process.
How Much Should a Pitbull Eat Daily?
Pitbulls need to eat approximately three cups of food per day as adult dogs. You should spread these feedings throughout the day.
Pitbull puppies on the other hand should have around two cups of food per day split into equal portions. You can spread it across four meals if you want to force them to eat slower and have more time to digest their food.
Is Blue Wilderness Good for Pitbulls?
Blue Buffalo in general is a high-quality dog food brand with a number of different formulas. Blue Wilderness is their high-protein, low-carb formula which could be a good option for your Pitbull.
Is Bully Max Good for Pitbulls?
Bully Max is a unique formula designed specifically for Pitbulls. It has a strong reputation as being a Pitbull design grain-inclusive formula. In a sea of information telling you not to feed your dog grain, it’s refreshing to see.
Is Royal Canin Good for Pitbulls?
Royal Canin is another popular brand similar to Blue Buffalo with a great reputation and a large variety of food options to choose from. Royal Canin is a great brand of dog food to feed your Pitbull.
Final Thoughts
No matter what dog food pet owners choose it’s important to remember that there are no “one-size-fits-all” options for your dog. Choosing the best dry dog food for Pitbulls requires you to think about your individual pup and what will work best.
The Crave High Protein Beef Dry Dog Food is a great option if you’re trying to save some money but ultimately Front of the Pack Air-Dried Chicken is the absolute best option you could feed your dog.
