How much should a Basset Hound eat?
Adult weight range 18–29 kg · adult feeding factors apply from 12–14 months of age · raw rate 2.5% of body weight. Portions below are computed with the same veterinary formula as the main calculator — not copied from a bag chart.
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Pre-filled with the breed's mid-range weight — adjust to your dog.
Basset Hound portions by weight
| Adult weight | RER | Daily target | Kibble / day | Cups / day | Per meal (×2) | Raw / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.0 kg | 612 kcal | 979 kcal | 238 g | 2.4 | 119 g | 450 g |
| 23.5 kg | 747 kcal | 1,195 kcal | 291 g | 2.9 | 145 g | 588 g |
| 29.0 kg | 875 kcal | 1,400 kcal | 340 g | 3.4 | 170 g | 725 g |
Neutered adult (×1.6), kibble at 370 kcal/100 g, 10% treat allowance removed. Raw at 2.5% of body weight (size-correct rate). Cups ≈ grams ÷ 100 (typical kibble — weigh in grams for accuracy).
Worked example: a 23.5 kg Basset Hound
A 23.5 kg adult Basset Hound (neutered): RER 747 × 1.6 = 1,195 kcal − 120 kcal treats ÷ 3.7 kcal/g = 291 g — that is 145 g per meal, twice a day. The same arithmetic runs in the calculator above: change the weight or the life stage and every number follows.
Basset Hound puppy feeding by age
| Age | Factor | Meals / day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | ×3.0 | 3–4 | On current weight — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 4–8 months | ×3.0 → ×2.0 (taper) | 3–4 | Factor falls smoothly — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 8–12 months | ×2.0 | 3 | 3 meals; 2–3 from 6 months |
| 12 months to adult | ×1.6–1.8 | 2 | Adult factor from 12–14 months |
Factors multiply RER on the puppy's current weight, not adult weight. Large and giant breeds keep the growth factors until 12–14 months.
Feeding notes for the Basset Hound
Medium dogs in low-activity homes drift upward slowly — half a kilo a season. The 1.2–1.4× factor plus monthly weigh-ins catches the drift while it is still a portion tweak, not a diet.
What makes feeding a Basset Hound different: Bassets are long-backed, low-slung and famously food-driven — the combination that quietly wrecks spines. Keep one lean for the back's sake, measure every meal, and remember that begging is a Basset's profession, not a hunger signal.
Health, treats and the senior years: Bassets are prone to ear infections, and weight makes everything harder for a long-backed dog — keep the ears clean and the waist visible. In old age, the back is the limit: ramps instead of stairs, a lean waist, and no jumping off the sofa.
Training, treats and everyday feeding: Bassets need the food locked away as much as measured: a Basset-proof bin, closed doors, and no food left on counters, because the nose always wins. Use a slow-feeder bowl — Bassets bolt food — and a puzzle feeder, which turns a two-minute meal into twenty minutes of work.
Weight & condition for the Basset Hound: Bassets are long-backed, low-slung and famously food-driven — the combination that quietly wrecks spines. Keep one lean for the back's sake, measure every meal, and remember that begging is a Basset's profession, not a hunger signal. Weigh monthly: at 18–29 kg, a kilo gained is a real load on the discs.
Body condition check: The table is a starting point — the dog is the verdict. On the 9-point body condition scale the target is 4–5: you should feel the ribs under a thin fat cover, see a waist from above and a tucked belly from the side. Ribs hidden means 10% less than the table; ribs showing means 10% more — even when the scale number looks right.
Puppies of this size class reach adult factors at about 12–14 months; until then, growth portions follow the puppy factors (×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months) on current weight, recalculated every two weeks. Individual dogs vary by up to ±50% from any formula — the scale and your hands on the ribs outrank this table.
Guides: feeding a senior dog · feeding schedules by age
Sources: method & factors · AAHA 2021 guidelines · Pet Nutrition Alliance RER/MER · AKC breed profile
Portions by brand — Basset Hound
What that is on 5 popular brands, for a 23.5 kg adult (neutered, treats removed):
How to use this calculator
Enter weight
Enter the dog's weight (use ideal weight for weight loss).
Select life stage and goal
Select the life stage and goal so the correct MER factor applies.
Enter food energy density
Enter the food's energy density (kcal per 100 g) from its label.
Read the daily portion
Read the daily portion in grams, split it across meals, and adjust by 10% every 2 weeks based on body condition.
Basset Hound feeding questions
How much food should a Basset Hound eat per day?
Across the full adult weight range (18–29 kg), a Basset Hound needs about 979–1,400 kcal/day — 238–340 g of typical kibble (370 kcal/100 g) after the 10% treat allowance is removed — depending on weight, sex and activity. A typical adult at the middle of the range (23.5 kg) needs about 1,195 kcal/day, roughly 291 g, split over 2 meals.
How many meals a day should a Basset Hound eat?
Two meals a day is right for a Basset Hound: about 145 g per meal from a daily total of 291 g (1,195 kcal) for a 23.5 kg adult. One meal invites the basset's signature trick — bolting, then looking for more — and free feeding a scent hound is an open invitation to gain weight. Use a slow feeder to stretch each meal, lock the food away between meals, and keep treats inside the 120 kcal allowance.
How many cups of food does a Basset Hound need per day?
About 291 g/day is roughly 2.9 cups at the typical density of 100 g per cup — but cups vary by up to 40% between kibbles, so weigh the grams once and the question disappears. A cup is a volume; grams are the portion. Split over two meals that is about 1.5 cups per meal — still worth weighing once, because your cup and your kibble are not the standard ones.
How do I switch a Basset Hound to a new food?
Over 7 days: 25% new food for 2 days, 50% for 2 days, 75% for 2 days, then 100% — keeping the total daily grams at the number on this page throughout. If stools loosen, hold at the current mix for an extra day or two before moving on. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, allow 10–14 days instead of 7.
How much should a Basset Hound puppy eat?
Medium puppies reach adult factors at about 12–14 months. Growth portions follow ×3.0 (under 4 months) tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months, on current weight, recalculated every two weeks; growth spurts change the answer monthly.
How much raw food does a Basset Hound need?
At the size-correct BARF rate of 2.5% of ideal body weight, a 23.5 kg Basset Hound eats about 588 g of raw food per day — split 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other organ, 10% vegetables and fruit on the BARF model.
How does feeding a Basset Hound change as they age?
From about 12–14 months a Basset Hound counts as fully adult; the senior shift usually arrives years later, when activity and muscle mass fall. The calculator's senior factor (×1.4 instead of ×1.6) trims a 23.5 kg Basset Hound from 1,195 to about 1,046 kcal/day — roughly 254 g of typical kibble. Make the change gradually and judge by body condition, not birthdays alone: a still-active older Basset Hound may hold condition on the adult number.
Why is weight so important for a Basset Hound?
Because weight is a spine issue for this breed, not a cosmetic one: extra kilos load the long back and raise the risk of disc problems. A Basset should have a visible waist and ribs you can feel — if the belly sags below the back line, the dog is overweight. The portion for a 23.5 kg adult is about 1,195 kcal/day (291 g of kibble), and the treat budget is where the plan usually leaks.
How do I stop my Basset begging for food?
You don't — begging is a Basset's profession. What you can do is agree one measured daily portion (291 g for a 23.5 kg adult) and one treat budget for the whole household, and keep food behind closed doors. A Basset that counter-surfs is not being naughty, it is being a Basset — and every uncounted extra goes straight to the spine.
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