Basset Hounds are known for their long ears, droopy expression, and being low to the ground. But how big does the average Basset hound get; in terms of height, weight, length, and overall size? And at what age can you expect this breed to reach full adult maturity? This is what you need to know.

How big do Basset Hounds get? The average Basset Hound will reach between 11 and 15 inches in height, have a body length between 26 and 35 inches, and weigh between 40-63 lbs (20-29 kg). Males are slightly larger than females. Basset hounds will reach their full height between 16 and 18 months of age, and then continue to add muscle and bulk until they are about two years old.

For their height, Basset Hounds are relatively heavy and because of this are considered compact dogs. They are large when you consider their short legs!

Basset Hounds will be disqualified from show competition if they are taller than 15 inches.

However there isn’t a disqualification standard for minimum height, as there are in some other breeds.

In temperament, the Basset Hound is generally calm, affectionate, gentle and friendly. They are a great choice of breed, even for new dog owners.

But it must be acknowledged that they do require a certain level of exercise and diet control and management.

Otherwise, this breed is susceptible to easy weight gain which puts pressure on their bodies andd can lead to injuries and other issues.

That being said, if you can keep your Basset Hound active there should be no reason why you cannot keep them at a healthy weight and size, and a loyal companion for the duration of their lives.

Let us now take a closer look at the average Basset Hound and their size in greater detail. Be sure to keep reading to get all the information on this breed that you need.

Average Basset Hound Height, Weight, and Size

The male and female Basset Hound are close in size, for both height and weight. As is common with a lot of breeds, the male Basset Hound is larger and heavier than the female, though not by much.

Male Basset Hounds are usually anywhere between 12 and 15 inches in height at the shoulder and can weigh between 50 and 65 pounds.
Female Basset Hounds are only slightly smaller, standing between 11 and 14 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 45 and 60 pounds.

Basset Hounds have extremely short legs due to a form of dwarfism, and their trunks are the largest part of them.

The short legs and large ears of the Basset Hound make them great scent dogs. They are low to the ground and their large ears sweep scents up into their noses while their loose skin around the face and jowls trap scent in, making it easier for them to hunt and track.

How Long Do Basset Hounds Get?

The average length of a Basset Hound is between 26 and 35 inches. Interestingly, males tend to be slightly longer than females, just as they are in weight and height.

For this reason, male Basset Hounds average between 28 and 35 inches, whereas females average between 26 and 32 inches.

Nevertheless, the one thing that is common among all Basset Hounds is that they are disproportionately longer than they are tall.

Due to a form of dwarfism, Basset Hounds have extremely short legs. Relative to their size, Basset Hounds are the heaviest-boned breed of dog.

Combining the two issues make this breed more of a land dweller than a swimmer, and they should be watched carefully when around water as they are unable to keep their heads above the waterline for very long.

There is little known about the origin of the Basset Hound other than it developed in the 1500s in France.

Multiple short dogs were bred to get the perfect, slow-moving dog who could hunt small animals.

The short legs come from a mutation of St. Hubert, one of the dogs used to create the breed.

So, while the short legs were a trait that the developers were specifically going after, the length of the dogs didn’t play into the development other than it was a by-product of breeding the various breeds to come up with the Basset Hound.

When Is A Basset Hound Fully Grown?

Basset Hounds reach their full height between 16 and 18 months old and then continue to add muscle and bulk until they are about two years old.

This time-frame is generally the time it takes a medium to large breed dog to reach full size.

Because Basset Hounds are so bulky and compact, they take longer than most breeds that are around the same size as them to reach full growth.

Many breeds, such as the Basset Hound, reach their full height before they reach their full size.

In a lot of cases it takes about six more months of growing between reaching full height and full size. During this time the Basset Hound will be putting on extra bulk, mostly in the form of muscles.

Below we will take a look at the respective growth rates of both male and female Basset Hounds as they age:

Growth Of A Male Basset Hound

The weight of a male Basset Hound at 3 months should be between 19 and 24 pounds.
At 6 months, they will likely weigh between 36 and 45 lbs (pounds).
At 1 year, a male Basset Hound should weigh between 49 and 61 lbs (pounds).

Age	Weight – Low Average (lbs)	Weight – High Average (lbs)
3 Months	19	24
4 Months	26	30
5 Months	30	37
6 Months	36	45
7 Months	39	48
8 Months	44	55
9 Months	46	57
10 Months	47	58
11 Months	48	60
12 Months	49	61
13 Months	50	62
14 Months	52	63
15 Months	53	63
16 Months	54	64

Growth Of A Female Basset Hound

The weight of a female Basset Hound at 3 months should be between 17 and 22 lbs (pounds).
At 6 months, they will likely weigh between 32 and 42 lbs (pounds).
At 1 year, a female Basset Hound should weigh between 45 and 57 lbs (pounds).

Age	Weight – Low Average (lbs)	Weight – High Average (lbs)
3 Months	17	22
4 Months	23	28
5 Months	28	35
6 Months	32	41
7 Months	35	46
8 Months	37	53
9 Months	39	54
10 Months	41	55
11 Months	43	56
12 Months	45	57
13 Months	46	58
14 Months	46	58
15 Months	47	59
16 Months	48	59

As you will see, the weight of a Basset Hound of the same age can vary by quite a bit but can still fall within the breed standards healthy range.

When Does A Basset Hound Mentally Mature?

A Basset Hound normally reaches mental maturity around the same time they reach full height, between 16 and 18 months, but they won’t be fully grown until they are about two years old.

Most dog breeds will reach their physical maturity before they reach their mental maturity. This is not the case with the Basset Hound.

Smaller dogs reach their full size and mental maturity much earlier while larger dogs take longer.

Basset Hounds become fully grown and mentally mature around the same time as an average dog, but most breeds their size will reach both mental and physical maturity at a younger age.

Dogs normally reach emotional adulthood and temperament between twelve and eighteen months of age, despite the fact that they’ll continue to sometimes show off doggy behavior like chewing and nipping until approximately two years of age.

Typically, by the time dogs are eighteen months old they are settled into their grown-up persona and completely settle into the family.

Just because a Basset Hound may reach full mental maturity doesn’t necessarily mean that they will lose all their energy. While they may be calmer overall, you can still expect them to be energetic at times.

What Contributes To A Basset Hound’s Size?

The size of a Basset Hound mostly comes down to genes and the size of its parents and grandparents.

The males in the family line will play more of factor than the females. If the male is on the smaller size of the breed, even with a larger female, the Basset Hound will tend to be on the smaller size.

Another factor that can come into play when it comes to a Basset Hound’s size is their food.

Of course, too much food for any breed of dog will cause them to be overweight, affecting the size of their circumference rather than their height.

If you feed them too much puppy food for too long, they can grow too fast, causing them physical issues when they are older, especially with their joints.

Basset Hounds that are taller than 15 inches will be disqualified from show competitions, in accordance with the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Puppy food should only be fed to your Basset Hound for the first year of their life and after that switch them to an adult food.

Once they’re adults, Basset Hounds should be fed 1.5 to 2.5 cups of premium quality dry kibble, split into at least two meals. If you find your Basset Hound is starting to get overweight, scale back closer to 1.5 cups.

Of course exercise plays a role too in keeping a healthy weight. An hour per day is generally advised for this breed.

It is important not to over-exercise this breed while they are still a puppy. In doing so, you can damage their growth plates which can result in stunted growth. For this reason, its important to not do any activity that is too strenuous on their joints while they are still young (like jogging).

In the first few months of their life, 15-30 minutes of exercise is usually sufficient.

One other thing to acknowledge is that any injury or health condition could result in a shorter or smaller Basset Hound. This is why it is so imperative to get a dog from a reputable breeder who partakes in safe and proper breeding practices, techniques and methods.

Talking to your vet is also advised if you suspect injury, discuss their dietary needs, exercise requirements and so forth.

In Summary

Basset Hounds are a unique breed of dog. In comparison to their size, Basset Hounds are the heaviest breed of dog, standing at the top end f 15 inches and weighing up to 65 pounds.

Because of the disproportions between height and weight they are considered a compact dog. They a small breed in size and a medium breed in weight so they have been classified differently.

The reason for their extremely short legs is twofold; physically their height is due to dwarfism, however, the reason breeders wanted to use a dwarf-sized dog was to create a breed that was low to the ground and could be used for hunting and tracking.

The dwarfism comes from a mutation in the St. Hubert breed, one of the breeds used in the 1500s to develop the Basset Hound.

The breed developers decided to use this to their advantage as they had been using short dogs, trying to come up with a slow-moving dog who would be good as a hunting companion for groups who were on foot.

Male Basset Hounds are just a tad bit bigger than the females. Males stand between 12 and 15 inches at the shoulder.

Any larger than 15 inches and they are disqualified from competing in dog shows.

The female Basset Hounds have an inch less for both ends of the range, coming in at between 11 and 14 inches.

Just like with the height, the males have a slight edge over the females when it comes to weight as well.

Males weight between 50 to 65 pounds, on average, while the females fall in a range of somewhere between 45 to 60 pounds.

It’s not a big difference and there are plenty of other breeds where the range differences are much larger.

These weights are for a healthy Basset Hound and do not take into consideration if they are overweight for whatever reason.

Without enough exercise and too much food Basset Hounds can become overweight fairly easily.

Because of their bulk they tend to mature and reach their full size at a much slower pace than other small dogs.

A Basset Hound will reach full height and mental maturity when they are between 16 and 18 months old but won’t be fully grown until they are two years old. Another unique characteristic of the Basset Hound is that they reach mental maturity before they are fully grown.

Most dogs will reach full mental maturity at the same time they reach their full physical size, which is two years for the Basset Hound.

How Big Do Basset Hounds Get? [Average Height, Weight & Size]