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 standard