5 Best Dog Foods For Basset Hound Puppies

How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Basset Hound Puppies

The charming Basset Hound puppy makes a wonderful family companion. From its wrinkle-lined forehead to its long, droopy ears and jowls, this handsome little pooch brings a lot of joy to daily life.

The Basset Hound takes its name from the French word “bas.” Bas means low and is a reference to this dog breed’s short stature and low-lying frame. A member of the hound family, the Basset Hound is an excellent hunter. Its ears serve a vital purpose, helping scents to waft up from the ground to the dog’s nose to assist with tracking prey.

A dog breed without high activity requirements, the Basset Hound puppy is content to enjoy a short walk or rousing play session with its family each day. However, when out on a hunt, this breed has a surprising amount of strength and stamina. At home, the Basset Hound puppy is often described as lazy since this pooch is happiest lounging on the couch or enjoying other more sedentary pursuits.

The Basset Hound puppy’s predilection towards a low activity level means the breed can easily become obese. Since the Basset Hound pup loves to eat, it is best to refrain from free feeding as this pooch will eat far beyond the point of satiation, a problem that can result in weight gain. All food should be measured and all intake monitored for this charming little pooch.

Basset Hound puppies have a very distinctive bay. Since they are deeply bonded to their family members, they do not do well when left alone for long periods of time. When this occurs, the Basset may howl.

As with most hounds, the Basset Hound can be very stubborn. Patience and consistency are two necessary qualities owners must display to help this pooch learn new skills.

The best dog foods for Basset Hound puppies contain a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. Another important component of any food suited to the needs of the Basset Hound pup is the amount of calcium to phosphorus added to the recipe. This ratio plays an important role in the correct rate of bone growth. The ideal proportions are 1.2 parts of calcium for each part of phosphorus.

Choosing the Correct Calorie Counts in the Best Dog Foods for Basset Hound Puppies

It can be challenging trying to determine how much of the best dog food for Basset Hound puppies to feed a pup. The best course of action is to consult the suggested serving sizes listed on the side of the food’s packaging. These can be used as a starting point with amounts adjusted gradually until the correct portion size is found.

As a general rule of thumb, owners can use the dog’s weight, age, activity, and appetite as helpful guides to assess what the proper meal size is for their specific dog.

Dietary Requirements to Look for in the Best Dog Foods for Basset Hound Puppies

Basset Hound puppies need a diet that contains meat as its primary ingredient in order to thrive. The best dog foods for Basset Hound puppies base their recipe on whole meats or meat meals. By-products are often taken from inferior portions of the animal that cannot be sold for human consumption. These are best avoided.

Plant-based proteins such as corn, wheat, and soy are difficult for Basset Hound puppies to process and utilize effectively. In addition to this, these ingredients are common food allergens for many dogs, and thus, are best avoided. Other ingredients not suited to the needs of this breed are chemicals, additives, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors.

Carbohydrates are an important part of the Basset Hound puppy’s diet, helping the pup to enjoy proper digestion and a healthy immune system. These can come from fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. Dogs that have previously expressed sensitivities to grains may do best on a grain-free diet.

Healthy fats help Basset Hound puppies with their development and also encourage coat and skin health. These are best taken from animal sources such as oily fish or chicken fat. However, plant-based oils such as safflower and canola also offer ample servings of these beneficial fats.

Supplements are always an added bonus in a dog food for the Basset Hound puppy. The most desirable supplements to look for are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.

Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Basset Hound Puppies

Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Basset Hound puppy:

• Lean meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list

Since Basset Hounds puppie are carnivores, the first ingredient in any food suited to the breed should be meat. Whole meats and meat meals are the best options. 

• Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients

Chemicals, fillers, artificial flavorings and colorings, and mystery ingredients provide no nutritional benefit to a growing Basset Hound puppy. Diets containing these elements can trigger allergic reactions, and thus, are not recommended. 

• Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements

Supplements help boost the effectiveness of a food. The most beneficial supplements for Basset Hound puppies are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin. 

• Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food

All foods appropriate for the Basset Hound puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.