How much to feed a Beagle: a daily ration without extra kilos
An adult, neutered Beagle weighing 12 kg needs about 720 kcal a day with normal exercise – roughly 200 g of dry food or 720 g of wet food. A calm 10 kg Beagle gets by on about 550 kcal (155 g), an active one at 14 kg on about 1,015 kcal (280 g). Vets record Beagles as overweight strikingly often – weigh out the ration and count every treat.
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Adult weight
- up to 33 cm:
- under 9 kg
- 33–38 cm:
- approx. 9–14 kg
Weight according to the American Kennel Club (under 20 lb and 20–30 lb respectively). The FCI standard only gives the height at the withers: 33 to 40 cm.
Activity type
Scent hound which, according to the FCI standard, follows hares on the trail – tireless, determined and with an excellent nose.
Breed watch points
Overweight, keeping food out of reach
Calculate how much to feed your Beagle
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
200 g
Dry food per day
≈ 720 kcal · 2 meals of 100 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 180–220 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 100 g
- Energy
- 720 kcal (650–795)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 12 kg^0.75 ≈ 451 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 720 kcal per day.
720 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 200 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
Beagle feeding chart by weight and activity
Adult, neutered dog. Dry food with 360 kcal, wet food with 100 kcal per 100 g.
| Activity | kcalper day | Dryg per day | Wetg per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kg | |||
| Calm | 550 | 155 | 550 |
| Normal | 630 | 175 | 630 |
| Active | 785 | 220 | 785 |
| 12 kg | |||
| Calm | 630 | 175 | 630 |
| Normal | 720 | 200 | 720 |
| Active | 905 | 250 | 905 |
| 14 kg | |||
| Calm | 710 | 195 | 710 |
| Normal | 810 | 225 | 810 |
| Active | 1,015 | 280 | 1,015 |
How it is calculated: Calm = factor 1.4, Normal = 1.6 (neutered, 1–2 hours of walks), Active = 2.0. Entire (unneutered) dogs with normal exercise come out about 12 per cent higher (factor 1.8).
Example for 12 kg: resting energy requirement 70 × 12 kg^0.75 ≈ 451 kcal × factor 1.6 = 720 kcal a day, divided by 360 kcal per 100 g = 200 g of dry food. If your pack states a different value, enter it in the calculator above.
Almost one in four Beagles is overweight
A VetCompass study of almost 20,000 Beagles in UK veterinary practices (2025) found overweight to be the most common diagnosis: in the sample of 3,729 dogs analysed in more detail, it was recorded in 24.3 per cent, ahead even of dental disease. The average weight of adult Beagles was 18.2 kg – well above what the US breed standard allows for Beagles up to 38 cm at the shoulder.
For the ration, this means: start with the weight your Beagle would have at a good body shape, not its current weight. A 16 kg Beagle that should weigh 13 kg gets about 480 kcal a day while losing weight – roughly 135 g of dry food. The study's authors explicitly recommend paying particular attention to body weight and dental care in this breed.
Nose always to the ground: secure the food, keep the nose busy
The Beagle is a scent hound, bred to follow a trail with its nose. That nose also finds leftover bread, bins and coat pockets – and calories it helps itself to don't show up in any calculation. With a daily requirement of 720 kcal, a stolen bread roll or a few slices of sausage already make a noticeable difference.
The WSAVA recommends limiting treats to less than 10 per cent of daily calories. For a 12 kg Beagle, that is no more than about 70 kcal.
- Weigh out the daily ration in the morning and put it in a tub – all the day's rewards come from that tub.
- Offer part of the ration as a search game or in a snuffle mat.
- Keep food, rubbish and bags out of reach.
Beagle puppies: keep an eye on weight from the start
Beagles are medium-sized and usually fully grown at around one year. Puppies get four meals until about three months, then three. Get your puppy used to rewards coming out of the daily ration right from the start.
Rare, but described in Beagles, is an inherited disorder of vitamin B12 absorption (Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome): affected puppies fail to thrive despite being fed. A puppy that does not gain weight should therefore see a vet – more food is not the solution.
The puppy feeding calculator works out the exact amount by age and current weight.
Recipes with grams per ingredient – for your Beagle
In the DoggoMeal app you create a profile for your Beagle – with weight, age, activity and allergies. From this, the app calculates recipes with grams per ingredient, daily calories and portions.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
Free · no subscription · every feature included
Common questions about feeding your Beagle
How much should a Beagle eat per day?
A neutered Beagle weighing 12 kg with normal exercise needs about 720 kcal a day – roughly 200 g of dry food at 360 kcal per 100 g or 720 g of wet food. Treats are part of this amount.
How much should a Beagle weigh?
The American Kennel Club gives under 9 kg for Beagles up to 33 cm at the shoulder and about 9 to 14 kg for 33 to 38 cm. The FCI standard allows 33 to 40 cm. In UK veterinary practices, adult Beagles weighed 18.2 kg on average – an indication of how widespread overweight is.
My Beagle is always hungry – is it getting too little?
Usually not. Whether the amount is right is shown by the scales, not by begging. If the weight stays stable over two to four weeks and the dog stays slim, the ration is right. Offer part of the food as a search game so the meal lasts longer.
How can a Beagle lose weight?
Calculate with the target weight. A 16 kg Beagle with a target of 13 kg gets about 480 kcal a day, roughly 135 g of dry food. Secure sources of food around the house, weigh every one to two weeks and have a larger diet supervised by your vet.
How many treats can a Beagle have?
The WSAVA recommends that treats make up less than 10 per cent of daily calories. For a 12 kg Beagle with a daily requirement of 720 kcal, that is no more than about 70 kcal – ideally taken out of the daily ration.
Sources
- FCI-Standard Nr. 161: Beagle (englische Fassung) – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
- Beagle – Breed Information – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Beagles kept as companion animals in the UK – demography, disorders and mortality (O’Neill et al., 2025) – Companion Animal Health and Genetics
- Feeding treats to your dog – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Selective intestinal cobalamin malabsorption with proteinuria (Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome) in juvenile Beagles (Fyfe et al., 2014) – Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Calculation method
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006) – National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food – FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
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