Dachshund feeding guide: how much and how often

Dachshunds are enthusiastic eaters and poor judges of when to stop, and extra weight is the one back-health factor owners fully control. A standard adult of 9 kg (20 lb) with moderate activity often needs somewhere around 120 to 160 g of a typical dry food per day, roughly 1.25 to 1.75 cups, but the bag guide is only a starting point. Weigh food on a kitchen scale rather than scooping, because a heaped scoop can add 20 percent without you noticing.

Judge body shape as well as the number on the scale. From above you should see a waist behind the ribs, and you should feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat without pressing. Short legs hide a sagging belly, so many Dachshunds look fine to their owners long before they are. Split the daily ration into two meals and count training treats as part of it; small pieces of the dog's own kibble work well.

Bowl height matters less for such a low dog than for tall breeds, but a shallow, stable bowl on the floor or raised by just a few centimeters lets a Dachshund eat without craning its neck past its front feet. Fast eaters do well with a slow feeder or a snuffle mat, which also gives that busy nose a job.