Is a beagle a good dog?

I would recommend researching different breeds of small dogs to find the one that best fits your lifestyle.

Another option is to adopt a dog that needs a loving home. You can visit your local shelter.

It is a terrific and excellent dog.

I had one from 1960–74, and he was the member of the family whom I loved the most.

September 4, 2008, 8:12 PM EDT

Beagles can be wonderful dogs in the right situation. There are a number of factors to consider. Do you have a yard? Do you mind baying (which is the sound excited beagles make)? Do you mind a dog that almost never develops recall (that is, come when you call it off-leash). When a beagle gets a scent, off it goes. They can be prone to allergies and skin issues.

On the positive side, they are gentle, loving, and cute. Find someone who has a beagle and ask them about it. Observe them at play. (Go to an off-leash dog park.)

Mixed breeds make great dogs if you don’t mind a bit of Russian roulette. Check shelters or rescue groups near you. Bichon Frise’s are very sweet dogs, much loved by their owners. They are playful and spunky, but loving. Welsh Corgis are wonderful dogs with the terrier relentlessness somewhat balanced. Many people love miniature schnauzers.

There are tons of great dogs, but read about the breeds to see what fits your lifestyle.

!!!!!YES!!!!!!

-Snoopy

Isn’t it appropriate that someone named SNOOPY is posting a comment?

September 4, 2008, 8:25 PM EDT

I am totally unbiased. I swear. :)

I actually have a mixed breed beagle that we got from the pound. She is a good dog.

As she is mixed she doesn’t bay as much as pure breds do….the big thing that sets her off is when they test the tornado alarms. As a kid growing up some distant (as in multiple blocks away) neighbors bred beagles. You could hear them baying at dusk EVERY night. Just something to keep in mind.

In all seriousness….I would ask that you please consider getting a dog from a reputable shelter in your area, such as the SPCA. There are a multitude of reasons to consider getting your dog there….As opposed to a pure bred whatever…..it is cheaper, they are screened by a vet, they need a good home or they will be destroyed and often, mixed breed dogs are actually healthier than pure breeds. We have had two mixed breed dogs. They have both been great.

If you want a wonderful, loving, happy, carefree dog, try a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. They are the most happy-go-lucky pups ever! They’re natural herding dogs, so they’re active and playful.

@poof Isn’t that the Queen’s favorite breed? :)

I seem to remember her preferring Corgis?

Beagles can be kinda yappy, arooooo aroooo but they are very sweet.
@Snoopy I think you’re right.

My beagle never made a sound, hardly, except on 7–4 and 10–31.

September 4, 2008, 9:02 PM EDT

When I was growing up, my mother often told stories about the beagle she had when she was a child. She loved that dog.

We had a beagle named Larchmont Jeffrey, a gift from my grandfather, who forgot that we lived in suburbia on a 1/4 acre plot with neighbors in all four directions. Larchmont Jefferey was very cute and sweet but bayed alot, particularly when the moon was full.

On his collar he had a tag that said, ‘Put me in the Larchmont Taxi and send me to 7 Villa Lane, collect.” In spite of a fenced-in yard, he periodically slipped out. So the taxi used to arrive from time to time, with Himself sitting in the back seat.

This is one of the few memories that my mother can dredge up from her befuddled mind.

My brother sure seems to think so. He has had beagles since his early 20’s. He is now 47 and still has 2 at the present time. He says they are great dogs.

@gailcalled. Seriously? People would plop the the beagle in a taxi? Awwwwww.

This was in the late forties and the community was classic small-town America. No locked houses, no locked cars, safe to walk the streets at night. Small population and low crime rates. Of course, the population was predominantly white and the culture middle-class. When I say The Larchmont Taxi, I meant that there was only one. We all knew the owner and driver (same guy) and he got very fond of the dog.

We finally gave him to someone with more land for the dog to run in. He was bred to hunt, I think. Our next try was a dachshund, named Hagen after the black knight in Die Gotterdamerung. Hagen developed severe back problems. Our last dog, a mutt we rescued from a med school lab in Boston, got hit by a car and was put down by the police before the family arrived on the scene.

What a sad way to end your story :(
(sniff, whimper….)

You should have stopped at the first paragraph. :)

We also had a huge shepherd mix as well (now deceased). She would jump into any open car. Someone visiting? In she would go for a ride, even if they had just arrived. Contractor at the house w/ the van open? The dog would hop in awaiting transport. Her size was a bit intimidating, but she was a gentle giant.

I need to put my plug in for pugs. The boys and I love Jack the Pug. If you can stand the noises they make constantly, they are calm, sweet, loving dogs.

@SM kinda hard to breathe when your face is all smashed in, huh? poor little fella

Beagles are great! Just make sure you know what they sound like before you get one. Pugs are awesome! I love pugs!!! I’ll put in a plug for a rescue dog. Some of the coolest dogs come from shelters!!!

The 15 inch Beagle took best in show at Westminster this year. That was one of the most beautiful dogs I’ve ever seen.

@Snoopy: Yes, Pembrokes are the Queen’s dogs. I had one myself until a few months ago… liver failure due to complications from Lyme disease, even though we got rid of it years ago. It did its damage and we had to put him down. Sherman was the BEST. Happy as a pig in youknowwhat down to the last second.

@poofandmonk: I have a soft spot for corgis and their little squeedle legs.

Yes, I have turned into an “animal person”.

@andrew: That picture produced a “squee!” LOL… reminds me of when Sherman used to run out into the yard, sniff, find a good spot, and then flop on his back and writhe and flip around with his tiny little legs in the air. I miss my Sherman! I would holyhighlycrap recommend a corgi to anybody!

@poofandmook: They aren’t lapdogs, though, are they?

Babo loves Beagles!

@andrew: No. Bit too hefty for that. They’re thick, sturdy dogs… they’re like little tanks. Their legs are what make them deceivingly small.

@poofandmook: Hrm. What about “lay down beside you” dogs? I had gotten the impression that they’re very playful.

They are great dogs.

We had a beagle in mid 70s to late 80s named Freckles.

Pros…lovable, long floppy ears to play with, loyal, great with kids

Con…She did run away often (she was able to jump so high going over the fences) (need lots of exercise even if have a yard) She always found her way back to the house if we couldn’t find her. i remember when we moved into a new house and a few days she ran away and she found us. Great sense of smell!

Very great dogs. We had a family friend who had a beagle and she would howl when people would sing “happy birthday” precious

Freckles only howled when the family would “howl” shes cute when she howls with her floppy ears back…also when my sister practiced playing her piano, she would howl (it was funny) we got a kick out of that.

@andrew: When I used to play with Sherman, and he finally tired me out, he would lay next to me on the couch with his head on my leg. If I even tried to get up, he took that as a sign and went running to the nearest toy and bopped around with it until I finally agreed to hold one end (it was usually a rope toy)... all I had to do was lay on the couch and hold one end and he’d tire himself out with the other end. Then he’d stretch out as far as he could right underneath me on the floor.

Beagles are great dogs like many others, but you should look up more on the breed to see if it fits your family life style as suggested. I have a cousin who adopted one and although they do love the dog, its lifestyle and theirs never matched. Truth be told, what they should’ve gotten was a cat. They needed an animal that is ok being alone for long stretches of time.