The Beagle is a compact little hound that can make an excellent companion in the right home. Their small size makes them more affordable to care for than their larger scenthound counterparts, and their affectionate nature wins over hearts wherever they go. Constantly happy – it is hard to be sad when there’s a Beagle in the room! Despite being very friendly, however, they have an independent nature which can make them difficult to train. An owner must understand that this breed thinks with their nose before thinking about following orders. This quality makes them great hunting partners but not always the most reliable obedience dog.
Their independent nature and easy distractibility means that obedience training doesn’t come easy for most Beagles, but they are nonetheless very intelligent. It’s best to start training in low-distraction environments, and capitalize on any enthusiasm they may have for working with you. They do like to please the people they care about, so if you can make the training interesting and fun, they will learn! This is a breed that enjoys being “part of the action”, so take advantage of that and work with the dog rather than just shouting commands at him. As mentioned before, the Beagle’s nose is his specialty – doing tracking or nosework with this breed is highly recommended so he can have a chance to put his sniffing abilities to good use!
Beagles get along great with kids and can provide hours of entertainment every day. Many love to run and play out in the yard with children, although they may or may not be open to playing fetch. Like other scenthounds, they can also become very distracted outside when they smell something interesting. Being bred to follow their nose, they will always place the highest priority on following scents. For this reason, a fully fenced yard is a necessity for Beagles (a real fence – not an invisible fence)! Because they are master escape artists, the fence should be dig-proof. Likewise, the dog must always be kept on leash whenever off the property. 
When young, Beagles can be fairly active dogs. They require daily walks to expel this energy, the length of the walk depending on whether or not they have also have a yard to burn off energy. While a yard is encouraged, it is not necessary as long as the owner is prepared to walk the dog more frequently. Remember that these are hunting dogs that were bred to have a lot of energy and stamina! That won’t just disappear just because the dog was bought as a pet. Furthermore, some Beagles have the tendency to get fat so this exercise is necessary to keep them fit and healthy.
The Beagle’s short, smooth coat is very easy to care for. If he gets dirty, a rub down with a towel might be enough to rid the coat of dirt and grime, but even if it is not a bath takes only a few minutes! There is no special clipping or scissoring to keep him looking his best. He is also an easy keeper when it comes to vet care – while any dog can develop a medical issue, Beagles generally are a very healthy breed.
Beagles are social dogs, originally bred to work in packs. In fact, they love other dogs almost as much as they love “their people”! As such, they do not do well when left at home all day by themselves. This is the most common reason that Beagles become destructive and problem-barkers. Getting another dog as a companion for the first will work to alleviate boredom and loneliness in some circumstances, but not in all. Even if it does fix the problem, the owner now has two dogs to train and take care of! It may be best to look into another breed altogether if the owner works long hours.
