The Beagle dog always has a happy look to me. I have seen first-hand, in puppy classes, the challenge of obedience training a young Beagle. They have the attention span of a flea, but their loveable personality and cute looks makes it hard to get frustrated.
If your Beagle pup runs off it’s because his nose and drive to hunt told them to. This can be said of many dogs bred to hunt, so be cautious and always have them on leash when out and about.
History
Beagles have been more popular in the United States and Canada than in their native country of England. They have been used for rabbit-hunting since the earliest development of the breed. The Beagle has one of the best developed senses of smell of any dog.
They are used as detection dogs in the United States Department of Agriculture to find food items in luggage taken into the United States. Beagles were chosen because of their smaller size and non-threatening look, intelligence and they work well for rewards.
Look
The Beagle can appear in a range of colors. The tri-color (white with large black areas and light brown shading) is the most common. They all have long rounded ears, stout tail and a short, weatherproof coat.
The Beagle is solid and big for their height, but watch out for weight gain in older or sedentary dogs, as this can lead to heart and joint problems.
Personality
From the AKC- “Beagles are loving and lovable, happy, easygoing, and companionable. Not only are Beagles excellent hunting dogs and loyal companions, they are also happy-go-lucky, funny, and—thanks to their pleading expression—cute. They were bred to hunt in packs, so they enjoy the company of other dogs and of people as well.”
The Beagle has an independent nature, which is common among most hounds. They have a tendency to bark or howl when confronted with unfamiliar things, which makes them good watch dogs.
Resources
National Beagle Club of America