Are beagles good dogs for first time owners?
Yes and no. Beagles on the whole are very sweet little dogs and I think a very committed first time owner can do fine with one. But they can be challenging in a few ways. The things to know about beagles is that they are hounds. The follow their noses everywhere. They need a secure fenced yard with a high sturdy fence they can’t climb over or dig under when they catch sound or scent of something. They are energetic and needs lots of exercise. They definitely need obedience training – hounds can be a little harder to train because they are so focused on following their noses. On the up side, they can be very food motivated, so they can respond to positive training with treats. They must be kept on leash at all times to prevent them from running off, again following that nose. Socialization with other dogs in obedience class is very good for them as it is for all dogs – helps make them friendly with other dogs as adults. They do have a tendency to bark so they must be trained in that are
