We have a Beagle, we had her as an 8 week old pup, she will be 3 in March. She is just settling down a bit now. There have been times when thoughts of rehoming her did cross my mind on a daily basis, but my heart would never let me do that to any dog.
I starting taking her to training lessons every week from 15 weeks old, we still go now, but for fun now for both of us. She is by far the best trained dog in the class and the best trained Beagle I have ever heard of or seen. This has been achieved by sheer hard work and practice. On every single walk I do 10 minutes training and that is how I have got her to the standard she is at. Recalls to whistle wish is the best thing I ever taught her.
She is 100% obsessed with food. This means I have to store bins in cupboards, all food out of reach at all times. Absolutely no off lead walks in parks in summer when people are picnicking, or eating lunch on park bench, no matter how good recall is, whatever titbits I have does not beat jacket potatoe tuna and sweet corn! Which she did indeed steal.
I have to crate her when we are eating as she will jump and steal off your plate, whilst you are eating!.
Until she was about 2.5 years I could not leave her alone for 5 mins, even so I could go to the loo, I had to crate her as she would steal and chew absolutely anything she can reach, mobiles, remotes, pens, pencils, letters, washing, slippers, shoes, utterly anything. It only happened couple times though as I crated her when I left the room.
She is very very loud and barks insessently if you ignore her, or she is in garden hearing noises. Neighbours have complained, when I was on loo and she was in garden barking!
I have to tie her on long lead in garden as she digs under fence and escapes. Can't take her camping with us after first time as she digs up the campsite!
I could go on, but you get the picture .
There are many more breeds much more suitable as family pets, Beagles are not family pets, they are pack dogs. Mine adores other dogs, I put her in doggy day care if I need to go the the office and DH is on shift, and she absolutely loves it, plays with all the big dogs all day, and owner of daycare things she is great as so friendly with other dogs.
We have a cavalier king Charles spaniel, and he is in my opinion the most perfect pet dog ever. I love both my dogs, but I will never ever have another Beagle, just too much hard work. All future dogs in my household will be cavies!