I love my beagle, Taver. He's four years old and full of energy. He's very loyal and always wanting to be by my side. He listens to commands well, is independent, sleeps like a champ, always wants exercise, and overall is not a troublemaker. It's my first time owning a dog and I really couldn't be happier with my choice in a beagle!

We got our Beagle when she was 4 months old and she is the best thing we'v ever brought! She is loving, cheeky and mad! Although we cannot let her off lead in an open field as she wont come back, will have to wait 3-4 hours for her to return. She loves playing with her regular field mates off lead and as long as they come back we can catch her quickly! Would highly recommend a Beagle to a family with young children. They do need a lot of exercise though, but you get used too walking them!

What can I say this breed is amazing! I have a male called Toby and he's only 5 months old he has been walking off the lead since he was 11 weeks old. The only time he won't come back is if he plays with another dog but hey he's having fun!! Never had any problems with him following his nose, I regularly take him for walks in the woods and it's never been an issue!! You must train them young to be off the lead otherwise they will never get the hang of it! Do it while they are very young and you can out run them. They have the most amazing brown eyes that look at you when you tell them off but you must remain firm and not let them get away with it as it will lead to problems, you must show them at an early stage No means No. My little chap is a great lil guy to have in the family, they love children! I don't know what it is but they are obsessed with children they will play for hours, playing gentle and will let them do whatever to him he loves it! I higher recommend this breed!!

A family member of 5 years and a bit now, got him when our son, now aged 5 and a bit, was only four weeks old, so they have grown up together.

We had always had Jack Russell's before, but after the death of two of them, I wanted another breed, as I didn't want to feel as though I was replacing the others.

Also, we wanted one slightly bigger than a Jack, but not too big, and not one with long shaggy hair, as it would be a nightmare to keep clean and tangle free with living in the countryside. Scooby is bigger than a Jack, and also an awful lot stronger; he seems to be pure strength. Being short coated is an advantage, as he is easy to clean and groom, as when he molts he sure does shed a lot of hair (we are thinking of making Scooby wool jumpers)!

We toured various dogs homes and looked at various breeds, looking at dogs at shows and asking people what they were like and what breed, (I'm sure people must have thought that we were mad, or trying to make off with their pets).

The decision was that we needed to see the dogs parents, as with having a small baby and older child, we had to be sure that the animal was not aggressive. Our minds were put to rest by seeing the breeder. There we saw both parents and brothers, sisters and grandparent, as they all live together.

All the dogs seemed relaxed, and loved to sniff the baby, You think of hounds and fox hunting, but Beagles are also one of the most softest and docile dogs going. Stand on our dog's tail by accident and he doesn't even bark or growl. I have never known him to growl at the kids, or go to bite one of them. But some delivery drivers he doesn't like (dogs must be able to tell how people are).

You think that they need loads and loads of exercise, but that isn't the case,! After a long walk just once a day, our Beagle is worn out, and he likes nothing better than hogging the place in front of the Aga and sleeping there until meal time. Really not as manic as a Jack Russell, and a lot more docile, but watch out for that saliva. (Always check your clothes before venturing out, as you may be the prize holder of wearing the most saliva).

The whole family is pleased with Scooby, and to our five year old he is the fifth member of the family.

We have had our English Beagle for 1 year and 4 months and she is 1 year 7 months old. She is very playful but not rough, also very intelligent, lovable, and once again extremely loyal. It took us 3 days to train her, so she knew exactly where she should go to the toilet. She has been very easy to train, the only thing we have not been able to do is walk her off her lead, because as beagles have a hunting background, they tend to follow their noses not realising they are quickly walking into the distance.

The one thing that truly amazed us though, was the fact that although they are not bred as guard dogs, our car was once almost broke into and the only thing that stopped it from being broken into was our beagle. She jumped out of her bed which is in mine and my wife's room, after hearing noises outside our house while me and my wife lay asleep oblivious to what was happening. Our beagle sensed something was wrong as she ran down the stairs to begin barking. This obviously woke me, enabling me to investigate and stop my car from being broken into.

Our beagle is a wonderful dog and she has a very firm place in our family. We love her very much.

Beagles are great pets and loyal companions