Would a beagle be a good breed for a family of beginner owners?

We'd like a dog who can be left alone when at school and work, are good in small homes, easy to train, not need much excercise, are playful, loving and loyal and are relatively small. And if possible - not shed much. If not a beagle, which breed would be good for us?

No. Beagles require much excersize, and they are very stubborn. Not to mention they can and will happily walk right off your property and dissapear if not trained.Good first time dogs from my experience would be American Cocker Spaniels, Toy Fox Terriers, or a Minitaure Dachsund.

the beagle would be fine, but all dogs need to walk for exercise, and they are good family dogs but they do howl alot...

They can be, but not in your situation. They are VERY vocal dogs that were bred to follow their noses a good portion of the day. If they are not properly exercised and are not given proper activity, they are miserable and will resort to relandscaping your yard and redecorating your house. If everyone in your home is at work or school all day, doesn't have the time to put into training or exercise, and just wants an animal part-time, then rescue an adult indoor cat. Right now, you don't really have the proper idea of what a dog is or the time to give one everything that he needs. Hold off until people aren't so busy and then reconsider.

Labs or retrievers are usually a great family dog, especially first time owners, but they can get fat and lazy if not exercised enough - which whilst convenient is not healthy for the dog. Also agree with cocker spaniels - but they wouldn't like to be left for too long as they miss their "people". Please don't get a dog if you are out for most of the day though. Few hours max, and not everyday - in fact even that is too much really imo.

No, beagles are very high energy dogs, and can have behavioral problems if not exercised and walked every day. They also shed A LOT!A good dog breed for your family would probably be a shih-tzu, if you can afford to take them to the groomer once a month. Or if you can do a puppy clip yourself, which is what I did when we had some Shih's in the rescue. They don't shed much, since they have hair, and not the typical fur. Another good dog breed is the Bichon Frise, they have wonderful temperaments, and are easy to train. No matter what dog breed you get, you will HAVE to train the dog, otherwise it WILL have behavioral issues. Positive reinforcement is the absolute best method of training, and the fastest way to success.

No, beagles can wander away if they pick up a scent. If money isn't a problem, you couldn't do much better than to get a goldendoodle. Just make sure it is the one bred with the miniature poodle or you will end up with a 70 pound dog. These dogs take on the best traits of each. They are playful, loyal and loving from the golden retreiver and they have minimal shedding and intelligence from the poodle. Hope this helps.

No, I don't think you should get a beagle because it will need A LOT of exercise and other stimulation to keep it from having to smell everything. A Shih Tzu is a much better option.Also, a dachshund is not a good dog for first time owners. They are stubborn and can turn into nasty things if you don't train them right. I've had 5 dachshunds.

beagles, while cute, are not the best dogs ... they are ruled by their noses and if they catch a scent, regardless of training, that dog will be gone ... which is why they can rarely be let off the leash ... i have never seen a beagle off leash ever in public ... i prefer dogs who are more into their owners than random smells outside ... have you considered a havanese ???" Breed Profile:Today the Havanese is bred primarily as a family companion. He is a happy, outgoing, pleasant and affectionate little dog. He is also exceptionally bright and easily trained. He is very devoted to his family and loves children.Even though the Havanese is classified as a Toy breed, he is not a tiny, fragile dog, but rather robust, muscular and very athletic with great stamina. Most Havanese take naturally to the water and love to swim. They also do very well in Agility.In appearance, the Havanese has a unique lively, elegant, springy gait which gives the impression of agility. His expression is mischievous and intelligent with large, dark, almond-shaped eyes.The Havanese's coat is non-shedding, long, soft and wispy with curls at the ends. He comes in white, cream, champagne, gold, blue, black, silver, chocolate, or any combination of these colours. The coat is profuse but extremely light and soft which was the reason for the breed's original names: Havana Silk Dog or Spanish Silk Poodle. Although the coat is very warm looking, it developed as a barrier from the tropical sun and overheating."