A Few questions to some Beagle Owners.

I'll try to answer these from my limited experience with Beagles, though I'm sure Gina will be along shortly to set me straight. []
 

ORIGINAL: Damarcus Daniels

Im thinking of getting a beagle but i have only a few questions to ask.

(1.) Are They hard to train?!?

 
Most hounds are very smart but intelligence doesn't always mean that they are trainable.  Yes they can be trained, but every dog has different motivations.  You need to find out what motivates your dog. Is it playtime, food, a ball, a bone to chew on?  Find out and use that motivator to train.  Hounds can be stubborn and easily bored but keep the training short and always positive; you'll be amazed at how much fun it is.
 

(2.) Do they pick fights with other dogs?

 
Generally no, but this is entirely up to the amount of socialization that is given.  Any dog will "pick fights" if the dog is unsocialized and does not understand what is expected of him in the "dog world."  So the key is to expose the dog to many situations in many different areas so that this dog is not frightened of events that seem commonplace to you and I.  For example: If you have 4 or 5 friends standing around you it seems normal.  To a dog, being at less than knee height, this can be a bit unnerving, especially if the dog feels "trapped" by all these legs.

(3.) If Trained will they still bark alot because max(my old 15 year old pit/chow mixed) who was put to rest barked alot even though
he was trained.

 
I've never known too many "barky" beagles.  But if they are on the trail of game, they will bay, which is kind of like a bark.  Again if they are socialized well and have adequate exercise and mental stimulation then barking will probably be at a minimum.  A tired dog is a happy dog.

 

(4) Whats there Length(how wide are they)

 
If you get a Beagle from a good breeder, that breeder should be able to tell you about how big the dog is going to be.  You could also try researching at [linkhttp://www.dogbreedinfo.com]www.dogbreedinfo.com[/link]  Please realize that a beagle is alot of dog in a smaller package.  These are dogs that were bred to be on a trail for long periods of time, so they aren't necessarily built for speed, but they have tremendous endurance.
 

(5) Are they 1-person dogs(accepting only there owner) ?

 
Most of the Beagles I've known are very friendly, but I think that's the mark of good socialization.  The breed wasn't designed to be aggressive and they are a pack type of hunting dog, so they are, from what I've seen, great with the whole family and the friends as well.
 
I hope this helps you out.  There are several Beagle owners on this forum and they'll be along shortly to give you some more info. 

Damarcus,

I have two beagles (and have had others in the past.) They are very loving, affectionate dogs. And they are very friendly, even towards strangers. But they do require patience on the part of their owners. Beagles are intelligent, but they are probably the most stubborn dogs I've ever known! They are trainable, if you take the time and are consistent with your training. Mine have never picked a fight with another dog (other than each other, and that's a household dominance issue.) They DO bark. Alot. Mine are quite territorial. So any time someone knocks at the door, a car door slams, they hear a noise, off they go! It's like having a built-in, uncontrollable alarm system for the house. They even bark at me when I'm coming in the door. But that's because they're happy to see me. Bottom line: Beagles are very vocal. At least in my experience. Overall, they're good dogs. A nice size (mine are between 22 and 26 pounds.) And very easy to spoil rotten. Think long and hard before you get one, but if you do, enjoy.

Oh, and one more thing: Beagles are VERY food motivated! They're the only dogs I've ever known who will eat til they're sick, then eat some more. But at least it's a motivation that can be used in training.

I Can"t get one right now because school is in and im getting a puppy.Puppies need alot of time and attention so im going to wait until schools out for good summer time. I will have a better scedule then and free times.

Im still wanting to know everything there is to know about these
little dogs.  Thanks for your info Carry and Xerxes

How much do they eat and whats there weight range?

People joke about being owned by their dogs, but with beagles it is not a joke.  They are very independent thinkers, and this is due to how they are bred to hunt.  The hunter is not directing them as with a pointer or retriever-they literally run down the prey and the hunter follows them.  They have been described as a nose with four legs and that is pretty accurate.  They are certainly not a dog who out of sight is out of mind....They are persistent, pound for pound-one of the strongest animals I have run across physcially-as another person mentioned, fabulous endurance and a high energy level.  The are extremely strong willed, and you really have to think fast to make the animal think that cooperating with you was their idea and in their best interest.  They love play and attention, and seem to love  people in general as long as you get them accustomed to folks early on as pups ( as soon as the vet approves and shots are completed)  To them people means an opportunity to play, or be petted, or perhaps even snitch a bite of food.  Most are easily bribed with food treats, but remember the nose-if you rely on food rewards exclusively, and they smell no goodies....they probably won't do as you wish either.  The are completely loveable extortionists.  They can be very clownish and fun, and are also pretty good at entertaining themselves ( which sometimes gets them into deep doo)
As for the barking, despite their small size, they still will protect what they perceive as their turf and will vocally let you know if somebody is at the door or perhaps if another animal is in their yard-the level of protectiveness and aggressiveness varies with personality, and a good breeder will try to match you with a dog who is perhaps not showing signs of being territorial as a pup.  And I am surprised that nobody mentioned it, but I am absolutely amazed at how fearless these little guys are.....not that they look for trouble, but if trouble comes looking for them, in the form another animal unleashed and unattended, I have rarely seen a beagle back down and cower, unless they had a nasty experience in the past.  Usually, they are pretty curious and willing to play nicely, but also willing to defend themselves and their owners if they feel threatened. 
 
They are alot of work and patience to reach a great realtionship, but well worth the time and trouble-and a phenomenal little heating pad at your feet on cold winter evenings.  These little guys are little blast furnaces-probably because they are so active and the metabolism is always cranked up to high gear.  Mine used to like to nap on your feet

Thanks for the information you guys but im gonna have an school year researching this breed so there won"t be any suprise when i get him next summer so keep the info coming!

I Love that arooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! lol but it might annoy neighbors! people say they are bad dogs to be kept outside all the time why is this?

Beagles have a history of being bred to hunt in packs, and while they can still be kept in kennels that way, they are not a dog that is happy being solitary outdoors.  Beagles are normally not a one-person dog.  They tend to like people.  Being the pack dogs they were, they are seldom aggressive to other dogs, either, when properly socialized and trained.
And, while some people would argue that Beagles are harder to train than some breeds, it isn't because they are dull or stupid - they are simply independent.  Give 'em an inch, and they'll take ten miles LOL.
My Beagle was not noisy in the house, but would bay at rabbits outside - we have two acres, so she got to chase them (never did catch any).  If you do not give in to whining, barking and pawing, etc., but, rather, simply ignore the dog when those behaviors happen, chances are you will have a quiet home. 
They will follow their noses, but you should still teach a good recall, although I usually suggest that my students keep their Beagles leashed, unless they are in a safely fenced area (don't leave them alone - they can become great escape artists & diggers). 
I still miss Mako's aaaooooooooooo, although I do have a rather large hound who plays the same symphony)

I have a soon to be 6 year old beagle.
 
As far as her social abilities are concerned, my dog has not met a person she does not like. We have an invisible fence and consequently every person who walks down our sidewalk has met my girl. Seh basically is the neighborhood dog. No one seems to be able to resist her. I did nothing unusual in her socialization as a puppy but I did have 4 kids at home when whe was a pup so she was exposed to a variety of people. She is especially good with children.
 
Our girl is probaly 15 inches tall and weighs about 24 pounds in summer, 27-28 in winter. she is not food motivated at all which makes her unusaul for a beagle and it did make it more difficult to teach her tricks etc. She was very easily taught the basic obedience commands using lots of love when she did it right.
 
Our beagle would never forgive you if you were to hurt her, even accidentally.
 
Health wise she does have some minor hip displasia which we treat with glocosamine. Her hips do act up when the weather is cold and damp.
 
Our girl has had problems with sometihng called cold tail. Basically the tail goes limp and will not come back up. It takes about 4  days for that to heal itself but the vet does say that at some point it could go down and not come back up.If you want youcan google cold tail and read more about it.
 
I agree that these dogs are very independant. Marley thinks things over to decide whether you really mean it when you give her a command at times. she has to weigh in her little doggy brain whether she is going to come inside or whether she is willing to disobey and stay out and risk you being mad at her.
 
My beagle can never ever be let run off lead. She would never come back when called. I am not a novice to dog training and have never had this problem with any ohter dog but I just would not risk it with a beagle. When they get on a scent, the beagle brain simply shuts down to anything but the scent.
 
Our beagle is not what Iwould call yappy. She only barks when she has a reason. Unfortunatley, other dogs walking down her sidewalk is reason enough for her. Seh also will bay when she smells sometihng in the air, particularly if it sia full moon. Honestly!
 
As far as dog aggression, she is not in the least. As a matter of fact, she is the exact opposite. She is the one who rolls onto her back when antoher dog comes into her territory. She has held her own and is still the alpha dog in our two dog household. Our other dog is twice her size.
 
OUr beagle is also what thekids refer to as a solar dog. She much prefers to sit outside and bask in the sun, even on 100 degree days than to play in the snow.
 
Exercise was important when she was a pup but as she is aging, she does not demand it so much. She is happy now with a half mile walk daily. Not that she wouldn't go farther if you had the time and inclination.
 
My last piece of information would be about shere you keep your beagle. If you are not going to be home much, then a beagle is not for you. They love their family and need to be with them as much as humanly possible. It is the pack mentality only you are their pack. My girl absolutley whines and cries when her boys (my sons) come back from college for fall break, xmas break ,etc.

Up this i need more information MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

Guinnsmom is right-Beagles do decide and weigh out decisions. 
Can they get to the sandwich on the table before you, can they eat it before you get them, and can they get away before your catch them....And is the sandwich worth the hassle and penalty...which it usually is.  The breeder our beagle came from warned us to be very vigilant...said that a beagle would eat itself to death and generally don't have any willpower where goodies are concerned.  We fed on a set schedule twice per day and measured the food with a scoop so that we always gave the same amount.  We didn't feed from the table, because that just results in begging behaviors.  If we gave them any sort of scraps, it was after the table was cleared and the meal was over, and then it went into their bowl in the area where they usually eat.  When our beagle started to slow down with age, and the weight issue crept up on him....well, a beagle on a diet is a trial for the whole household, which seems to turn them into thieving varmints...Rather than cutting back the quantity of food, I will use raw vegetables in the bowl with half the usual kibble allotment
 
And yes beagles love to lounge in the sun....although I have known those who like the snow, usually they like it better when they have a nice sweater or jacket-after all they are fairly small, and the whole hypothermia thing can set in fairly quickly.  Their paws can ice up fairly quickly when walking in slushy conditions.  My beagle loved to be out in the winter and chase birds, squirrels and bunnies, and we had to get him the jacket and even some rubber paw boots to protect his pads from frostbite, but then he would stay out and play a good long time.