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We adopted a beagle (Ally McBeagle) about two years ago. We have completely fallen in love with her and had come to the conclusion that she is the sweetest, most affectionate and best family dog ever on the face of the planet. However, I have since met other beagles who also have these similar and wonderful traits. Do beagles in general tend to be among the friendlier more affectionate dogs? Ally is also very temperamental and stubborn, but this only adds to her charm in our opinion. I wish we could have a dozen beagles like Ally.

How do beagles rate in intelligence compared to other dogs? We also have a Shepherd mix and Ally appears to be much smarter. Of course our shepherd seems dumb as a board most of the time and I believe they are traditionally quite a bright dog.

People keep telling us that beagles are runners. We let Ally out under close supervision and she will only roam a couple of houses away and always comes back (sometimes grudgingly) when we call. What's the scoop on the running away rumor?

I normally post on the shiba forum, but I used to have a beagle so I decided to answer you. Beagles are known to run away because of their strong instinct to hunt. A beagle that has never ran away for five years could all of a sudden see a rabbit and get that strong instinct to chase it, I would be careful. My beagle that I had was very aggressive, and extremely food aggressive, I have heard that it is very common. It all depends on how the dog is brought up though. As for intelligence, I don't know, I know they are known to be extremely stubborn.
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Heather, Dodger, Jager, and Madi

>>We adopted a beagle (Ally McBeagle) about two years ago. We have completely fallen in love with her and had come to the conclusion that she is the sweetest, most affectionate and best family dog ever on the face of the planet. However, I have since met other beagles who also have these similar and wonderful traits. Do beagles in general tend to be among the friendlier more affectionate dogs? Ally is also very temperamental and stubborn, but this only adds to her charm in our opinion. I wish we could have a dozen beagles like Ally.
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>>How do beagles rate in intelligence compared to other dogs? We also have a Shepherd mix and Ally appears to be much smarter. Of course our shepherd seems dumb as a board most of the time and I believe they are traditionally quite a bright dog.
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>>People keep telling us that beagles are runners. We let Ally out under close supervision and she will only roam a couple of houses away and always comes back (sometimes grudgingly) when we call. What's the scoop on the running away rumor?

I have a 10 year old beagle named Patch. We have a park almost in our backyard and I took Patch there lots when he was a puppy - it took almost 2 years before I could trust him off leash in the park. He would get a scent and be off. His parents were of hunting stock and of course we know beagles are hunting animals. Now we take him to the cottage and he is fine loose there - the road is far away and he likes to smell our whole property and then comes back to the cottage.

As for smart - of course they are smart! But then other types of dogs are too. I also have a Shih Tzu and I swear I can see her thinking and she is quick to do whatever I ask her. On the other hand, some dogs are not too swift. Just depends.
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Donna, Chloe & Patch