(quoted from post at 20:28:35 12/30/11) I have a beagle. Brought her home 13 years ago as a birthday present for my wife and I've kicked myself since. This is the only beagle I have ever had, and will probably be the only beagle I'll ever have, but from what I read she is not a stereotypical beagle. We had a lab first and she was so easy to train, I thought we could certainly handle a beagle. It took some time, but she has trained us well.
She was a full on puppy for 2 years. Chewed everything she could find to chew. She took forever to house break because we couldn't get her to bark at the door when she wanted out. I read you can't train a beagle to "speak", but she will stand at my chair and bark until I feed her, but not to go outside. She will still make a mess if you aren't fast enough at the door.
Go do some research! Beagles were not originally bred for rabbits! We had 2 when I was a kid. Great dogs! Wouldn't hunt rabbits at all but were great bird dogs!
Rick
I thought for a long time she wouldn't listen, but I think she just pays more attention to her nose than anything else (eyes, ears). Just to see what they would do, I went and hid in the dark one time from our lab and the beagle. The lab watched were I went and ran right to me, but the beagle put her nose on the ground and followed my path until she ran into my feet and looked up at me.
She also will not chase a rabbit. I watched her sit on the back porch and watch run not but 2 feet in front of her while she sat there and watched it run by TWICE.
She is on her bed in the corner snoring right now. We have learned to live together. I'll take care of her and give her a good home until she dies, but she will probably out live me just to spite me.