Puppy dog

Aka; no they're more swimming rescue dogs [webbed feet]. Trouble with huge dogs is that they don't live very long .

I had a long chat with my son last night and he's proceeding very slowly; thinking carefully about breeds, age - young or older puppy, from breeder or rescue centre etc. I'm quite proud of him; whatever he decides I don't think it'll be a decision he'll come to regret.
He's also heard when that beagles are difficult to train and it's giving him pause because he's hoping to put in the work and have an obedient dog eventually.

GA i found this online, but i expect you know it already.

"The Beagle is loving, sweet and gentle, happy to see everyone, greeting them with a wagging tail. It is sociable, brave and intelligent. The Beagle is excellent with children and generally good with other dogs, but because of its hunting instincts, should not be trusted with non-canine pets, unless socialized with cats and other household animals when young. Beagles have minds of their own. They are determined and watchful and require patient, firm training. It is important you are this dog's pack leader and that you provide the proper amount of mental and physical exercise, including daily pack walks, to avoid separation anxiety. With enough exercise they will be calm. You can also purchase animal scents and play tracking games with your Beagle to help satisfy its instinct to track. The Beagle does not have a normal sounding bark, but rather a loud bay cry that almost sounds like a short howl. Beagles are curious and have a tendency to follow their noses. If they pick up a scent they may wander off and not even hear you calling them back, or care to listen, as they will be too busy trying to find the critter at the other end. Take care when letting them off leash that you are in a safe area. Beagles that are allowed to be pack leaders over their humans can develop a varying degree of behavior issues, including, but not limited to, guarding, obsessive barking, snapping, biting and destructive behaviors when left alone. These are not Beagle traits, but rather behaviors brought on by lack of leadership and/or exercise from their humans. The behaviors can be corrected when the dog’s instincts are met."

Sounds like a good dog but for someone with experience of dog ownership.

I think all dogs of the hound variety are difficult to train; I mean just think of the term 'thieving hound'; until I had whippets I didn't understand why they were referred to in that way [having had dogs that you could leave food on the coffee table in front of them and they wouldn't dream of stealing it]. And as for keeping of the furniture [something else my spaniels would never do]; gave up long ago trying to stop that.

I have an elderly friend that wouldn't dream of having any dog other than an Akita [a dog I'd be scared of owning]. He's even a pat dog. But she's had so many of them she knows exactly how to train them.

Here's a training site for beagle owners, written by beagle experts. It accords with what I found helpful with my basset, although much of the credit goes to the doggie daycare team where she goes twice a week. As they told me 'it's a matter of you being just that bit more persistent and stubborn than your dog!'

m.wikihow.com/Train-Beagles

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Reported.

Another translation methinks.

Advertising methinks!!!

It just shows how important reading up on breeds of dogs actually is, before buying one! Not a great idea 'to fall in love' with a furry/hairy face before you choose one [this goes for MEN as well.]
Although you want a dog to bark if he hears someone fumbling at your door [that isn't you] you don't want a dog that left alone barks non stop and drives the neighbours crazy.Big dogs have short lives as well.Check health faults in certain breeds.