Beagles generally have very good tempers and gentle dispositions.  They are intelligent, but often stubborn and may be hard to train due to the strong will that is common trait in the breed because of its curiosity, especially for scents.  However, if a puppy has a dominant master in control, they can be easy to train and will obey basic commands.  They are an especially loyal breed and are very friendly.  Unaltered males will often howl, bark, or chase after another dog or object, but rarely physically harm it.  Females tend to be less aggressive before their first heat cycle, but afterwards are protective of their puppies and families.  Both genders are excellent with children and can even play with toddlers.  They also get along with other dogs, provided that they have been socialized correctly.

Beagles are playful and energetic dogs.  Because they are scent hounds, they may follow a scent endlessly or incessantly try to tag along with other dogs regardless of cars, strangers, etc. if released.  Although Beagles enjoy long walks, they can be quite difficult because the dogs are so easily distracted by enticing smells.  Because of their curiosity and spirited temperament, Beagles are famed escape artists, and humane societies and pounds in the U.S. often pick them up as strays.

Beagles are pack animals, and can be prone to separation anxiety.  It is best to keep them with other dogs if they are going to be left alone for a long period of time.  A common misconception is that all Beagles howl incessantly.  In reality, some are more vocal than others, and some do not bark often at all.  The breed has thousands of representatives and each has his or her own personality.  Puppies will usually yelp and whine if left alone in a crate, kennel, or enclosed area such as a playpen.  If a Beagle incessantly barks, it is probably because the behavior has not been corrected, and the dog has assumed that the behavior is acceptable. 

Puppies

A well-bred Beagle puppy is usually energetic, fun loving, and playful.  A Beagle puppy will gladly show affection to anybody, and will continue to do so as long as it has an attentive, dominant master, is frequently exercised (including playtime and walks), and is completely socialized through all stages of life.  Puppies should usually be fed small amounts of food and should not be coaxed to eat.  Putting sauces on the food is discouraged as it can lead to an overweight Beagle.  Newborns sleep an average of 2/3 of the day, but puppies will grow more energetic as they mature.  A 12-week-old puppy will usually tire after a 15-20 minute run or walk, but its stamina will also increase as it grows.

Working life

Beagles have superb noses and are sometimes used as sniffer dogs for drug detection.  However, they are more frequently used by the United States Department of Agriculture to detect food items in luggage being transported into the U.S.  This force is called the Beagle Brigade, and the dogs may be identified by their green jackets.  Beagles were chosen for this duty because they are small, easy to care for, and unlikely to intimidate people who are uncomfortable around dogs.  They are used for a similar purpose by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in New Zealand and by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, for whom they wear maroon jackets.

Due to their passive nature, they are the dog breed most often used in animal testing.

In June 2006, a trained Beagle saved the life of its master by using his mobile phone to dial an emergency number.

Hunting

Beagles were originally used for hunting, and still are in some places.  They appear to have been used for hare hunting in England as early as the reign of Edward III, who had a pack of 120 hare hounds with him on the battlefield during the Hundred Years’ War.  Beagling has been referred to as "poor man’s foxhunting," because Beagle pack of 30–40 dogs is followed on foot rather than on horseback.  The usual quarries are hares.  While in full pursuit, they emit “Beagle music,” also called tonguing.  Beagling, like foxhunting, is banned in England; however, in some countries such as Norway and Sweden, Beagles are used for hunting hares, roe deer, red deer, and foxes.  In these countries, Beagles are not used as a Beagle pack.  Hunters strategically place themselves in the terrain and wait as the Beagle chases the prey.  With only one dog, the quarry tends to circle within a certain area, increasing the odds for success with few hunters.  Drag hunting is another Beagle sport practiced in the southern United States.  Beagles are used in groups of two with one hunter.  The hunter lets the dogs go and they pick up on the trail of their quarry, which is usually deer, but may be a bear or wild boar.  When the Beagle chases the quarry by the hunter, the hunter takes aim and brings down the game.