Are beagles good hiking dogs?

[ChenoaChesna]

This summer, me and my fiance are moving to a different city where we are starting at a new college. I've been wanting to adopt a dog for ages because I've quite frankly always been obsessed with dogs and i've grown up with them but have never really had one all my own. I favor larger breeds and rottweilers and american pit bull terriers are probably my top two breeds but we are moving into an apartment. It's going to be difficult finding an apartment that accepts pets but if the dog i adopt is smaller and it's not a bully breed then obviously it's going to be easier to find a place. I hike a lot and for the first two months of this summer my fiance Tyler and I are probably going to be doing a back packing trail. The pound near my house always has tons and tons of beagles and I don't really know much about the breed. I figure because they are hunting dogs then they'd have enough stamina to hike all day but I don't want to just guess this and then get a beagle and have it be miserable.

 

[Unregistered]

One thing I will say is beagles are not great apartment dogs. I have one in a townhome and he tends to bark when a noises travel through the wall. Hes generally quiet unless he doesnt get enough exercise, I take him to a dogpark almost everyday, and on weekends we do 7+ miles which tends to wear him out. For hiking I think a beagle will do fine, like I said mine is fine doing 7 miles, and I am currently trying to condition him for longer distance so we can go do some real hiking. Just make sure if it is a puppy not to break him into long distance too soon, it can cause damage in the joints and what-not.

Besides that, beagles are a load of fun, its a love 'em or hate 'em experience I think. I grew up with labradors and my fiance grew up with shepards and american eskimos and we both agree the beagle is the highest maintenance we've met, very loving, and sometimes quite excitable, but loves to cuddle up, and wrestle.

So, hiking? definate yes, they will walk forever. Apartment? maybe not. oh, and always outside on a leash, they will run away after a scent, and even with training are not to be trusted!