Beagle

A very old English breed, with records of scent hounds resembling the Beagle dating back to Ancient Greece, but standardized in 19th-century England for hunting hares in packs ("beagling"), guiding hunters on foot with its exceptionally keen nose.

It's one of the most sociable and friendly breeds around, loving the company of other dogs (a holdover from its pack-hunting past) and of people of all ages. It's also very vocal: it barks, howls, and "bays," a distinctive trait historically used so hunters could track the pack by sound from a distance.

The Beagle is guided almost entirely by its nose, which makes it stubborn on walks and during training — if it catches an interesting scent, it may completely ignore its owner's calls and take off on the trail, making it prone to escaping. It's a great family dog, but needs secure fencing, a leash during walks, and strict control of its diet, since it tends toward obesity.