My brother and his girlfriend have a beagle. Theirs is great with kids if you have any and very loving and affectionate but does need lots of exercise (i.e. proper off the lead runs not a trip to the shops or round the block). Its not the most obedient of dogs either - I think they have the second best sense of smell after bloodhounds and are renowned for wanting to follow their noses even if it causes them grief. Theirs also does the worst smelling poos I've ever witnessed, but that may not be breed specific!