I often think that because my Honey (Golden Retriever) is so intense, she would make an excellent retriever for a dove or duck hunter. But she doesn't have to worry, because this mama doesn't hunt...and there is no daddy to worry about!

I think that the Beagle issue is like many other "hunting" type dogs, spaniels, bird dogs, setters, etc. There is a set of people out there who were brought up under very different circumstances. In fact, when I was a child, we had a "bird dog", Belle. And she lived in a pen in the yard. We had our "pet", and we had Belle. What you should know though is that Belle was very well loved. We played with her constantly in the backyard, but her "job" was to quail hunt. That lovely girl lived to be 15 years old. But my dad and his father, who had "
Rock", his bird dog, just believed that a good hunting dog, wasn't an inside dog. I can remember in real cold times though that she was allowed inside. My father doesn't "hunt" anymore and would probably never have a dog that wasn't right there with him ever again. Scout and Darcy prove that theory!

And for 11 months out of my adult life, I lived in a very rural area where hunting and fishing was the only pasttime. We lived in housing owned by Georgia Pacific, and every man on the street had a pen full of Beagles, who were specifically for running deer. It literally broke my heart to see these precious dogs (who weren't so precious when they barked all night)locked up in the pen, or worse yet, let loose to "run" the street. I hated that situation and the people who created it. A happy day when we were able to move away from there.

Our lab, Chuck, was a hunting dog, but also a pet, and he knew the difference. And always slept in the bed with his mom and dad!

So, after all that, my point is that in today's society, there shouldn't be as many folks who think "hunting" dogs are for hunting only. Many have changed their stance on that. I agree with the rest of you..I'd never have a dog that I isolated for a "job" and not have it be a part of the family.