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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask whether we should get a Labrador or beagle?

85 replies

Eleanorrr · 02/12/2018 22:00

We’d like to get a dog- have a dd aged 16 and a dd aged 10 and live in a Victorian terraced house in london, with a garden and a minute away from a park. We’re deciding between a beagle and a Labrador and I was wondering whether you wise mumsnetters would have advice on which breed to go for?

OP posts:
bigbluebus · 03/12/2018 13:11

I agree if you want a dog you can train then don't get a beagle. My parents 'inherited' a beagle from a family who were emigrating (not sure if it was to get away from the Beagle). Mt DF took it to dog obedience classes and at the 1st session the trainer told him to save his money and not bother coming back - that beagles were untrainable.

All that said, he was a lovely dog and could charm the food out of your hands just by staring at you with his big sad eyes as you ate. He also begged for food with one paw! So clearly his previous owners had trained him to do something! He used to have a mad half hour every night when he ran around in circles chasing his own tail. He was never let off the lead in open spaces though!

MaMaMaMySharona · 03/12/2018 13:16

I'd recommend going to the local shelter and telling them what qualities you're looking for in a dog (i.e. temperament, size, age etc.) and they'll be able to point you in the right direction.

There are thousands and thousands of dogs that need homes in this country, you'd be crazy to pay a breeder for one!

Chanelprincess · 03/12/2018 13:19

I absolutely detest labradors for a whole host of reasons and the beagles I know are very vocal so I would avoid both of those breeds. I also dislike spaniels though so I'm very hard to please.

MrsMarigold · 03/12/2018 13:19

Get a Labrador, beagles are untrainable.

JuneFromBethesda · 03/12/2018 13:23

Dont get a beagle, get a brick. Take it to the woods, chuck it as hard as you can then spend 3 days trawling through the undergrowth shouting its name and waiting for it to come back. The experience will be identical, I promise you.

Absolutely laughed out loud at this Grin

Why do you detest Labradors Chanelprincess?? Everyone has their own preferences but I can't think of anything detestable about them (except when my lab has rolled in fox poo - then she is truly detestable)

Anyway, a vote for Labradors here. I'm sure beagles are lovely (ignoring most of the posts on this thread) but Labradors are the dogs I know and they are wonderful. So gentle and so good-natured.

randomsabreuse · 03/12/2018 13:23

First dog, Labrador. They are food oriented enough to be relatively easy to train and generally like to please people. If working bred and not gun shy might well find fireworks not an issue - our lab was initially disappointed there were no pheasants to fetch but now considers them boring. He's working bred but didn't hear sporting guns until 8 or so, although he did hear at my firing ranges from early on

forkinghellmate · 03/12/2018 13:25

A beagle and call it Mr Bigglesworth.

beachyhead · 03/12/2018 13:32

You can have this posters.....
Rehoming www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/3441354-Rehoming

KonaMum · 03/12/2018 13:43

I wouldn’t get a Labrador unless you plan on exercising it for long periods of time several times per day. They are very prone to weight issues and I think this is largely because they are bought as family pets rather than working dogs and are very food motivated so easily put weight on.

I’ve never met a well trained beagle but I’m willing to be proved wrong!

villainousbroodmare · 03/12/2018 13:43

Get a setter! All the virtues of a labrador - loving, gentle, non-aggressive, not barky, deeply wants to please, but none of the vices: not smelly, not food-obsessive, shed little, not inclined to obesity, not as intense. Better-looking and more athletic but will snooze all day after a good walk.
Beagles are only in it for themselves imo! Grin

FANTINE2 · 03/12/2018 14:03

We have a 12 mth old Beagle. Our first dog as a family, 2 kids early 20''s
Yes a handful as a puppy, but she has calmed down.
We had her off lead at 12 weeks[fortunate to live close to woodland etc]
She is still off lead now, but would never do this near traffic etc, and it can be a bit of a rollercoaster. She may run ahead quite a lot, but always stops to see where you are. She has never run off for a long period of time. She does need a fair bit of exercise, but I enjoy walking her.
She is treat trained and will do anything for food. Not so good without though. She does arooo but not excessively so. She is very loving, and gives the best cuddles. I firmly believe that you have to spend a lot of time with them.
Labradors are probably just that bit more placid, so on balance I would probably not choose a Beagle, especially if you live in the City. I think they would feel too constrained.
Good Luck

Lockheart · 03/12/2018 14:06

If it’s your first dog and you live in a city, I’d say neither. Both need lots of exercise and space to run. Labradors are easier than beagles for a first time owner, so if it must be one of the two then I’d say Labrador, but as someone whose had labradors all my life I can say I couldn’t keep mine in a city. They like acres of muddy fields and woodlands and lakes and rivers.

If you’re open to alternatives, I’d suggest a smaller dog like a dachshund or a toy poodle, or even something very low maintenance like a greyhound or whippet (they’re surprisingly lazy despite their racing credentials).

ErrolTheDragon · 03/12/2018 14:14

I'd second what Lockhart said. Labs and beagles are country dogs. If you want a dog that can be very happy in a town with a park, won't demand a long walk in bad weather, but also adaptable to long country walks then seriously consider a standard dachshund (short haired are easy to keep clean and unsmelly). Though you'd have to be careful to find a good breeder as dachshunds are too popular at the moment.

Alwaysadramaaa · 03/12/2018 14:16

We have recently got a labradoodle, he’s 6 months now & he’s fantastic. He doesn’t moult or smell due to the poodle side but he has the temperament of a Labrador. He’s a fantastic family dog & so cute

Chanelprincess · 03/12/2018 14:19

JuneFromBethesda The main reason is their relationship with food but to be honest, I've found the ones I've spent time with rather bland. I do like my dogs to keep me on my toes though, which I appreciate isn't everyone's idea of a perfect dog!

berninisbeloved · 03/12/2018 14:22

Labrador or golden retriever.

LakieLady · 03/12/2018 14:23

Dont get a beagle, get a brick. Take it to the woods, chuck it as hard as you can then spend 3 days trawling through the undergrowth shouting its name and waiting for it to come back. The experience will be identical, I promise you.

Grin

Brilliant description of beagle-owning, but you've omitted to mention that you can't cuddle a brick, it won't make you laugh dozens of times a day, it won't greet you ecstatically every time you enter a room and it won't be a source of endless fun for your kids.

steppemum · 03/12/2018 14:47

labrador - easy to train, good family dogs, very people connected.
beagles - complete nutters who are impossible to train and run for hours

no contest really.
But I recommend a rescue. We have an adorable rescue, such a lovely personality. He is a springer spaniel, which I would not recommend as they needs LOADS of walking, but we fell in love!

Confusedbeetle · 03/12/2018 14:50

If you have no experience you should consider what job the dog was bred to do and that will tell you some of its characteristics. Be sure you are committed to 14 years of high need ( Like a toddler) and be prepared to commit to training, Having said that . for a family I would have a labrador everytime. They are willing to please and trainable (very food orientated) They can get fat if you do not exercise them enough. The puppies chew everything. They are gentle and loving with children but you must train the children to respect the dog and not push the boundaries. Beagles are hopeless in my opinion, pretty but un trainable. More interested in following a scent. Do not buy a puppy over the christmas period. They need your full attention, no visitors or chaos. They are hard work for two years and if you put the work in you will be well rewarded, Dont go to work for 6 hours and expect it to be ok. You need to be the owner carer trainer, not the children. If you are certain you can do all this go for the labrador, in spring. It will be easier than winter

Confusedbeetle · 03/12/2018 14:53

The Dogs Trust have a good reputation if you would consider a re homed dog

steppemum · 03/12/2018 14:54

I do echo other posters who say get a much smaller dog, as a park is not really enough exercise for a lab or a beagle

MaMisled · 03/12/2018 14:58

They say, if yoy see someone with a lead but no dog, they're probably beagle owners! The five i know are incredibly greedy, stubborn and noisey. They dont bark so much as whine and bay. Labs, on the other hand are wonderful creatures!

DontFindYourselfInMe · 03/12/2018 14:58

Labrador Labrador Labrador!!!!!!
Best dog breed in the world and so loving and clever.
Beagles are just assholes imo

steppemum · 03/12/2018 15:06

I like labradors, but I wouldn't have one.
They are quite big dogs, and their tails are coffee table height! They need space and exercise.

Perihelion · 03/12/2018 15:13

I'm on my third Labrador..... don't have a coffee table.
Labs don't need to be fat, they just need a lot of exercise and to be gently starved ( in their opinion )