Easily cared for, they require a minimum amount of brushing. Bassets and Bloodhounds tend to be calm and relatively unreactive breeds. Accompanying this is a low demand for affection and low trainability. Beagles, while much more active and excitable, still exhibit a relatively low demand for affection and low trainability. These dogs are independent by nature.
Most scent hounds are pack oriented.
They were primarily bred to work in packs and strong leadership is required to keep any pack working as a team. This makes it very important that the human members of the pack assume the leadership position or the dog will. Although the smallest of the hounds, Beagles have the highest tendency to exert dominance over their owner. Beagles, with their higher energy level, are more likely to exhibit destructiveness, especially when bored. If left in the backyard, they may dig under or climb over fences to find entertaining ways to pass the afternoon.