My sister - a few years later - obtained a pure bred beagle. I forget the lineage name but we called him Scuttlebutt. I learned to love beagles then - male beagles, the females are too high strung - and I believe they have an easy going personality and good with children.
Another dog that I am really beginning to like are labs. Every lab I have come across are nice and friendly and lovable. At this time, my wife and I have three cats. But sometime in the future, I believe I will get a lab or a beagle.