Being in college means being thousands of miles away from my baby boy beagle, JB (Jacky beagle). It breaks my heart and it breaks his heart too. The pain is made worse by the fact that I am told stories of him sniffing around the house, thinking that I’m still trying to hide from him. I will forever treasure the time I had raising him to maturity. Most of all, he gave me a reason to live for something; to live for the sole purpose of giving him tender loving care and protecting him from the dangerous world we live in.

Meanwhile, I am sure he is doing okay with his two sisters. I had planned to bring him to school initially, but I would never want to put him through the stress of long-haul air travel.

Because I miss him so much, here are some reasons why everyone should own a dog, as seen through my life with JB, and in no particular order of importance.

1. Dogs do tricks

All you need is patience and dog treats.

2. They’re loyal and heroic

When your pup acknowledges you as part of his immediate "pack", he will lay down his life for you against all threats, including mum waking me up. JB and I sleep in all day, everyday, and if mum manages to come close, she will be met with his chompers. He is very attached to me and we are inseparable whenever we are together.

3.Have you ever been this excited for anything?

Unbridled love and enthusiasm.

4. Snuggles and belly rubs

Need I say more?

5. They will drive you crazy

Beagles are very independent and stubborn thinkers - they know exactly what you want them to do, and can perform tasks perfectly well. However, they will want to see payment for their work, in the form of a treat or a chew toy. If they do not smell a reward, they are not going to give you a second thought. Not to mention that they are guided by their nose, and they would love nothing but to track a scent for miles with no intention of returning.They are also very vocally expressive, and will bark at anything and anyone. If you are impatient with them, they will utilize passive aggression. JB lays still and refuses to move until you apologize to him. Dogs don't really care what we think anyway, because they have more fun than humans do.

More than a handful, multiplied threefold.

6. Some breeds make great hunters

Certain breeds such as sighthounds and hounds, from which the beagle bloodline is derived, have excellent hunting instincts and a high food and prey drive. Beagles are among the best ground sniffers - their noses have way more scent receptors than the average pooch, and their floppy ears help direct air towards their snouts. When I let JB out off-leash, he will always take me to one of many of our neighborhood's dens of cats. I have seen him take down full-grown cat queens aggressively protecting their litters, and even sparrows mid-air. Beagles are also equipped with a white-tipped tail, also known as a "flag". When hot on a scent, their tails stand erect, the white tip visible through tall brush. They also make baying noises to communicate among their hunting party.

These skills are useless in real life, but I love how beagles are designed to do those things

7. Those eyes and ears

I go soft when he looks at me like that. I miss him so much.