Has anyone seen any sort of aggression in their beagle?

The other morning (6:15 so was still dark) was walking dog to my mams and the street was empty. Dog did his business and as I was picking it up an oldish man came up behind me and the dog and stroked him. Me and the dog got a fright and the dog braked and jumped at the bloke and bite his arm. Too me that is Buster protecting me? Am I wrong? I apologised to the man but he agreed it was his own fault and luckily the bite didn’t break the skin.

My mam looks after the dog during the day while I am at work (she fosters children) and is now saying she wont have the dog and I will have to find other arrangements L I work 7.5 hours and partner 12 hours we can not leave him in the house that long. Would we be cruel to get a kennel/pen in the garden for him?? I really don’t want to as he is my baby but I don’t see what else we can do. I mean I can see my mams point if he had bit one of the children but he hasn’t and has always been good with them.

Its really upsetting me as my family are going on as if he is a savage beast but he isn’t he was just looking out for me. I mean who creeps up behind someone that time of the morning and strokes a strangers dog???

Sorry for the rant!!

Sam and Buster.