Hello guyz,
We adopted an 8-year-old beagle (20kg, 42lb) about 10 days ago, and he’s supposedly okay with cats. However, I’m a bit concerned about his behavior around our two cats.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Out and About: He is very reactive to cats when we see them on walks. He barks and pulls towards them, which is a bit unsettling.
- At Home: Inside the house, he mostly ignores or avoids our cats. Sometimes, he’ll gently sniff them, but he’s not aggressive.
Most of the time, things seem fine, but I’m unsure if this behavior indicates underlying issues or if it’s just part of the adjustment period.
Has anyone experienced similar issues with introducing a dog to cats? Any advice on how to ensure they get along well and how to interpret his behavior?
Thanks for any insights or tips 
I had a similar situation with my dog and cat. My dog was super excited about cats on walks, just like yours, but at home, he mostly ignored my cat.
It sounds like he’s still adjusting. For walks, maybe try a calm, controlled approach—keep him on a short leash and reward him for staying calm. Inside, let the cats come to him at their own pace and always supervise their interactions.
In time, he’ll likely get used to them. Just keep being patient and encouraging positive behavior 
When I adopted my dog, he was also reactive towards my cats, especially during walks, which was quite stressful. I found that his behavior was mainly due to the excitement and unfamiliarity rather than aggression. Inside the house, as long as the cats had safe spaces and he was given time to adjust, things started to settle down. I used positive reinforcement to reward calm behavior around the cats and ensured he was well-exercised, which helped manage his reactivity. Over time, the situation improved significantly, and they started coexisting more peacefully. It’s important to give him time and continue monitoring their interactions closely while ensuring both the dog and cats have their own spaces.