XL bulldog's behavior completely changes around pregnant dachshund — but not in the way anyone expected

A fresh perspective came forward when the owner of an American XL bulldog named Gunner was advised to keep him separated from her other pet, a pregnant Dachshund. As reported by Newsweek, the dog parent shared a video of the two breeds on her Instagram account, @justgunnerstunner, showcasing both of them cuddling together, with Gunner lying patiently outside her pen as she gave birth. 

The video was posted on June 16 with the caption “How lucky they are to have Gunner as an uncle, still too small to play,” which, within a few days, garnered more than 506,853 likes. The video also had overlaid text that reads, "Keep them separate now she's pregnant… NEVER." It grabbed a lot of attention and boldly stood against stereotypes for XL bulldogs, the breed which is often labeled as aggressive, volatile, and untamable.

The dogs are specially sidelined in the UK and are officially banned by the British government in some parts of the country, like England and Wales, where the majority of families reside. Many continuous fatal accidents by the breed led to this decision by the officials, thus not only prohibiting ownership of XL bulldogs but also their selling or abandoning. As reported by BBC and NHS England there were approximately 11,000 hospital admissions for dog bites by American XL bulldogs in 2023-24. 

Gunner's viral video sheds light on the possibility that the upbringing and environment of the pets also play a major role in their behavior as opposed to their inherent qualities. A study by the National Library of Medicine reported how breeds are not the sole reason behind aggression-related traits and that numerous factors, like training, early experiences, and medical conditions, can also contribute to it. On the contrary, it is suggested that positive management practices and allowing the dogs to have different experiences can help develop confidence and control frustration. While newborns are taught the way of life, one wonders why dogs are expected to know behavioral science straight out of the womb.

Gunner’s owner also talked to Newsweek about the two breeds staying together and stated, “He is supporting his smaller sister through pregnancy and birth, despite people saying he's 'dangerous.” The impact of the video was quite impressive, sparking a conversation over the continuous debate over banning XL bulldogs, and if the notorious hostile behavior of the breed can be managed. To everyone's surprise, the Instagram video welcomed countless positive reactions from the viewers with comments like “This is so sweet. He’s the best uncle those little puppers could ask for,” by one user by the handle name @stanleytheamericanbully.

While some users’ attention was shifted from the XL bully to the pregnant dachshund, others left their opinions regarding dog breeding. One user by the handle name @skrigglerm, commented, “Please be responsible and stop breeding your dogs. I know he is not the father but you shouldn't be breeding your dogs in general.”

Another one by the handle name, @fionamacca29, wrote, “Cute, now please neuter your dog.”

For more heart-warming dog content, you can follow @justgunnerstunner on her official Instagram account.