Owner Told Bulldog Is Danger To Pregnant Dachshund—Tears at What Happens

Newsweek

20-06-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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When the owner of an American XL bully named Gunner was warned to keep him away from her pregnant dachshund, she had other ideas.
What followed, captured in a video posted to Instagram on June 16, has since gone viral—garnering over 460,000 likes. The footage is challenging stereotypes surrounding a breed that has become a lightning rod for controversy across the U.K., where the family are based.
The video, shared by Gunner's owner under @justgunnerstunner, shows the muscular XL bully closely accompanying his dachshund sister throughout her pregnancy. They are seen cuddling, resting together, and, eventually, Gunner is captured lying protectively outside her pen after she gives birth, looking on quietly.
"He is supporting his smaller sister through pregnancy and birth, despite people saying he's 'dangerous,'" Gunner's owner told Newsweek.
An overlaid text on the video reads, "Keep them separate now she's pregnant … NEVER," while the caption praises the bulldog's demeanor: "How lucky they are to have Gunner as an uncle, still too small to play."
The post has melted hearts on the platform, as commenters responded with affection and surprise at the gentle behavior of a breed often portrayed as unpredictable and violent.
"This is so sweet," one viewer on Instagram said. "He's the best uncle those little puppers could ask for."
From left: American XL bully Gunner sits next to his dachshund sister; and cuddles her.
From left: American XL bully Gunner sits next to his dachshund sister; and cuddles her.
justgunnerstunner
"They are safer with gunner there as he will not take his eyes off them as he will love them lots," another said, while a third added: "So sweet."
This moment of domestic tranquillity and interspecies affection comes at a time when ownership of XL bully dogs is being heavily restricted in parts of the U.K.
After several high-profile fatal attacks by XL bully dogs, the British government banned the breed in England and Wales, making it a criminal offense to own one without a certificate of exemption.
The law also forbids selling, abandoning, or allowing such dogs to stray.
Gunner's viral video has sparked conversation about whether breed-specific legislation unfairly targets certain dog breeds. While critics argue that XL bullies are genetically predisposed to bouts of aggression, advocates like Gunner's owner are pointing to moments such as this one as evidence that behavior is more about upbringing and responsible ownership than genetics.
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