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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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The heartwarming moment when a Staffordshire bull terrier cuddled up to her new 2-day-old puppy has melted hearts in a viral video.
The footage, posted by @izythestaffy on various platforms, has garnered an impressive 4.5 million views, touching the hearts of viewers across the globe. Petra, a Staffordshire bull terrier, showcased her maternal instincts in an endearing cuddle with her newborn puppy. As Petra cradled the tiny bundle of fur, ensuring the utmost safety and comfort, people were left delighted.
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The Staffordshire bull terrier, a breed with roots in Birmingham, near central England, is a terrier group dog recognized for its small to medium size. In England, the Staffy is often fondly referred to as the "nanny dog," due to its reputation as a devoted playmate and guardian for children. Despite historical associations with bull-baiting and fighting, responsible breeding has evolved the breed's temperament into a more family-friendly one.
Capturing the maternal instinct between the dog and her puppy, the owner wrote: "A beautiful pure loving embrace from mummy Petra with her 2 day old blue staffy puppy."
Like humans, maternal instinct in dogs is powered by oxytocin or "the love hormone," and prolactin. The oxytocin prompts affectionate gestures such as nuzzling and keeping puppies warm, while prolactin is responsible for milk production and the protective nature.
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In the comments section on TikTok, people were overjoyed by the sweet sight, sharing their reactions.
Faz wrote, "This has melted me," while others pleaded with the owner to let Petra keep her baby. The comments showcase a collective appreciation for the unconditional love and kindness exhibited by these pets.
One commenter posted: "We don't deserve the kindness; humanity doesn't deserve the love and kindness from these beautiful creatures." Paula highlighted the joy in Petra's eyes, emphasizing the evident happiness and love radiating from the puppy's mom.
In a later comment, the owner said that Petra's puppy will remain with her until she is around 8 weeks old. At this point, they will embark on a new adventure in a loving home where they can get the one-on-one attention they will crave.
Petra isn't the only dog parent to gain viral attention. Last month, Newsweek told how the story of a dog showing her owner her new puppies delighted the internet.
In a video now with over 800,000 views, @4dogmomlife shared how West Highland terrier River demanded to see her puppies before she started showing them off to her owner.
Newsweek reached out to @izythestaffy via email for comment.
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