Viral Video Of Golden Retriever & Deer Snuggling Might Not Be As Sweet As We Thought

We've all seen dogs, and we've all seen deer, just usually not hanging out together in a house. A November 2025 Instagram video that's racked up more than 11 million views since it was posted shows the two animals living together and sharing the same bed, which has started a thought-provoking online debate. Have the two pets formed an unlikely interspecies friendship that's almost unbelievable, or is the sweet golden retriever named Junie just putting up with a deer named Benny as they awkwardly snuggle up together for a nap? 

In the video, captured inside a home, the pet deer nudges into the dog bed with the golden. As the two maneuver around each other, the dog licks the deer's face as they both try to settle in, with the deer eventually resting its chin on Junie's back. In the comments, there's some disagreement as to whether the dog actually wants the deer in bed with her, with several pointing out signs the dog is stressed: "This dog shows all typical signs of stress. He's not fine with that situation. These licks are meant to show the fawn 'hey I want my space.' It's important to learn the language of our furry friends ❤️." On the flipside, some think the moment is sweet, with one person commenting, "Not even the same species and still just accepted with love! We could learn a lot from animals..." 

Cuteness reached out to certified dog behaviorist and trainer Russell Hartstein of Fun Paw Care for his thoughts on the interaction. "Anyone with basic knowledge of animal behavior can see that the golden retriever is stressed and not enjoying this interaction and only engaging because it feels it has little choice to do anything else," Hartstein exclusively tells us.

In the animal kingdom, interspecies friendships sometimes bloom, especially among domesticated animals, creating a surprising bond between differing types of animals, like a cow and a golden retriever or a duck and a Newfoundland. These relationships are often based on a need for companionship, especially if one species isn't around its own kind. Of course, the most common interspecies friendships occur between cats and dogs, as they are most often living together as pets in a household.

Early socialization helps these friendships manifest, as many interspecies bonds form based on a connection created before instincts and animal-kingdom dynamics fully kick in. It's also more likely to happen when animals are raised together on farms or sanctuaries, where they bond through close, consistent interaction. 

Speaking exclusively to Cuteness, Russell Hartstein cautions against bringing non-domesticated pets into the mix. "I wouldn't incorporate a wild animal into the home, period. Every other domesticated companion animal has a slightly different protocol on how to go about doing introductions effectively, safely, and fear-free." He adds, "If someone is uncertain on how to successfully and positively introduce conspecifics (same species) and/or heterospecifics (different species), they should immediately call a certified behaviorist to seek help." Always keep an eye on your pet's reaction toward a new animal and pay attention to their body language — because even if one animal wants to be friends, the other may not.