Meet Wendy the Whippet
She has a genetic quirk that causes increased muscle mass.
From the
Victoria Times-Colonist:
Big Wendy the muscular whippet
Rare genetic mutation increases muscles, weight of sleek breed
People mistake her for a pitbull with a pinhead, but Wendy the whippet is one rare breed.
So rare that the Central Saanich dog recently graced the New York Times. She also had several of her photos shown on The Today Show, all because of a rare genetic mutation that has led to her being the Incredible Hulk of dogs.
Wendy is a 27-kilogram rippling mass of muscle. Forget the so-called six-pack stomach: Wendy has a 24-pack. And the muscles around her neck are so thick, they look like a lion's ruff.
"People have referred to her as Arnold Schwarzenegger," says doting owner Ingrid Hansen, stroking Wendy's sleek black coat and white chest.
Wendy was recently part of a genetics study done in the U.S. on mutation in the myostatin gene in whippets, which resemble greyhounds in appearance. The National Institute of Health study reported that whippets with one single defective copy of the gene have increased muscle mass that can enhance racing performance in the breed, known for speeds up to 60 kilometres an hour.
Wow -- A friend of mine has whippets and they are wonderful friendly dogs -- the combination of personality with the size of dog like this would be fantastic. They are hard to train though but complete sweethearts.
Posted by DaveH at July 6, 2007 10:37 PM