The Schwarzenegger dog

When people come across Wendy, they may mistaken her for a pit bull. But in fact, she's a one of a kind Whippet. Contrast from the normal slim and agile whippets, Wendy is a 27-kilogram, 24-pack rippling mass of muscles. She's about twice the weight of an average whippet, and the muscles around her neck are so thick, they look like a lion's ruff.

Wendy has a rare genetic mutation, so rare that she was a 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 kilometers an hour.

But whippets with two mutated copies of the gene become "double-muscled," just like Wendy. It has been seen before in one human, and also in mice, cattle and sheep, says the study. The double-muscled whippets are called "bullies" because of their build. But that's not Wendy, Wendy likes nothing better than a good back scratch and isn't shy about sitting in your lap. With the same height, narrow head and the same size heart and lungs, which means she probably won't live as long as normal whippets.

Owner Ingrid Hansen has had Wendy since she bought the dog from a Shawnigan Lake breeder when she was eight months old. Now at the age of four, she lives on a farm in Victoria, Canada, runs around with other dogs and horses, and sleeps on Hansen's bed and pretty much anywhere else she wants to. People have referred to her as Arnold Schwarzenegger or the Incredible Hulk, and are often afraid when the muscle-bound dog runs up to them on her dainty whippet-thin legs, but they soon realize she's friendly, Hansen said.


Source : canada.com

Tags : Webdy the whippet Arnold Schwarzenegger Incredible Hulk genetic mutation mutated myostatin whippet Victoria Canada

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