Bully Whippet: Double-Muscle.

[MoJo]

Following contained information found at:

http://actionnooz.com/ethics/meet-wendy-the-bully-whippet-superdog-double-muscle/



---------------
Many of you may remember an earlier report we covered about the amazing toddler, Liam Hoekstra (http://actionnooz.com/weekinscience/baby-with-super-strength-super-speed/), with superstrength and superspeed. Just like the buff combination of Superman and his best friend Krypto, it seems the super-kid we reported about may have a pet who can keep up with him. Meet Wendy, the bully Whippet.
Much like young Liam, along with the ridiculously buff Belgian Blue cattle (http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/7209/myostatinrelatedmusculagq8.jpg), Wendy has a muscular mutation that results in extremely bulked muscles. This condition is known as myostatin related muscle hypertrophy, or more simply, double-muscle.
Through a two base-pair deletion in the whippet myostatin gene (http://genetics.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.0030079) (MSTN), and a subsequent rejection of myostatin by muscle cells, Wendy has very fast muscle growth and repair, at levels where she has quickly grown up to hulking proportions.
The increased muscle mass, along with metabolism and extremely low levels of body fats, can translate to impressive super-feats, including marked increases in speed, agility and power.
As documented by quantitative assay, whippets with this mutation seem to be consistently superior in racing events to their “wild-type” counterparts.
As you may already be thinking, a dog with genetically documented and known super-speed? Clearly this does and will raise major ethical concern in terms of dog breeding, as it may also within humans as we continue to learn and master the workings of our own genome.
Double muscle is still a condition under recent scientific scrutiny and testing, only having been adequately surveyed in humans since the year 2000.
------------------------------




This is Wendy from Vancouver B.C. Canada:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYWHIPPET.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYWHIPPET2.jpg

Wendy beside a normal Whippet:(Note, the normal Whippet is a male, while Wendy is female)
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYandNON.jpg


Here is another Bully Whippet named MAC at 10 weeks old:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYpuppy10weeks.jpg

Here is MAC at a Year old:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYpuppyover1year.jpg

MAC at 1 1/2 years old:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYwhippet15years.jpg


Here is some VERY interesting Info:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYGeneFactor.gif



I have also found several other Bully Whippets on forums,(Example is MAC above) where owners have images of their whippet in stages of growth. I one year, they look normal, just a bit heavier, and at a year and a half they are BLAM.. HUGE!

I wish Hayabusa would have been this type of 'mistake' during breeding! LOL.. I would like to have someone joke about how 'scary' she looks then!

Here is more linked information for people who are interested.:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/12/science/12dog.html?ex=1185508800&en=e29f671359bed8d7&ei=5070

http://genetics.plosjournals.org/archive/1553-7404/preprint/2007/pdf/10.1371_journal.pgen.0030079.eor.pdf

[MoJo]

According to the last posted image, my 'Hayabusa' is considered a 'Normal Whippet'. I am assuming that is why she was not allowed to be shown in any events, because she was not the sought after 'fast whippet' shape. I think this is a bunch of Bologna! Messing with genes is wrong, and I do not understand why a 'normal whippet' is considered wrong in form and shape. You would think they would applaud her over the other.

[skunkstripe]

I was sure this was a hoax but after hunting around the internet this looks like it is for real! Holey Moley! :eek:
Those dogs look like they have been taking steroids and working out! :eek:

[MoJo]

I know!!! LOL My fiance Bjorn always comments on how Hayabusa should become a 'juice monkey' and start working out to look like one of those! But I also read that Bully whippets when found in a litter are almost always put down because they don't want this deformity to be seen by other people. It looks like a breeder tries to hide the fact that such a thing can happen, makes them feel like they aren't as good of a breeder as they thought or something. I think that is VERY upsetting. They are dogs! LET THEM LIVE!


If anyone knows anyone with a Bully Whippet for sale/to give away/to be put down, let me know. VERY INTERESTED (Not for breeding or anything)


They do not get any health issues or anything any worse than usual, but I think they just don't live as long because their heart is trying to keep up with everything. but C'mon.. they are awesome looking!

[lovingpaws]

You guys are kidding right. I haven't done research or checked sites, just looking at whats right on the post.

If this is true, forget BSL and banning pit bulls, here's the next generation of fighting dogs:eek: :sicksmiley:

[skunkstripe]

I'd be curious about their health otherwise. This is not based on any specific knowledge of genetics, more a gut feeling that when Mother Nature comes up with a mutation that bizarre, often something else will be "off".

[brunosmom]

I saw this story in another news article but the title was about dogs using steroids....I don't know...picture just doesn't look right to me :thinking:

[lovingpaws]

Well this is not good news. The "bullies" unwanted will be destroyed for sake of speed, and who knows what other breeds will be bred with them for the sake of making stronger bigger dogs to who knows what end.:mad: :(

[MoJo]

It has to do with the breeder breeding for speed, yes. They want the dog to end up having two of the same chromosone or something like that. If the dog comes out with two of one chromo, it is fast, BUT.. if it happens to come out with two chromos of the other type.. this is what happens. Believe me- I thought it was fake too. I have researched and researched, but it is true. No steroids or anything else like that.. it is gene mutation. It has happened in a human case, and happens often in Bulls (Cows). It really sickens me though that they get put down because of this. They still have the exact same temperament, etc. They are still the Whippet- just look different and therefore seen as an eye sore that must be gotten rid of to make the breeder look good. Wipe it off the record so that no one ever knows, otherwise some may think something is wrong with their other dogs.

You see a Bully whippet can come out of a litter of other whippets that look normal. . .

[KCat]

You see a Bully whippet can come out of a litter of other whippets that look normal. . .

Well, that's genetics. This was one of my favorite areas of study when I was getting my degree. Certain genes only manifest if there are two copies. I haven't done the research on this topic and read the detail about the mutation.

Most mutations are unseen. Many are lethal. Many mutations may carry other health risks though having not researched this topic I don't know. It doesn't *look* good from a health POV but if the dog can live out a happy life then I see no reason to put them down. spay/neuter - yes. But not euthanize.

But this is a "business" that will put Dalmatians down if they have one solid black ear. I'm not slamming all breeders so don't everyone jump on me. The belief that a solid black ear means deafness is not true. It may happen in some cases, but IMO it's an excuse to get rid of a dog that is not "breeding" or "show" quality. Some breeders don't want to be bothered with "pet quality" dogs. When I was researching Dals I found this sickening.

[Janimal]

Following contained information found at:

http://actionnooz.com/ethics/meet-wendy-the-bully-whippet-superdog-double-muscle/



---------------
Many of you may remember an earlier report we covered about the amazing toddler, Liam Hoekstra (http://actionnooz.com/weekinscience/baby-with-super-strength-super-speed/), with superstrength and superspeed. Just like the buff combination of Superman and his best friend Krypto, it seems the super-kid we reported about may have a pet who can keep up with him. Meet Wendy, the bully Whippet.
Much like young Liam, along with the ridiculously buff Belgian Blue cattle (http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/7209/myostatinrelatedmusculagq8.jpg), Wendy has a muscular mutation that results in extremely bulked muscles. This condition is known as myostatin related muscle hypertrophy, or more simply, double-muscle.
Through a two base-pair deletion in the whippet myostatin gene (http://genetics.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pgen.0030079) (MSTN), and a subsequent rejection of myostatin by muscle cells, Wendy has very fast muscle growth and repair, at levels where she has quickly grown up to hulking proportions.
The increased muscle mass, along with metabolism and extremely low levels of body fats, can translate to impressive super-feats, including marked increases in speed, agility and power.
As documented by quantitative assay, whippets with this mutation seem to be consistently superior in racing events to their “wild-type” counterparts.
As you may already be thinking, a dog with genetically documented and known super-speed? Clearly this does and will raise major ethical concern in terms of dog breeding, as it may also within humans as we continue to learn and master the workings of our own genome.
Double muscle is still a condition under recent scientific scrutiny and testing, only having been adequately surveyed in humans since the year 2000.
------------------------------




This is Wendy from Vancouver B.C. Canada:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYWHIPPET.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYWHIPPET2.jpg

Wendy beside a normal Whippet:(Note, the normal Whippet is a male, while Wendy is female)
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYandNON.jpg


Here is another Bully Whippet named MAC at 10 weeks old:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYpuppy10weeks.jpg

Here is MAC at a Year old:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYpuppyover1year.jpg

MAC at 1 1/2 years old:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYwhippet15years.jpg


Here is some VERY interesting Info:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/Dare2Inhale/BULLYGeneFactor.gif



I have also found several other Bully Whippets on forums,(Example is MAC above) where owners have images of their whippet in stages of growth. I one year, they look normal, just a bit heavier, and at a year and a half they are BLAM.. HUGE!

I wish Hayabusa would have been this type of 'mistake' during breeding! LOL.. I would like to have someone joke about how 'scary' she looks then!

Here is more linked information for people who are interested.:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/12/science/12dog.html?ex=1185508800&en=e29f671359bed8d7&ei=5070

http://genetics.plosjournals.org/archive/1553-7404/preprint/2007/pdf/10.1371_journal.pgen.0030079.eor.pdf


That is a very interesting article..... I do prefer normal whippets.:p

Strangely enough Mac belongs to someone I know......Ive only spoken to her on another forum...but she did actualy live not that far from me....and now lives in Norway.

I have seen lots of pictures of Mac and he looks a smashing dog and is extremely fit and lives a very healthy life too.:cheers:

[KatzNK9]

Interesting animals. I can't say that I can even fathom the idea that could be healthy if it is a natural occurrence.

[MoJo]

That is a very interesting article..... I do prefer normal whippets.:p

Strangely enough Mac belongs to someone I know......Ive only spoken to her on another forum...but she did actualy live not that far from me....and now lives in Norway.

I have seen lots of pictures of Mac and he looks a smashing dog and is extremely fit and lives a very healthy life too.:cheers:


Are you serious? Awesome, I would love to meet a Bully whippet and watch them exploe beside my 'normal' whippet. hehe.. I am very interested in this mutation. I have NOTHING against it, and am still very outraged that any animal will be put down just because it isn't seen as 'proper' breed standards. Sell it as a pet!

[cathrine78]

Hello everybody!
I am new on this forum, but I see my dog is already well known in here.. I own Mac!! Or I am owned by Mac? :p Not really sure which....
Mac is a non pedigree racing whippet, and also a bully whippet. Even if he looks different from "normal" whippet, he still behaves like one. Mac was born in Newton Aycliffe, England but is now living with me in my home country Norway.

[Janimal]

Hi Cathrine -nice to have you on the forum.:cheers: Hope to see lots more of Mac too...:)

[cathrine78]

Thanks Janis!
I have emailed you a couple of nice pics of Mac, I think you'll like them!

Cathrine

[xcolbi]

I prefer the normal Whippets, LOL. ;)

[MoJo]

Whoa.. cathrine78, you are a celebrity in my mind LOL. *Bows in front of you* Hehe. I adore MAC! My Fiancee and I recently brought a Whippet in to our home because she was not 'breed standard' and is seen above as the 'normal whippet' or, Stage 1 and the breeder did not wish to keep her. But after viewing pictures of Bully Whippets, I am jealous. I think they are beautiful!

[ritabooker]

I'd be curious about their health otherwise. This is not based on any specific knowledge of genetics, more a gut feeling that when Mother Nature comes up with a mutation that bizarre, often something else will be "off".

I read an interview with the owner of one of these dogs, I think it might have been Wendy's Mom(not certain), who said the dog suffered from muscle cramping and they also deal with a shortened life-span from the strain on their heart.

I have just back-tracked and found that it was not Wendy's Mom but Poppy's Mom, who also has a double muscled whippet.

[cathrine78]

Mac is suffering from muscle cramps, but with the right feeding and supplements it can be kept under control. I feed him Proplan Salmon and he gets magnesium, e-vitamins and selenium.
As for his heart, it seems to be fine. I get the vet to check it every time I'm there and it sounds normal. Of course, he is a young dog, but I think the risk of heart failure will be more of a problem on the more heavy muscled ones.

Mac looks extreme for a whippet, but compared to another type of dog (like staffie) he is not that big. It looks worse because of the short coat as well. In the original report for the lab that did the research, it is only reported problems with cramping, not anything about hearts. I hope they are right, because Mac is a wonderful dog I hope I can keep for many many years!

[dlambertz]

Ewwww... it is like a Mr. Universe only with dogs. Never liked a man all bulked up either ....

[KatzNK9]

This dog was on some TV show just last night. Even more unsettling when you see him moving around.

[xcolbi]

Never liked a man all bulked up either ....

Aww, are you serious?! :p

Nah, I hate it, too. I find it's disgusting. Can't stand those Bowflex commercials, LOL.

[xcolbi]

Even more unsettling when you see him moving around.

I can imagine! :(

[eb4i]

Interesting.

How are Mac's tendons and ligaments?

I have a fair amount of friends that are body builders using steroids. (I use the word friend VERY loosely here, more like aquaintances.)
They have a tendancy to tear muscle bellies away from thier moorings... lol... (Not funny really... but I gotta laugh.)
I'm just wondering now Mac's ligaments and tendons hold up. I imagine (and hope) they are fine, due to the natural genetic predisposition to muscularity, rather than the chemically enhanced sort of muscularity, (cough *losers do juice*) but it does make me curious.

[brittanyasands]

i think they are adorable.