This is Wendy, over 50 pounds of rippling muscles. Although quite intimidating, Wendy is actually a very friendly dog. Her amazing hulk-like muscles are due to a genetic mutation in the whippet breed. According to the Times Colonist;
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.
[…] whippets with two mutated copies of the gene become “double-muscled,” like Wendy. It has been seen before in one human, and also in mice, cattle and sheep, says the study.
The 2007 Marin-Sonoma County Fair Ugly Dog Contest, the most revered ugly dog contest of them all, just named the 2007 winner. Elwood, a mix of Chinese crested and Chihuahua, won the competition after placing second last year. The Chinese Cresteds are the Michael Jordans of ugly dog competitions, although this year I did notice some Japanese Crested which I’d never heard of before.
Melissa Lanier’s pet dog, Piglet, shows her colors in support at the 7th annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s Race for the Cure 2006, in Tyler, Texas, Saturday, May 13, 2006. Piglet is 14 years old, and herself a canine survior of breast cancer.” (AP Photo/Dr. Scott M. Lieberman)
Ah, the intensity of the competition has obviously heated up. So much so that someone, somewhere, is tampering with our votes. Both Victoria and PeeWee have been the victims, losing thousands of votes in a single night. Our web sleuths are on it.”
The Sonoma-Marin County Fair Ugly Dog Contest is the world standard in ugly dogs. This year the Fair added an unofficial online contest. Sounds like fun, except some idiot hacked in and deleted thousands of votes.
Among the 11 competitors currently in the competiton, eight are Chinese Cresteds. (more…)
Columbo was abondoned due to his poor looks. Luckily for him, he was adopted by a Japanese beautician. Kensuke Hirakawaa used a special dye to turn the dog into a panda bear.
Sam, winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Competition for three year’s running has died at the age of 14. Sam had recently become a media darling appearing all over the news, making TV appearances and meeting celebrities like Donald Trump. He was euthanized on Friday after years of dealing with medical problems including a weak heart.
This Harelquin Great Dane is more of a Huge Dane. Gibson, who is shown in the picture above with a 6′1″ tall man, currently holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s Tallest Living Dog.
