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Published: 2007-11-17 17:01:31 +0000 UTC; Views: 2697; Favourites: 35; Downloads: 0
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Description
newest character on Mushroom Grove , my "bully" whippet Golddust.History:
Golddust was born much to his breeders' dismay and chagrin. Both his parents were extremely fast dogs on the whippet racing circuit, and they had had high hopes for the litter that would result from the union of such a pair. As they grew older, four of the five puppies looked perfectly healthy and normal, but Golddust was hardly recognisable as a whippet. His muscles bulged from his sides, giving him the look of some strange hybrid dog on steroids, and to top it all off, he wasn't even particularly fast, his heavy cramp-prone muscle putting him at a disadvantage to his sleek, swift brothers and sisters. Feeling him to be useless, his breeder promptly disposed of him at a local animal shelter.
The as-yet-unnamed puppy was spotted by a young man who took him to be some kind of pit bull cross. Imagining the dog to be his ticket into the fighting rings, the youth hurried the whippet pup home and began his 'training', taunting him, trying to get him to snap. The dog, puzzled and alarmed by this, usually sought refuge by slinking away with his ears flat, only resorting to unwilling bared teeth and bites when he was backed into a corner, terrified. Annoyed at the lack of response from what he had thought was a fighting dog, the youth often took his frustrations out on the dog himself.
Finally, desperate, the man decided to take the dog to the ring anyway, thinking that perhaps other dogs would be the key to unlocking the ferocity that he still felt sure was somewhere in that deep muscled chest. It might have gone very ill with the dog if the fighting ring had not been swarmed upon by police that very night he was scheduled for his first fight, the dog fighters caught and the dogs taken away.
At this point in time the young dog was about a year and a few months of age, and when his new foster owner first saw him he was cringing and shivering in his crate, obviously traumatised. The dog was quickly rushed to a vet to be treated for any physical injuries, and over the next half a year he was worked with to overcome the mental and emotional scars that had been inflicted upon him by his uncaring dogfighter master. It was also during this time that it was discovered he was in fact a double-muscled whippet, and not any kind of mastiff or bull dog.
The dog was named Golddust, for the golden brindled spotting that decorated his white coat, and he was eventually adopted by a young whippet handler named Johnny had just moved to Mushroom Grove. Underneath the muscle and bulk, Golddust was still a whippet at heart, and he responded eagerly to Johnny. The two remain together to this day, and Golddust has even found good friends in the two whippets owned by Johnny's good friend, Beth.
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Comments: 116
swift-whippet In reply to ??? [2009-12-13 07:44:08 +0000 UTC]
I don't think anyone should have a problem with you. You voiced your opinion in a completely unoffensive and honest way and there's no need to be afraid that people won't like you.
Even if we may disagree about the dogs looking 'cool', you can still respect that it's not healthy for them to be this way. And it's commendable of you to want to adopt one.
No fear, Dusty's situation is completely fictional as he is a character I made up, and I invented his backstory for story purposes, to make him the character he is. In actuality, there is no indication that any of these dogs are being abandoned, culled or disdained because of their appearance. From what I have heard, any dogs born with this condition are neutered and placed in loving homes, which is as it should be.
So yes, I don't see anything to disagree with or have a problem with in what you said.
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FreeMeadows [2007-12-19 16:24:07 +0000 UTC]
Aw, beautiful...I love the history behind. I was aware of a double muscle gene in pigs and cattle, but not dogs..so I've learned something new today!
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swift-whippet In reply to FreeMeadows [2007-12-19 18:07:59 +0000 UTC]
yeah, apparently it affects racing greyhound lines too. it only affects the racing lines and not the show lines.
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Pannya [2007-12-01 08:27:28 +0000 UTC]
I read that article and to be perfectly honest I feel creeped out. It's like a Belgian blue bull... in dog form. Ugh the muscles @____@
I feel sorry for the poor things and Golddust seems like a very sweet fellow <3
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swift-whippet In reply to Pannya [2007-12-01 12:56:17 +0000 UTC]
no yeah, I was pretty disturbed the first time I heard about it. I feel sorry for them too, but nobody is breeding them and they're working towards eliminating them from the gene pool. At least they're aware of how it happens.
thanks <3
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Pannya In reply to swift-whippet [2007-12-01 14:47:14 +0000 UTC]
I wonder if the genetics is at all similar to the double muscling in beef cattle?
At least no-one is breeding from them, that would be rather cruel
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swift-whippet In reply to Pannya [2007-12-01 15:22:58 +0000 UTC]
it is the same mutation. apparently also occurs in racing greyhound lines, mice, and humans.
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dubangel In reply to swift-whippet [2008-02-08 23:59:38 +0000 UTC]
Wow, I wonder if there's ever been a human with that...
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himika-009 In reply to Pannya [2008-02-16 01:33:15 +0000 UTC]
there was a child born with the mutation.
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tailfeather [2007-11-24 18:07:06 +0000 UTC]
Aww, nice!
I feel bad for poor Wendy though X3 I hope people won't start breeding them
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zugestimmt [2007-11-23 12:32:47 +0000 UTC]
I've seen that disorder before! o: That's so sad. You drew it really well, and it actually looks happy c: That's disgusting that people are trying to /breed/ them, I didn't know that. ._.
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swift-whippet In reply to zugestimmt [2007-11-23 15:33:45 +0000 UTC]
oh no, nobody's trying to breed them and I am really happy about that for the sake of both the whippet breed and the dogs themselves. having all that bulk can't be comfortable, even if the dogs take it in their stride and love the hell out of life anyway. just because that is their nature. as a matter of fact breeders of coursing dogs are looking into genetic testing so they can still breed fast dogs without the bullies appearing.
thanks so much!
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Bear-hybrid [2007-11-21 10:54:58 +0000 UTC]
gosh I never knew such an anomaly existed! it must cause some problems for them though :{
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swift-whippet In reply to Bear-hybrid [2007-11-21 23:38:59 +0000 UTC]
it shows up in the racing lines, not the show lines. apparently it appears in racing greyhounds and beef cattle as well. yeah, they apparently are prone to cramps and I imagine that having all that muscle on a normal whippet skeleton can't be easy for them. :\ their life expectancy is apparently compromised, too.
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LordCheetah [2007-11-21 00:06:05 +0000 UTC]
*GASSSSPPP* oh my gosh! That picture totally shocked me to see a whippet that muscular Poor baby...I bet her skeletal structure is just stinging with the burden of carrying so much weight
She's a cuties though
Lovely picture, this character is very intriguing Wonderful job as well, the muscles are very very intense *favs*
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swift-whippet In reply to LordCheetah [2007-11-21 00:40:50 +0000 UTC]
yeah it is pretty scary, isn't it? and yeah they look uncomfortable too. but at least breeders are working to make sure they don't get produced and the ones that have shown up so far seem to have found good homes. <3
thank you so much! it was difficult, since I'm not used to bulky dogs and all.
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Bowee [2007-11-19 16:56:28 +0000 UTC]
wow, that's good and the story is awesome(totally plausible)
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swift-whippet In reply to Bowee [2007-11-19 16:58:15 +0000 UTC]
thank you so much!! yeah the stories have to be plausible or it bugs me. heheh.
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SneauxMcFly [2007-11-19 04:48:03 +0000 UTC]
I absolutely love this guy! Great background story and of course an amazing drawing. I feel bad for these pups but they do look sort of unique. (NOT encouraging breeding them!)
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swift-whippet In reply to SneauxMcFly [2007-11-19 05:16:24 +0000 UTC]
thank youu. <3 and yeah I know what you mean. I don't support breeding them either, and I made a character of one just so I had an excuse to draw them! xD
your post for Sultan made me giggle, too. I will reply to that later. xD
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toastify [2007-11-18 20:07:47 +0000 UTC]
Urgh, that's terrible.. Dx Poor whippets.. I hope they don't get bred, gaw. I sort of like genetic anomalies that aren't frightening or detrimental to the animal-- like six-toed cats.. xDDD I want one-- but breeding animals that suffer..? That should be considered cruelty.. /:
Anyway, great picture.. :3 I really love the muscle tone.. and how you made him look.. approachable, not like an emotionally scarred fighting dog.
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swift-whippet In reply to toastify [2007-11-18 20:27:57 +0000 UTC]
genetic anomalies are very interesting indeed, and fun ideas to play around with in fiction, but I don't think genetics should be toyed with in real life. :\ at least not without extreme attention to everything that could go wrong, and not just for the sake of it at the expense of an animal or person. I don't like the idea of cloning, or 'designer' babies, either. :\
hee well he is a whippet! and technically he didn't actually get to fight before he was seized by the authorities. I was wondering whether or not he should actually have been through a fight before he was taken away, but I decided it was a better idea not to since he'd probably be killed or at least seriously injured in a fight against a pit dog, and I didn't want that.
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toastify In reply to swift-whippet [2007-11-18 20:43:37 +0000 UTC]
Oh yeah.. Dx When they randomly crop up (and aren't debilitating), they're sort of neat, but to intentionally breed for a *defect*? o_o;; That's sort of sick.. rrgh.
Yeah.. /: That's a good point.. and chances are he wouldn't have been pulled, so.. neh. I guess it is best he didn't fight. :3
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swift-whippet In reply to beffalumps [2007-11-18 20:31:10 +0000 UTC]
he's not supposed to look like that. he's a whippet with a genetic condition that makes him bulk up.
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beffalumps In reply to swift-whippet [2007-11-18 20:58:18 +0000 UTC]
oh well i still like him. he's a very good looking dog!
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astralsymphony [2007-11-18 17:02:58 +0000 UTC]
That's got to be awful for the dog! I can only imagine having the slender, sleek frame of a whippet that is covered in muscle that isn't really supposed to be there. There must be some health issues that go along with it, nay? On top of whatever health things are common in whippets in the first place.
That aside, I love how you gave this guy the muscles but he still looks like a whippet, especially in his expression. What a sweetie!
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swift-whippet In reply to astralsymphony [2007-11-18 18:09:17 +0000 UTC]
yes, their life expectancy is compromised from what I understand, and they're prone to muscle cramps. I also imagine it's not as easy for them to move around as a normal whippet.
whippets are actually very healthy dogs, all the sighthounds are. I don't think there are any particular health problems associated with the breed, or at least none that are prominent. maybe bloat, because of how they're shaped with that long neck and deep chest, but that's easily enough prevented - or at least helped - by feeding in a raised position.
thanks, I am glad you like him. all owners of bully whippets make it a point to talk about how incredibly sweet their dogs are (though I don't see why this should come as a surprise. after all, they are whippets!).
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FoxedFerret [2007-11-18 14:55:54 +0000 UTC]
o3o That sounds a lot like that horrible disease horses can get. They end up dying an incredibly torturous death.
But seriously, the muscle thing needs to quit. It's not natural xD.
My greys had to crash on the couch after running around to cool off. (No, we didn't race them. They were just very silly.)
...Extra muscle would have made it hell for them to do anything at all.
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swift-whippet In reply to FoxedFerret [2007-11-18 18:05:32 +0000 UTC]
it does need to quit, and I am happy that breeders are looking into ways they can avoid breeding double-muscled dogs.
haha, sighthounds have to run! they're built for it. and so much extra muscle, I imagine, doesn't help. :\
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wednesday-mourning [2007-11-18 03:20:06 +0000 UTC]
That was an interesting article, I'd never heard of that phenom before. Wild looking dogs! Golddust is very cute regardless, and I love the simple, brindle coloring.
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VelvetSkies [2007-11-18 02:49:04 +0000 UTC]
Wow, that whole myostatin deficiency thing was very interesting o3o
I also love his markings c:
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dinchan [2007-11-18 01:40:35 +0000 UTC]
Wow.. That's one heck of a dog.... I can't belive a dog like that exist... Poor doggy...
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MoonDoggie613 [2007-11-17 23:18:37 +0000 UTC]
I saw that story not too long ago when I was googling for pics of dog breeds. I actually thought the pic was photoshopped at first o_o; I've never seen any dog as muscular as her, and it looks painful and stressful Atleast Wendy seems like she has a good life though. And hopefully no one will try to breed them >/ -hates dogfighting-
Golddust is sweet n.n I love his markings! I'm glad his story has a happy ending, too C: And nice job drawing him!
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swift-whippet In reply to MoonDoggie613 [2007-11-17 23:42:19 +0000 UTC]
nobody should be trying to breed them at all, I am strongly against that. :\ I am glad that the DM whippets that exist are enjoying happy good lives. and even a DM whippet would be useless in a dog fight. they are prone to cramps because of the enormous muscle, and they are still whippet skeletons underneath all that bulk and I imagine they could get seriously hurt in a fight. I wouldn't put it past some idiot to think them some wonderful fighting dog and try to fight them, though. >(
thanks so much!!
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MoonDoggie613 In reply to swift-whippet [2007-11-19 04:50:51 +0000 UTC]
Very true D: It would be so terrible if anyone tried to do that >/
Welcome!
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Hyourin [2007-11-17 22:58:01 +0000 UTC]
Wow. That's one crazy looking dog. Lovely character designing nonetheless.
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colonel-strawberry [2007-11-17 22:47:14 +0000 UTC]
My goodness, that was an incredibly strange looking dog. Poor little thing! Though i guess it did make inspiration for most likely the only bullie whippit on DA!
I love all the markings on your characters, they're very natural, and thats how i like it
Lovely character!
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swift-whippet In reply to colonel-strawberry [2007-11-17 23:44:12 +0000 UTC]
hah! yes, natural markings rule. and I'm glad they're taking steps to stop bullies from being produced. the last thing they need is some jerk deciding OMG THIS DOG LOOKS COOL LOL and trying to breed them. grah.
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delPigeon [2007-11-17 22:46:06 +0000 UTC]
Aww, I saw a photo of these poor guys on FP a while ago, and at first really thought that a Whippet's head had been photoshopped onto a seriously beefy version of some other breed. It's the most awful thing to have happen.
Selective breeding can seriously narrow gene pools with very damaging consequences. I went to a lecture the other day about various inbred families, largely in the Amazon, where they actually have no way to interbreed with other people, as well as in very socially structured areas of Saudi Arabia. Some of the poor kids had the most horrific resultant deformities, which totally bombed their lives.
Of course, as these are dogs, it won't be so bad. After all, I've yet to meet a self-conscious canine - but it's horrible to think that these creatures have their lives partially compromised in this way. I find it unlikely that any 'bully' whippet will live as long as a normal whippet =/
That sad fact dealt with, I do love your character! x3
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swift-whippet In reply to delPigeon [2007-11-17 23:46:54 +0000 UTC]
it is a pretty freakish sight, even if you're not used to whippets. I'm glad they're taking steps to stop this from happening, I don't think it benefits the whippet breed or the dogs themselves for that matter.
and that is a crazy bit of info, wow. though I can believe it.
no, from what I hear their life expectancy is compromised and they're prone to cramps and such. the only thing that is abnormal about them is the muscle growth, which means they're carrying all that weight on an ordinary thin light whipp skeleton. it can't be good for them.
thank you Delfness!
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Chocolate-Rhinos [2007-11-17 22:23:19 +0000 UTC]
You know I was JUST surfing around the net a few days ago and came accross that, the site was in spanish I think.
Quite an interesting phenom, though I dont know if anyone would really try to breed them, whippets arent really "impressive" as far as bite strength, ferocity or brute strength goes, I dont think it would be worth it for anyone when they can just have pits or something (Unless of course this would be purely for aesthetics)
Very cute character though, I love those creamy brindle spots :3 you render brindle lovely!
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swift-whippet In reply to Chocolate-Rhinos [2007-11-17 22:38:08 +0000 UTC]
heh well it seems to have taken the intarwebs by storm, I saw it first crop up on the whippet forum I frequent about two months ago, and then on several news articles.
no, whippets are completely useless as fighting dogs because they've been bred for generations to be light and fast and agile, not bulky. they also have very thin skin that tears easily, and they're not a breed prone to aggression - unless you count prey drive - because they were not bred to fight. however, I would not put it past some idiot to decide these dogs look awesome and start breeding them deliberately. x(
if it's purely for aesthetics and without taking health issues into account, then it's a bullshit reason to 'create' a dog breed, imho. :\ I think it says a lot about this day and age that the breeds that are resulting are schnorkadoodlepuggakaboobleblobs, or something equally ridiculous. blargh. but that's an entirely different rant.
thank you!
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Chocolate-Rhinos In reply to swift-whippet [2007-11-17 23:55:39 +0000 UTC]
Ohhhh I could rant about "designer dogs" all day haha.
Youre welcome :3
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swift-whippet In reply to Chocolate-Rhinos [2007-11-18 00:03:26 +0000 UTC]
not a problem. always glad to find someone who feels the same way I do.
CALL A MUTT A MUTT, STOOPID
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Chocolate-Rhinos In reply to swift-whippet [2007-11-18 00:12:54 +0000 UTC]
And just go to the freaking pound |:
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Maxrunn [2007-11-17 21:58:13 +0000 UTC]
those poor dogs! I thought that photo was a manip... I feel bad for them. that cannot be comfortable.
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