Muscle hypertrophy in whippets, sometimes called “bully,” is a genetic trait that results in a highly developed musculature, particularly in the neck and limbs. Affected dogs have a broad chest and generally do not conform to the breed standard, which favors a slim body, long neck, and pointed muzzle. Whippets carrying a single copy of the mutation show moderate muscular development but are often faster than dogs homozygous for the normal allele, providing a performance advantage.
