bully whippet

bully whippet
 n.— «When mutant, muscle-bound puppies started showing up in litters of champion racing whippets, the breeders of the normally sleek dogs invited scientists to take DNA samples at race meets here and across the country. They hoped to find a genetic cause for the condition and a way to purge it from the breed. It worked. “Bully whippets,” as the heavyset dogs are known, turn out to have a genetic mutation that enhances muscle development. And breeders may not want to eliminate the “bully” gene after all.» —“As Breeders Test DNA, Dogs Become Guinea Pigs” by Amy Harmon in Fort Mott State Park, New Jersey New York Times June 12, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

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Further reading

What in Tarnation (episode #1599)

Language is always evolving, and that’s also true for American Sign Language. A century ago, the sign for “telephone” was one fist below your mouth and the other at your ear, as if you’re holding an old-fashioned candlestick...

A Canine Business Title That Sticks

Professional dog walkers call a dog obsessed with carrying sticks a branch manager. Another dog who grabs the other end of the stick and helps carry it around is jokingly called an assistant branch manager. This is part of a complete episode.

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