Finn is a 5 year old dachshund from Victoria, British Columbia, and he has the kind of body that makes people do a double take. In mid January 2026, his owner Brookelyn Morgan shared a video that made it look like her small dog had a set of washboard abs and a chest built for the weight room. Morgan told Newsweek, “I first noticed Finn’s built chest when he was around one,” and added, “I thought it was rather odd that he had pecs!” What started as a quick clip meant for laughs quickly turned into a viral moment that introduced Finn to millions of strangers.
Morgan’s first reaction was not to celebrate, but to worry. She took Finn to the vet to make sure there was not something serious behind the unusually defined muscles. The veterinarian reportedly brushed it off with humor and told her, “That is just how he is built, tell people he goes to the gym!” That punchline became the tone of Finn’s online persona, even though Morgan’s concerns were real. It also set the stage for a TikTok audience that was more than ready to treat Finn like a tiny canine bodybuilder.
The post that really lit things up was an older video Morgan uploaded to her TikTok account, where she asked, “Anyone else’s dog also have abs?” In the clip, she is trying to apply eye drops while Finn sits in her arms, and the camera angle makes his stomach and chest look startlingly chiseled. Morgan explained that she did not even notice the abs at the time and only caught on after friends reacted to the video. Once it hit TikTok, the comments followed the same beat, turning Finn into a running joke about planks, gym routines, and protein drinks.
One commenter summed up the visual perfectly by writing, “He’s in constant plank man… ofc [of course] he has abs.” Another leaned into the absurdity with, “This is so funny to me like why is he ripped,” while someone else kept it simple with, “Holy that dog is ripped.” The exaggerations got even wilder as viewers compared him to other animals and joked about supplements. Among the replies highlighted by Newsweek were, “Broh that’s not a dog that’s kangaroo,” and, “Bro asking for a couple scoops creatine in his puppuccino.”
@finnthedachshund3 He’s single btw 🤣 just kidding. He got his eye cut by a Great Danes paw so we had to do eye drops which he hated at the time #minidachshund #dachshund #cushingsdiseasedogs #foryou #fyp ♬ original sound – Finnthedachshund
As funny as the gym chatter was, Morgan emphasized that Finn’s definition was not the result of exercise or some secret workout plan. The visibility of his abs and chest is tied to hair loss on his underside, which makes his muscles stand out more than most dogs. Morgan used the sudden attention to point people toward the real story, which involves a serious medical diagnosis. She told Newsweek, “Finn was diagnosed with Cushing’s disease at the extremely rare age of three,” which is far younger than the typical age when the condition appears.
Cushing’s disease, also known as hyperadrenocorticism, is an endocrine disorder that is more often found in middle aged and senior dogs. It can cause symptoms like increased thirst, hair loss, a pot bellied appearance, and frequent urination, and it is usually managed rather than cured. Morgan said that after extensive testing, she was told Finn was simply “unlucky,” since the condition generally affects much older dogs. She was initially given the devastating expectation that he might have only about a year left. A second opinion offered more hope, especially because many life expectancy estimates are based on older dogs with the disease.
Nearly three years after that early diagnosis, Finn is still by Morgan’s side, and she credits persistence for making the difference. She said she was grateful her vet “continued testing himm, and not pushing it off due to his young age.” That extra attention is part of what makes Finn’s story resonate beyond the jokes, because it highlights how easy it is to dismiss symptoms in a young pet. Morgan has also been blunt about the financial strain of chronic care, saying treatment has cost tens of thousands of dollars so far. She added that medication alone runs about $1,000 a month, which is why she urges owners to think about pet insurance before a crisis hits.
Morgan believes Finn’s timeline changed because the disease was caught early and treated quickly. As she put it, “I truly believe that finding out so early that Finn has Cushing’s disease prolonged his life, as he got on medication.” That message lands differently when it comes from someone who first went viral for something that looked purely funny. Finn’s abs may be what grabbed the internet, but his day to day reality is about monitoring a complicated condition and staying on top of ongoing care. The attention also shows how a single viral clip can become an unexpected way to spread awareness.
For readers who only know dachshunds as long bodied lap dogs, Finn’s situation is a reminder that the breed is full of surprises. Dachshunds were originally bred to hunt badgers, which helps explain their confidence and stubborn streak even in a small frame. They come in standard and miniature sizes, and they can have smooth, longhaired, or wirehaired coats, with plenty of variation in color and pattern. Their distinctive shape also means owners often hear about back health, weight management, and the importance of controlled activity to protect the spine.
It also helps to understand the basics of Cushing’s disease when a story like Finn’s makes headlines. The disorder involves the body producing too much cortisol, which can affect energy levels, skin and coat health, and overall organ function over time. Because many symptoms overlap with normal aging, diagnosis can require multiple tests and careful follow up, especially when a dog is young and the condition seems unlikely. Finn’s case stands out precisely because it challenges the assumption that serious endocrine disorders only show up later in life.
What do you think about Finn’s viral fame turning into a lesson on early testing and long term pet care, and have you ever had a moment where a funny pet quirk turned out to be something more worth discussing in the comments?
