It befuddles me when American Pit Bull Terriers are referred to as a large-breed dog.
Here's Mina with my other dog, Celeste. Celeste is long-legged and weighs about 45 lbs. Mina weighs about 40 lbs and can fit neatly underneath Celeste (in fact, she likes to walk under Celeste in order to get attention from me). Mina is certainly compact and muscular - she weighs more than she looks.
Mina's weight ranges from 38-43 lbs. In her early days, she topped out a chubtastic 50 lbs and embarrassed the crap out of me at the vet hospital. They were kind, noting that Mina had a rotund but happy appearance, could bear to whittle down a bit at the waist. Seriously, whittle down? Which I did, of course, because Mina was quite overweight at 50 lbs and is quite svelte at 40.
This is Mina with George, a Jack Russell/Rat Terrier/Something or other mixed breed. He's probably a little under 15 lbs and the top of his head reaches an inch or so below Mina's shoulder.
Here's Mina's butt with two Italian greyhounds. The one on the right, Italy, kicks Mina's ass like whoa. Geppie on the left is super tall and does in fact stand almost as tall as Mina.
And here's Mina with another dog who is about 30 lbs.
I just cannot fathom calling Mina a large-sized dog. I can pick her up. I can fling her across the room if I so desire (and I don't). When she places her two front paws on me, she barely gets past my waist. She fits in my lap. Sorta.
American Pit Bull Terriers are not supposed to be large dogs. Unless the classification of large has shifted to any dog over 30 lbs, APBTs remain a mid-size dog. The image that people conjure in their heads of what an American Pit Bull Terrier looks like rarely aligns with the actual dog herself. Case in point - when people learn Mina is a pit bull (and surprisingly few people realize she is), they are quite surprised. Oh, she must be a mix, they say (which could be true, to be fair). Or, she will get larger, assuming she is a puppy. Oh, she just cannot be a pit bull with those dainty paws and small ears. Color me surprised when I was told I have a puppy Boston Terrier who will grow up someday. (Seriously, someone suggested Mina was a Boston terrier mix, which is certainly less accurate than Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which is more accurate than Boxer).
All you naysers, you "PIT BULLS ARE GIANTS AMONG GIANTS"....you have made Mina emo. Pat yourself on the back, you bastards.
EMO PIT BULL WILL EAT YOU IN FIVE SECONDS FLAT. Fact.
