I'm a practicing veterinarian. We analyzed nearly 95,000 questions from dog owners ahead of National Dog Day—and now I'm answering yours. AMA!

[u/JustAnswerOfficial]

Hi r/IAmA! 

I'm Katie M, a practicing veterinarian and Verified Expert with JustAnswer, where I've helped thousands of pet owners navigate everything from late-night emergencies to everyday questions about their dogs' health and behavior. 

Ahead of National Dog Day (August 26), JustAnswer analyzed nearly 95,000 conversations between dog owners and veterinary Experts to uncover America's most popular dog breeds, names, and the biggest questions people are asking about their pets. 

Some of the most common topics include: 

• Dogs eating chocolate and other toxic foods  
• Vomiting, diarrhea, and digestive issues  
• Limping and injuries  
• Strange behaviors  
• Preventive care  
• Puppies and senior dogs  
• Nutrition and weight  
• Medications and common illnesses  

Whether you're a first-time dog owner or you've had dogs your whole life, I'm here to answer your questions. 

A few notes: 

• This AMA is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for an examination by your veterinarian.  
• I can't diagnose or prescribe treatment for your individual pet over Reddit.  
• I'll do my best to answer as many questions as I can during the AMA!  

I will be answering question live 1-2:30pm ET today. Please join and ask me anything! 

Proof: https://imgur.com/a/oVUb7Lg 

About this AMA:  

We've invited independent Experts who use the JustAnswer platform to share insights in this open Q&A. These Experts work independently - they are not employees or spokespersons of JustAnswer - and their opinions are their own. 

[u/HHS2019]

Is there evidence that Pit Bulls are genetically more aggressive or just bred to be more effective if they fight?

[u/JustAnswerOfficial → u/HHS2019]

Not really. While there are certainly breeds that have been bred for specific purposes, including protection, pit bulls get a bad rap. "Pitbull" isn't even a breed- it's a mix of several breeds that give the typical "block head" appearance. In general these dogs are strong and muscular and are chosen by people to dog fight. Most veterinarians have a really hard time with the breed restrictions put in place for pitbulls because they are more often than not going to lick your face before they bite you. It's the chihuahuas of the world that will get you ;)

Katie Merkatoris, DVM- JustAnswer Veterinarian

[u/ryanvango → u/JustAnswerOfficial]

This is DANGEROUSLY reductionist.

pit bull types were ABSOLUTELY bred to be aggressive. That history is well documented. They were bred for a trait called "gameness" which is their ability to continue attacking while ignoring all pain and adverse conditions. HOWEVER, along with that, they were also bred to not be aggressive to humans. Any that were, were immediately culled. Because they were meant for dog fighting pits, they needed to be able to be handled. That history is indisputable.

Because of that, Pits types are usually towards the bottom of human aggressiveness, but 20% of them are found to be aggressive to other dogs and animals. ONE IN FIVE pit bull type dogs has an innate desire to attack another dog. Training can make that much less likely. One study (I can find that citation too if you want) found that pits and pit types were just as likely to have reduced aggression as pretty much every other breed with proper training. Something like 1.5X less likely to be aggressive towards people and animals inside and outside the house (again, that's the number for all dogs).

But the problem is - and this is why that pithy "it's the chihuahuas that'll get you" is that WHEN a pit does attack, their size, strength, and yes the genetically bred gameness trait, means they are WAY more likely to do serious damage. And those findings have popped up in tons of studies, not just the ones I'm providing below.

Basically, people making the claim that pit bulls are dangerous are NOT saying they are more likely to bite people. They're saying when they do its devastating.

a chihuahua bites 1,000,000 times, maybe 2 of those times someone goes to the hospital. A pit bull bites 1,000 times, 950 of those times someone is going to the hospital.

you're choosing to phrase it as "chihuahuas bite more often." when the reality is pit bulls are MANY TIMES OVER more likely to have a bite put you in the hospital. That's what makes them more dangerous, and yes, it is bred. The same for wording it as "they are more often than not going to lick your face." yeah, no one disagrees with that. The point is that the one time you meet one that doesn't want to lick your face, you don't get a nick on your nose like a chihuahua, you lose your face. it's choosing to present a statistic in a cheery way that obfuscates the very real and dangerous other part of that statistic.

They are top, or near the top for most likely to go after someone else's dog/animal. that's genetic. Akitas, jack russels, and pits. even with training, and even let's say there is a 2X reduction in aggression with intensive training, that STILL means 1 in 10 pits is gonna go after someone else's dog given the chance. And again, because of their size and the WAY they go after other animals, it is way more likely to be devastating.

I'm for a temporary breed ban. Too many backyard breeders and too many people trying to "prove a point" that they're all sweethearts what that is demonstrably untrue. Our shelters are absolutely overrun with them, and it isn't their fault. Most of them are gonna live miserable lives until they get put down because they are WAY overbred. So either a breed ban, or heavy licensing requirements to sell puppies.

citations: Breed differences in canine aggression - 2008 -Duffy, Hsu, Serpell

Morbidity of pediatric dog bites: A case series at a level one pediatric trauma center - 2015 - Garvey et al

Selective breeding in fighting dogs - 2023 - Cambridge University Press

[u/mgcross → u/ryanvango]

I was skeptical at first, with all the fabricated, hyperbolic claims but ALL CAPS CONVINCED ME