anastasia: Wow, it's a shame that your average AKC dog-owner doesn't seem to know all the facts. My neighbors (same ones) let their $700(?) GS roam alone all the time and I always wondered why they would risk him being injured by a wild animal, attacked by a bear, even shot (game lands abound here), maybe they already know. And ROFLMBO on the "sterilizing a rock" - silly vet And GO Niki - they both seem like such incredible dogs (but, honestly, I think all God's creatures are pretty darn incredible, except humans most of the time, they puzzle me)