Smoky and Jim,
Same with Hercule. And he's learned a new trick(?). When he wants to go outside, which is almost constantly, he brings his leash to me in his mouth! Last week he was rummaging around an open firewood bag for the longest time. Curiosity got the best of me, so I went over to see what was of such interest. Inside the bag was a grasshopper. After a while he coaxed it out of the bag and began playing with it, pawing at it and carrying it around in his mouth. Several times the 'hopper jumped out of his range, so I would herd it back, and he would continue palying with it. Finally, and to my amazement, he tired of the game and picked it up in his mouth and deposited it, unharmed, right back at the same bag from whence it came! The following 2 days he went back to the same bag to look for his 'buddy' but, alas, he was gone - probably thought "I'm gonna git while the gittin's good." Animals are truly amazing people, aren't they?