Dan I loved your post, really great piece on culling. Now, I have a question that I would like for you to ponder upon. 50 years ago It was nothing for dogs to live up into their golden years, assuming that they didnt live to tough a life. Even today breeds such as the Plott, Redbone, Walkers, Greyhounds and the like all commonly see 13 years, or more! Usually the people breeding these dogs, know nothing of genetics. They simply breed the most "visibly" fit and best performing specimins to a complimentary bitch. With obviously fantastic results. I personally believe that we as humans tend to overthink almost everthing that we get our hands on. 60 Years ago concrete was one strength and one mix 3000psi, The slabs poured at that time and the masonry work is still strong to this day. My home was built in 1960. And the foundation looks as if it were poured yesterday. We now have a diferent mix design new admix dosage, new slump requirements, blah blah blah. A new mix is created daily for every situation and strength requirement you can imagine. And the darn slabs crack routinely within just a few years after being poured. What I am saying is why does everyone have to turn something so simple into rocket science?