I try and keep mine from playing with sticks for this exact reason! When Buddy was a puppy, he was running with a stick and did the same thing. He ended up with a 4" puncture wound in the upper back of his throat, which of course required after-hours emergency surgery on a SUNDAY ( I had to pay for the vet, an assistant, and an anasthesiologist (sp?) ). There went my free (rescue) dog!! LOL