Smartest Pet ?

[wolfsong]

a couple of friends have a Pharaoh Hound (yet again spelling ), that dog is probably the smartest animal I have met. Some people think an animal like a chimp is smart, but most of it's down to natural conditioning... an animal with opposable thumbs is made to make tools and stuff. But this dog has got a scientific mind... observe humans do something, work out how they do it, and then do it ... oping doors, its cage/bed (despite it being one that 'can't' be opened... cupboards...

[Annpan]

Oh, should have added... I have met some of the most wonderful, intelligent and caring creatures in Guide Dogs for the blind and I would think the same of hearing dogs and other such life-line working pets... Can't see a cat bothering to do anything like that.

[RobHed]

Our back door has a catflap in it, and when the door is open our cat STILL comes in through the catflap. How daft is that ?

Ditto! guess it's a cat thing.

Not a female thing, then ?

[windy]

Watch out Rob...you could well be outnumbered!

Cats v Dogs....a cat wouldnt walk happily to the vets to be castrated

As for stupid but clever critters...me chameleon has to rank pretty high in both categories. Clever enough to use the CD rack as a ladder when traversin the lounge. Stupid enough to attack his own reflection

It must be a male thing

[wolfsong]

oh dear, its starting again...
personally i don't know any women who wal through cat flaps instead of doors

[oldhaus]

I have to say rabbits. We have a buck Flemish Giant that is a watch guard rabbit when he's in the yard.

He plays tag with the kids, & even will play soccer with them ... They can sence when you are up or down, and do react to it ... trying to be funny to keep you up.

They are great cuddelers too

IMHO

JLH

[RobHed]

Stupid enough to attack his own reflection

It must be a male thing

Not sure about that, Windy ! I would probably look in the mirror and think that I am looking good for the life I have had ! ROFL

[windy]

I take the view that every line shows a good time Ive just had more good times than most

[trinder]

Looked after a guinea pig once.

It was like looking after a cushion!

love the image it conjured up.
However many years ago an eco sort ( named Dr Marthe kiley_worthington )held a Equine behaviour forum day in devon ( can't remember whereabouts) having done really scientific studies and she compared the learning of a load of wee beasts including dog lama sheep etc and a cow came out tops incidentally the dog was bottom

[RobHed]

I take the view that every line shows a good time Ive just had more good times than most

ROFL - maybe we have met, then ?

[windy]

Possibly....but I wouldnt remember


That's interesting about the cow comin out top though, wonder how you'd measure such a thing?

[Millymollymandy]

Ah that'll explain it then. When there are cows in the field next to my veg patch it will explain the reason why they all come over to watch me, just staring (I thought stupidly) at me watching what I do. No they are very bright and they are wondering why this stupid human is working so hard to grow veg when all you have to do is put your head down and munch grass all day long!

[ina]

Ah that'll explain it then. When there are cows in the field next to my veg patch it will explain the reason why they all come over to watch me, just staring (I thought stupidly) at me watching what I do. No they are very bright and they are wondering why this stupid human is working so hard to grow veg when all you have to do is put your head down and munch grass all day long!

They are just watching you to make sure you do it all right - so they'll have plenty to munch once they've worked out how to get over that fence...

Goats are pretty clever, too. Don't know about intelligent; but they are extremely good at finding holes in fences (even if you've checked them three times and couldn't find any), and at working out how to open your new fangled gates!