Bow Wow Wow Yippie Ti Yi Yay

Dogs are interesting pets. If you own a dog (or as in my case two dogs) you begin to wonder about the processing power of their dog brains.  I mean, don't get me wrong I enjoy having dogs...and they are much like children...only they pee outside.

There are a lot of folks who think dogs are not very intelligent.  My two dogs exhibit stellar feats of thought processing on a daily basis.  Such amazing things as:

Barking for 45 minutes at what looks like a person in the front yard, but is actually the trash can.  They do this every Sunday night....EVERY Sunday night.
Running full speed across the yard to capture a squirrel that has wandered within sight.  Of course the squirrel is on top of an 8 foot fence, so the dogs conclude that running INTO the fence at full speed might dislodge the squirrel from its perch.  It doesn't work.
Sitting in the middle of the backyard and barking (at 2 in the morning) at beings from other dimensions seen only by dogs.
After waking up in the morning, and having to 'go outside' take off running full speed from the bed and hitting the same door (face first) that is always closed because the human that is supposed to open it wants coffee first....and by damn you're a dog, you can wait a minute.

I am fortunate to have had very deep discussions with my dogs.  Granted it is after several glasses of Merlot...

(me - looking at the dog) (out-loud) You know, they need to do something about the traffic on the highway.
(dog - looking at me) (thinking)  I wonder if he's going to give me some food now.
(me - still looking at the dog) It takes too long to get across town at 5:00
(dog - still looking at me, now licking his chops) Surely he's going to give me some food now.
(me - looking at a blurred spot I think is the dog) I burn at least a half tank of gas just sitting in traffic.
(dog - still looking at me, but now also looking around as if to say "is someone else here besides this idiot?)  I'm wanting some food now.
(me - speaking to various air molecules around the blurred spot) Do you know how much gas is a gallon?
(dog - walking into the kitchen) Fine, I'll get something myself.

Now before you roll your eyes, I know dogs don't have any idea how much gasoline costs per gallon.  Most dogs drive a diesel.

So for those who think dogs aren't that intelligent, I'd say you're probably right. 
I'd also say at times dog owners aren't too intelligent either.