[Ninasmom]

I think dogs are like people in that there are differing degrees of intelligence. Some dogs are just 'smarter' than others; some are not very bright.

When DH used to travel for work (3/4 weeks a month) and before our son was born, the dogs and cat had what I would call their 'strategic defense plan'. Dasher would stay mid-staircase all night, Rogan was just at the top of the stairs out of sight and Nina positioned herself facing the door of the bedroom. On more than one occasion DH came home in the middle of the night after catching an earlier flight. Dasher would launch himself onto my husband; as DH would be pulling the cat off of him, Rogan would stand up, ready to attack (on more than one occasion, DH had a chow attached to his arm for a mili-second) and Nina would jump on the bed, face the door and growl softly. Neither dog barked. Ever. As soon as they identified him, usually by a "You idiots! It's me!", they all went to their 'normal sleeping spots' in the house - completely different locations.

Two things solved this 'problem' - DH stopped travelling and until he stopped, he would start talking to the animals before he entered the house, using their names, etc... then, the cat would greet him at the door, purring; Rogan would look up and go back to sleep and Nina wouldn't move.

To me - that's intelligence. I could have never trained that type of military precision.