The next time you see someone talking to their dog, resist the impulse to smirk or make a snarky comment. It turns out that the dog might understand what they’re saying.

Stanley Coren, a professor at the University of British Columbia, and apparently an expert on these things avers that the intelligence level of most dogs equates to that of a two year old child. They understand about 165 words and counting to four or five.

Poodles and border collies are members of dog Mensa as they can learn up to 250 words and commands and do basic arithmetic, according to the professor. He also contends that dogs through selective breeding are getting smarter.

Dogs also have a sense of self and dream about canine activities just as we dream about human activities.

It’s all interesting stuff but how do they figure this out. There aren’t any talking dogs, to the best of my knowledge, so how in the world do they know what Rover was dreaming about when he was tossing and turning in his sleep.

I’m a dog person but none that I’ve ever owned impressed me as having much more intelligence than your average tomato.

more: here