Columnist Kathy Hedberg of the Lewiston Tribune takes issue with recent studies that show that dogs may be smarter than we think:

Anyway, I have some doubts about how smart dogs really are. As I was telling my dog, Christmas Belle, the other day as we were doing the crossword puzzle (she does the horizontal words and I fill in with the vertical words) if dogs are so smart how come you never see a dog running for public office? How come you don't see dogs starting their own businesses or writing novels or flying airplanes? Huh? Can you answer that, Christmas Belle? She filled in two of my words and said "Checkmate" and then hopped down from the table and went to sit behind the couch. I think the question made her mad. More here.

Question: Do you think your dog is smart?