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<blockquote data-quote="jefgorbach" data-source="post: 5748910" data-attributes="member: 28278">At one time I would have agreed that animals were too ignorant to learn anything beyond simple tricks (roll over, fetch, guard, etc), viewing Lassie and company as the peak of what a druid's companion could be expected to accomplish ........ then I got beagles. My trio of lovable &quot;little kids&quot; have completely rewritten my opinion regarding what untrained critters can learn to accomplish simply from observing daily behavior surrounding them. (Who knew a 13&quot;h beagle could EASILY open closed doors? Reach the top of standard kitchen counters?&nbsp; I didnt ... until I had to start LOCKING the knobs.) They, coupled with various articles/vids of wild creatures employing simple tools (gulls/otters using rocks to open clams, monkeys using twigs in a variety of ways including advanced grooming, etc have VASTLY expanded what I've come to believe even minimally intelligent companions could achieve simply by following the example of its daily companions.Considering the National Geographic has several articles regarding chimps hunting with twig-spears and gorillas defending their region with thrown dirt-clumps/wooden clubs, its quite conceivable for any semi-dexterous creature with near-human IQ to do likewise, with their ability to properly utilize armor/weapons corresponding to their exposure to such.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jefgorbach, post: 5748910, member: 28278"] At one time I would have agreed that animals were too ignorant to learn anything beyond simple tricks (roll over, fetch, guard, etc), viewing Lassie and company as the peak of what a druid's companion could be expected to accomplish .... .... then I got beagles. My trio of lovable "little kids" have completely rewritten my opinion regarding what untrained critters can learn to accomplish simply from observing daily behavior surrounding them. (Who knew a 13"h beagle could EASILY open closed doors? Reach the top of standard kitchen counters? I didnt ... until I had to start LOCKING the knobs.) They, coupled with various articles/vids of wild creatures employing simple tools (gulls/otters using rocks to open clams, monkeys using twigs in a variety of ways including advanced grooming, etc have VASTLY expanded what I've come to believe even minimally intelligent companions could achieve simply by following the example of its daily companions. Considering the National Geographic has several articles regarding chimps hunting with twig-spears and gorillas defending their region with thrown dirt-clumps/wooden clubs, its quite conceivable for any semi-dexterous creature with near-human IQ to do likewise, with their ability to properly utilize armor/weapons corresponding to their exposure to such. [/QUOTE]

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