Honestly Backup being less smart than Sloan (and Arnold) makes him an easier keeper. I am sorry if that's mean or offensive but man some days and in some ways it's so much easier having a dog who's not an evil genius.
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Summer is intelligent in her own way. Summer tends to read people a lot better than Mia and is more adaptable. Summer needed less time and work to blend seamlessly into my life (Mia got there, but it's taken 4 years). Summer seems to adjust herself to the people in front of her. I've never seen another dog have the affect on people that Summer does. She seems to know just how to help someone and brighten their day. She seems to know when to ignore me to go take care of someone else. At agility trials she gets passed along and held by a dozen people and carried around. And she takes it in stride. Not even, she adores it. Stores we go into, etc.... she is a mini celebrity. Mia barely gets noticed (probably prefers it that way though).
Both are trainable but there have been instances where Summer learns something a lot faster than Mia or vice versa. Summer has never attempted to open a crate though. Summer doesn't seem to climb shelves to get to food like Mia will. But Summer is much more adjustable, much better with people. Summer is actually more of a handful on the agility course.
At any rate I don't think biddable and easy = dumb. I really don't think there are enough dogs like Summer in the world.
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