Perhaps measuring animal intelligence by comparing it to human intelligence isn't the best litmus test.
I don't have the luxury of having a dog myself because I travel too much but...
I wasn't privy to all of the intelligence that was coming in about Guatemala...
If there is a book that the script came from you have to read it you have to see what you can get out of it: mood back story and things that may not even be in the film. They kick off your imagination and broaden the character I think.
