Animal Planet's Top 10 Smartest Animals

I am loving this list of The Top 10 Smartest Animals from Animal Planet. Sure, it is primarily about the perennial favorites like chimpanzees and dolphins and a bunch of other animals that do not make good pets. But mixed in there are a couple of animals there that often don't get much in the way of respect even though they are intelligent and social:

• Number 6 on the list: pigs, which are very intelligent and highly trainable. They can be strong-willed and pot bellied pigs can get quite large, but they can make excellent pets for the right people.
• Number 10 on this list: Rats! I'm happy that pigs were recognized, but I am especially pleased to see rats getting a little positive recognition, especially for their smarts. Obviously I am a bit biased, being a happy rat owner myself, but rats are definitely intelligent, social, and (contrary to popular belief) clean animals that can also be wonderful pets.