Alex,
Clive Wynne should know of my experience with a former pet cat (that I have mentioned before).
Our cat parked himself in a neighbour's house (dogs don't usually do that!) and our neighbour knew when we were coming home because he would get up and ask to be let out. All your guests theories about animals picking up on routines were off the mark - our neighbour did not know when we were coming back, and neither did we when we left in the morning.
I think doubting animal consciousness is totally absurd. It implies that whole areas of behaviour - such as courting - had to be totally re-vamped for humans because we obviously need to be conscious for these activities.
I suspect it makes scientists that perform unpleasant experiments on animals feel a little better.
David |