Intelligence is not the same thing as trainability. Trainability masquerades as intelligence, or is mistaken for intelligence.
Both have their place.
"Getting good grades" is a sign of trainability.
Doing tricks to amaze or amuse the humans is trainability.
A minimal amount of intelligence is necessary to be trainable-- you can't train a sponge-- but people seem to be more impressed, in general, by trainability than by actual intelligence.
Those who submit to training are rewarded and praised. Those who outsmart the ones who want to train them are often not appreciated. Or even punished.
I'm usually much more impressed by intelligence than by trainability. Even though I'd appreciate it if I were able to train my cats a little more.
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