Andy Rooney's love for dogs

This week, on assignment for 60 Minutes, CNN's Anderson Cooper reports on the intelligence of his favorite animal: dogs.

He's not the only correspondent with a fondness for the furry companions -- the late Andy Rooney had a soft spot for them as well.

In the video player above, Rooney reports for 60 Minutes on the Westminster Dog Show in New York City in 1980. Though he finds the show's traditions to be a bit "ridiculous," he concludes that dogs' loyalty is what enables them to "forgive us for making them look ridiculous."

"This dog obviously knows that running back and forth across a floor is a silly thing to do, but he's willing to go along with it if that's what his friend wants him to do," Rooney says.

And then, in 1994, Rooney walks around Central Park to test the accuracy of a book, which rates dogs' intelligence in numerical order. (Watch it in the video player at the top of this page.)

He seems unimpressed with the border collie, rated No. 1 on the list, and disappointed that his favorite breed, the English bulldog got a much lower score, "almost at the bottom of the list, number 77."

"I just happen to be very close to one brilliant bulldog," Rooney says, referring to his family's dog, Spencer. "I've taught him pretty much everything he knows."