So I was thinking 'What's the smartest animal companion you can have, without awakening them?' After a bit of thought, this is what I came up with. As for skills, I was wondering "What's something highly improbable?" and decided on Profession(Barrister)
CN Human Rogue 9
Str 12 Dex 20 Con 14 Int 7 WIS 12 CHA 14
Traits: Friend to Animals [Human, Race], Beastkin(Rats) [Social]
Feats & Talents:
1: Nature Soul
B: Feat traded for Eye for Talent racial trait
2: Weapon Training: Dagger
3: Improved Initiative
4: Fast Stealth
5: Animal Ally
6: Trap Spotter
7: Boon Companion
8: Combat Trick(Outflank)
9: Evolved Companion
D. Ratt, Attorney at Law (Dire Rat) [Precocious Companion Archetype)
TN Small Animal Companion
Speed 40 ft.
climb 20 ft.
swim 20 ft.
Attack bite (1d4+Disease)
Ability Scores Str 10, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 8;
Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.
Skills Climb +8 Swim +8 Stealth +8 Perception +3, Profession(Barrister) +22
Feats:
1: Weapon Finesse
3: Skill Focus(Profession)
5: Armor Proficiency (Light)
7: Outflank
D. Ratt has a base intelligence of 2, gains +2 from having 8 HD, another +2 from the Precocious Companion Archetype, and another +2 from Rojan's Eye for Talent racial traits. This puts him at 8 INT, a point higher than Rojan's. His intelligence is greater than 2 from the outset, so all 8 of his skill ranks are placed into Profession(Barrister). At third HD, he takes Skill Focus for it, and at Rojan's 9th level, he takes Evolved companion, for the Skilled Evolution. This provides a +8 racial bonus to Profession(Barrister) and giving him a total of +22(8 ranks, 3 WIS, 8 Racial, 3 Skill Focus)
Cute. Don't forget to give his aide at least one rank so he can aid another.
You can't have more ranks in a skill than your HD so the ranks will have to be spread out over levels, but that's not a major problem.
BTW - why is the aide a rogue rather than something with more ability to assist e.g. bard, ecclesitheurge cleric w/the animal domain, etc.?