Smaug is not an "animal", he's a mythological icon that had existed for centuries, in which he amassed untold wealth at the direct expense of those around him and he relished in the chaos & suffering he caused.
Referring to him a "an animal" is naive at best, and downplaying his irrefutable villainy is utterly tone-deaf if not dishonest.
No. Smaug knew exactly what he was doing at every step of the way.