Once upon a time, in the town of Spartanburg, South Carolina, there lived a remarkable Border Collie named Chaser. She would soon earn the reputation as the smartest dog in the world.
Chaser was born at Flint Hill Farms in Pauline, South Carolina. But her extraordinary journey began with her owner, Dr. John Pilley, a retired Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Wofford College.
After Dr. Piley’s previous dog passed away, he decided he would never have another dog again. But after retirement, he found himself fascinated by the extraordinary learning skills of Border Collies.
In his work with his previous Border Collie mix, Yasha, he came to the conclusion that dogs simply couldn’t learn the independent meaning of words. But he was intrigued by a set of trials involving Border Collies, where they were found to have highly developed problem-solving skills.
Dr. Pilley had initially believed that dogs couldn’t understand nouns. But one day, a group of farmers challenged his belief by showcasing the impressive abilities of their dogs.
The doctor’s daughter, Pilley Bianchi, recounts the story of this fateful encounter.
“You know science shows us that your dogs don’t really even know their name? Dogs cannot learn proper nouns,” Bianchi recalled her father telling them.
But the farmers begged to differ.
“Is that what science shows us? Then tell me why I can call out my dog Jeb out of four dogs and ask him to go get Millie and Tillie, two sheep out of a hundred, and he can do it every time?”
It was at this moment that Dr. Pilley began to question his findings.
“He understood that he needed to go back to the drawing board and find words that had value to the dog. This was the impetus for him to begin doing research with Chaser,” Bianchi said.
Dr. Pilley’s wife Sally insisted it was time for him to get another dog. So she gifted him the legendary Border Collie for his 76th birthday.
How Chaser Got Her Name
Sally recalls how they would play with their new young dog in their front yard. One time, a red Jeep zipped past them and the dog flew after the vehicle. It was then that they decided to name her Chaser.
While plenty of dogs chase after cars, this was no ordinary dog.
Recognizing Chaser’s intelligence and eagerness to learn, Dr. Pilley embarked on a quest to unlock the full potential of his remarkable companion.
Chase’s Vocabulary: Over 1,000 Words
The goal was to teach her human language and explore the potential of the canine brain. Using a strategy called “errorless learning,” Dr. Pilley started teaching Chaser proper nouns, beginning with a blue ball. He would name the ball, show it to her, and command her to catch or find it. Chaser excelled, and within five months, she had learned and remembered 40 words.
But Chaser’s learning abilities didn’t stop there. In fact, she went on to learn over 1,000 proper nouns throughout her lifetime. What made her truly remarkable was her ability to understand concepts. Chaser realized that when Dr. Pilley said “this is,” he was going to name something new. These items came from an extremely large set of toys.
Once she grasped this concept, Chaser could learn new words and make inferences based on her existing knowledge. She understood categories, adjectives, and even played games of fetch with different types of balls based on their size or speed.
Dr. Pilley and Chaser’s groundbreaking work in the field of dog intelligence gained international attention. They showcased Chaser’s incredible abilities to renowned figures such as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson (see below) and even appeared on the television show Scorpion. Chaser’s story inspired many and demonstrated just how advanced a dog’s mind can be.
Throughout her training, Dr. Pilley prioritized positive reinforcement, ensuring that Chaser enjoyed the process and expressed herself freely. He believed that dogs, like humans, should have the opportunity to communicate and understand one another through language.
The Duo’s Legacy
John W. Pilley passed away on June 17, 2018 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After the professor died, Chaser would live with Sally until Chaser’s passing at the age of 15 in 2019.
But Dr. Pilley’s and Chaser’s legacy will endure for many years to come. A bronze statue of Chaser has been erected in Spartanburg as a tribute to her remarkable intelligence. Moreover, her achievements have been documented in books, including “Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words.” Dr. Pilley’s daughter, Pilley Bianchi, wrote a second book, covering her love of dogs and dog ownership.
Chaser’s story teaches us that dogs possess incredible cognitive abilities and highlights the importance of communication between humans and animals. She paved the way for further research and understanding of our four-legged companions. Chaser, the world’s smartest dog, will forever be remembered for her remarkable intelligence, her bond with Dr. Pilley, and her contributions to expanding our understanding of the canine mind.
Check out this short video where Neil deGrasse Tyson meets Chaser and Professor John Pilley:
