Chaser the Dog Shows Off Her Smarts to Neil deGrasse Tyson

Former Wofford College Professor John Pilley, owner and trainer of Chaser the Border Collie, “the world’s smartest dog,” passed away on Sunday, June 17. He was 89 years old.

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PRODUCTION CREDITS

Digital Producer
Arlo Perez

Editorial Review
Julia Cort

© WGBH Educational Foundation 2018

MEDIA CREDITS

Music
APM

[elliegolding]

Chaser passed away July 23rd. She is now with John. I bet their reunion was sweet.

[josephr.gainey]

Chaser's person and owner (Dr. John W. Pilley) died on Sunday, June 17, 2018. In April, he had been diagnosed with leukemia. Pilley would have turned ninety on July 1, 2018. Pilley's daughter said that shortly before her father died Chaser positioned herself facing his bed looking directly at him and barked loudly at him (she isn't a barker) and kept her eyes fixed on him until after Pilley died. At the memorial service on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, I saw and spent time with Chaser. She is till very grief-stricken and misses her person greatly. Pilley was at work on a second book about Chaser and how to train your dog to be one. The family--especially Chaser--are adamant that the book will appear soon as a memorial to Dr. Pilley, Chaser, and their work together.

[redfailhawk]

For those who didn't know, there is actually a life-sized statue of Chaser in Spartanburg, SC, holding a bright blue ball. Her head and butt are shiny from all the pets she gets, and she is in a playful pose with a ball firmly in her mouth. It's such a beautiful, sweet tribute to a local celebrity. The bootprints of her owner face her, ready to accept the toy and give her praise.
For anyone who would like to visit, it's in the park in Morgan Square, near the clock tower.

[ducheswannabe]

The reason Chaser hesitated was because she was thinking "Is that Darwin? Looks more like Einstein to me..." lol And then she was like "Oh, Silly me! Einstein didn't have a beard ! That IS Darwin."

[HeadBangerBoogie]

R.I.P.
"Was I a good girl?"
"You were the best"

[phelanpawly]

A man with infinite patience and a dog with infinite enthusiasm. An inseparable team in life and death. My only hope is when I die I’m with my dogs again. R.I.P. Dr Pilley and Chaser. 😢

[mikeymike]

Rest in Peace Chaser. July 23, 2019. Age 15.
You will be missed.

[miketurns]

My nephew was like “The doggie finds the toys because he can read the names.”
1. That would be amazing.
2. I think Chaser is smarter than my nephew.

[benb]

Fascinating how Chaser was able to use deductive reasoning. The psychologist and the dog were both truly geniuses in their own right.

[poshko]

Her face after finding Darwin is priceless. It’s almost like she wasn’t completely sure she chose correctly.

[michaelvo-chau]

My collie is currently making me a 7 course meal while I’m watching this

[alkaholic]

5:07 her face and body language when she re-emerges says so much.

All the previous toys that she did recognised, she trotted back round all carefree and confident. But when she came back with Darwin, she came round slowly and hesitantly with an inquisitive look on her face.

It was almost as if she was trying to say "I'm not sure about this because i don't recognise it, but as it's none of the others I'm guessing you mean this one?"

Even after being acknowledged, she was still looking at him and looking around the room as if to say "well i think i did well, but something's not normal, can someone explain what's going on here?"

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It's very sad to hear John has passed. Thank you, NOVA, for honoring him in this way.

[jessicabona]

I love how he whispers when explaining about the new toy "Darwin". Like she might be listening to the plan.

[medi]

Him just responding, “it makes me happy” melted my heart

[JoshuaCrbit]

I had a border collie for 16 years. Smartest dog I've ever met. He could understand the concept of "other". Not only did he know the difference between a stick and ball and frisbee if one of the frisbees in the yard was damaged and he brought it to me I would tell him to go get the other one. And he would drop the busted Frisbee and go find the new one in the yard. He was also the kind of dog that when carrying a stick and trying to pass through a fence he would stop and look at the fence put the stick down and then grab one end of it and drag it through. I've had plenty of dogs that are clever but border Collies are the only ones I've experienced that seem legitimately intelligent. I mean hell we don't understand their language but they know ours period my dog was able to get entire sentences.

[IbizanHound]

When she brought back Darwin, first of all, I got goosebumps and second she seemed unsure even though Neil was trying to get her excited, so I was thinking "Oh my god, just give her a hug and pet her already!". So happy he did just that in the end! Rest in peace mr Pilley. What an amazing dog you brought up : )

[o.h.w.]

Seeing Neil get so excited and get mushy with Chaser was one of the cutest and sweetest things about this ❤

[YouzTube]

03:35
Gotta love that Dr. Tyson _whispers_ so Chaser won't overhear his plan.

[superbob]

The confused head tilt when he says Darwin.