John Pilley, an 86-year-old retired psychology professor, discovered extraordinary intelligence in his Border Collie, Chaser.
Treated as both a family member and a student, Chaser learned over 1,000 words and commands through daily training over nine years.
She demonstrated not only an understanding of names for objects but also the ability to grasp basic grammar, distinguishing between nouns and verbs.
The smartest dog in the world | 60 Minutes Archive
Chaser’s abilities caught the attention of scientists like Dr. Brian Hare, who revealed that dogs possess social inference—the ability to interpret human gestures like pointing, a skill even bonobos lack.
This trait, shared with human toddlers, highlights how deeply dogs have evolved alongside humans.
Dr. Greg Burns further proved dogs’ emotional depth by studying their brains.
His research showed that dogs experience affection similar to humans, with their reward centers lighting up at their owners’ scent.
This confirmed the love many dog owners feel is real.
Inspired by Chaser, Dr. Hare developed tools for owners to explore their dogs’ intelligence, proving many dogs have untapped potential.
Chaser’s story is a call to action: with care and effort, every dog could reveal extraordinary capabilities.
