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PETS & ANIMALS

Chaser the Dog Shows Off Her Smarts to Neil deGrasse Tyson

NOVA PBS Official | March 1, 2026



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.

Learn more about how smart dogs are by watching the full segment at: https://to.pbs.org/2ulI2OA

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PRODUCTION CREDITS

Digital Producer
Arlo Perez

Editorial Review
Julia Cort

© WGBH Educational Foundation 2018

MEDIA CREDITS

Music
APM

Written by NOVA PBS Official

Comments

This post currently has 38 comments.

  1. @zweihaunders5019

    March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am

    This is super interesting because it's a very good way to prove if dogs having theory of mind, if it can make an inference on who you think is Einstein when you add 2 more one that is closer to Einstein in the fact that he is more human shaped then that can be pretty solid proof. Test it by putting two toys the one more Einstein like but very different in look only being human in shape further away and the one less darwin like closer if she looks at all the toys and infers who you think is darwin after training her on Darwin it will be pretty solid proof if it confuses her it wouldn't disprove theory of mind

  2. @Robinwhiteart

    March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am

    If I believe in any kind of after life, which is doubtful now in my truly old age, I hope it would mean meeting up with the essences, souls for lack of a better more accurate word, of all the companion animals I have shared my life with in my past. I don't "expect" any humans to "welcome" me. The few good ones would be too busy working on their own continued growth of their "souls" and being busy being human again or whatever. But the animals I have known are better more advanced creatures than any human. They might have a welcoming moment for me, maybe. But choosing to "go into the light" is not desirable. Had enough of re-incarnating, thank you! But the animals, it might be worth something to "feel" them again. Oh well…

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