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.
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

@johnjones3121
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
So sad that they had to let this worthless piece of s*** Neil deGrasse Tyson on that guy's channel to take away from how smart his dog is
@zachr207
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
So cool. I wish we had someone like Neil as president right now.
@rubenontiveros4938
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Damn, Chaser has the fame on TV. Dog power……
@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
@thinktankdonahue
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
I love that dog. RIP
@jeffreywickens3379
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Soon cute and fun.
@johncubberley1943
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
rip to both of them. this was interesting and beautiful.
@earthling163
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
They're finding fantastical creatures together in heaven🥲
@ccheg3949
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Wow, she used the process of elimination! She knew everyone else, so she chose the one she didn't know! Very smart pup!
@trinkybinky3432
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Bred in the border regions of England and Scotland… hence the name.
@jacobodonnell8912
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
I can tell you right now if that was a boy he would know 3 toys max 🤣🤣
@stevenlabc
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
I believe all dogs have this ability. The commutation between that man & dog is the best Ive ever seen. That relationship of Love is the difference.
@blknightsixtyfo
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
The dog learned through extrapolation.
@tomislavmamic1586
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
I watch this video over and over again. It never gets old in 2025
@OnlyAPawn1970
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
That dog is smarter than some people I know😂
@rrj6068
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Chaser, find Lord Nice …..
@arishknight
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
When she came back with Darwin 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹❤ dogs truly are man’s best friend
@phillipoliver2106
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
In the end she grabbed Darwin and took him out the tub! lol
@PlanarPolarisPortal
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
The Earth is Flat. Space is Fake. We Live Under a Dome.
@mamalonglegs89
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
SHE MADE AN INFERENCE!!!!
@seekter-kafa
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
almost like my dog, aahahahahaha, find chicken, find ham, destroy!
@archie3k433
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Chaser is the kind of dog where if you make eye contact and keep staring, you start to feel like you're being rude.
@archie3k433
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
@4:01.. But Chaser couldn't put the toy in the bin worth a damn. lol
Well, no one is perfect.
@expensivepink7
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
she’s so cute bless her
@zrofuksgvn
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
dogs are very sentient. Most of the time they’re better companions than humans too.
@debbiearnold6230
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Just fascinating!
@charleeceejay8543
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Chaser died a year after Dr Philley on July 23, 2019. I think she deserves to be posthumously inducted into #MensaInternational.
@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…
@mike-v8j3x
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Fantastic person and a fantastic dog. What is not to love about this?
@cimbakahn
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
To John Pilley and Chaser. I hope that werever you are, you are together, healthy, and happy, and having fun. You both will be missed!
@Jabzor
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Adorable
@JavinsJavins
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
My dog has a thousand toys and doesn’t know the name of any of them
@ListenToPowerViolence
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
The names are written on the toys. Cheating.
@chirpingbluebird
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
All Border collie are smart.
@shaolinwisdom
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
That's clever goddamn dog!❤
@essiebessie661
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
I had BCs and Aussies and crosses between them. They are smarter than many children.
@Cool-fc9pb
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
Sweet dog
@Freerobuxifwatchandlike
March 1, 2026 at 8:26 am
That is problem solving 6:07