Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words

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Mariner Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 - Nature - 288 pages
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. The amazing story of a very smart Border collie who redefined animal intelligence. A joyous explanation of behavior, learning, and perception--any pet owner, parent, teacher, or psychologist will be enriched by this book.

Chaser has fascinated dog lovers and scientists alike. Her story reveals the potential for extending dialogue with dogs well beyond "fetch."

When retired psychology professor John Pilley first got his new Border collie puppy, Chaser, he wanted to explore the boundaries of language learning and communication between humans and man's best friend. Exhibiting intelligence previously thought impossible in dogs, Chaser soon learned the names of more than a thousand toys and sentences with multiple elements of grammar.

Chaser's accomplishments are revolutionizing the way we think about the intelligence of animals. John and Chaser's inspiring journey demonstrates the power of learning through play and opens our eyes to the boundless potential in the animals we love.

"The most scientifically important dog in over a century." -- Brian Hare, founder of the Duke Canine Cognition Center

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About the author (2014)

JOHN W. PILLEY is an emeritus professor of psychology at Wofford College. He has been working with Chaser since 2004 and has published the findings from their work in the journal Behavioural Processes. Hilary Hinzmann is a freelance editor and writer based in New York City.

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