Spartanburg in Spartanburg County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Chaser the Border Collie
April 28, 2004 - July 23, 2019
Photographed by Mark Parker, March 22, 2024
1. Chaser the Border Collie Marker
Professor Pilley & Chaser gave the world scientific affirmation that dogs are not only smarter than we think, but capable of so much more with their groundbreaking research and her unprecedented language learning of over 1000 objects.
Those objects were her toys.
Chaser has the largest tested vocabulary of any animal on the planet which garnered her international fame and the title of "the smartest dog in the world."
The methodology for Chaser's learning?
Play.
"All creatures can learn and if learning does not take place, we must change the methods." - Dr. John W. Pilley, Jr.
Footprints of Dr. John W. Pilley, Jr.
July 1, 1928 - June 17th, 2018
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Science & Medicine.
Location. 34° 56.969′ N, 81° 55.973′ W. Marker is in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in Spartanburg County. It is at the intersection of Dunbar
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Daniel Morgan Monument (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Daniel Morgan Monument (a few steps from this marker); 135 West Main Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Billy Walker/Clara Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Citizens & Southern National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); To Honor the Memory of These Men
Photographed by Mark Parker, March 22, 2024
2. Chaser the Border Collie sideview
More about this marker. Statue is to the northeast of the Daniel Morgan Monument in Morgan Square
Also see . . .
1. Smartest Dog Ever Can Pick Out 1,022 Toys By Name.
Psychologists Alliston Reid and John Pilley of Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., wanted to test if there was a limit to the amount of words a border collie could learn, so they taught Chaser the names of 1,022 toys, one by one, for three years. New Scientist reports that they got her to fetch the toy and then they repeated the name to reinforce her understanding.(Submitted on March 22, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
2. . Website information about Chaser, including print and media stories.
Chaser, a purebred Border collie, was born on April 28, 2004, at Flint Hill Farms in Pauline, South Carolina. Eight weeks later, she became a member of the Pilley family, and Johns research partner in exploring(Submitted on March 22, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)the boundaries of the canine brain. She and John Pilley officially retired from public performances and film shoots in early 2018.Photographed by Mark Parker, March 22, 20243. Chaser the Border Collie front view
Photographed by Mark Parker, March 22, 2024
4. Footprints of Dr. John W. Pilley, Jr.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 371 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 22, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
