We've long known that a dog offers far more than merely companionship. Their intuition and loyalty make them much more than merely a pet; they're often friends and protectors, too.
We'd like to introduce you to a very special border collie, one who recently made an appearance in a June segment of 60 Minutes: Chaser is being lauded as one of the smartest dogs in the world for her astounding comprehension and memory. She reportedly knows more than 1,000 words — both nouns and verbs.
"Play is the major, major reinforcer for chaser's learning," says Chaser's owner John Pilley of their ongoing training. "Too often, dog owners use food only as a reinforcer for behaviors. We have found that play is infinitely greater than food."
And dogs can be taught to do far more than just the common, simple tricks. They've been celebrated for their effectiveness as therapy animals, as well as having the ability to detect illnesses untraceable to humans.
"Dogs aren’t just learning tricks when you train them—they’re actually getting smarter," says Arlene Weintraub at Forbes. "Not everyone can spare the time that Pilley took to train his dog to recognize so many words, but science has proven that, in fact, dogs that stay mentally engaged do get smarter."
Listen to Chaser's story below, and please SHARE this video with your friends on Facebook if it touched your heart!
