Imagine a dog learning and understanding more than 1,000 words—not just tricks, but actual names of toys, actions, and categories. That dog was Chaser, a Border Collie who proved dogs are smarter than we ever thought before. Even though she passed away in 2019, Chaser’s legacy still shapes how we think about animal intelligence today. And she’s not the only dog out there who’s changed what we know about canine intelligence!
The Dog That Learned 1,000 Words
Chaser’s ability to understand over 1,000 words sets her apart from most dogs. She wasn’t just learning commands like “sit” or “stay.” Chaser learned the names of her toys, such as “ball” or “frisbee,” along with putting items together with actions. Her trainer and owner, Dr. John Pilley, used a method called associative learning. Basically, he linked a word to an object or action, then asked Chaser to fetch the correct item based on its name.
Dr. Pilley’s approach was simple but effective. For example, he would say “fetch ball,” and Chaser would bring him the ball. Over time, she understood not only individual words but also the relationships between them, like when a word was a noun (like “frisbee”) or a verb (like “run”).
Dr. Pilley even published a book about his experience with the amazing dog called Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words. Chaser’s ability to learn so many words, along with her incredible bond with Dr. Pilley, is what makes her story so extraordinary!
Why Did Chaser Learn So Many Words?
Chaser’s remarkable vocabulary didn’t happen by accident. It was the result of years of thought and observation by Dr. Pilley. The story of how Chaser came to be a part of his groundbreaking research began even before she was born.
Border Collie Intelligence Impressed Dr. Pilley
After losing his previous dog, Yasha, Dr. Pilley said he’d never have another dog. However, after retiring from his career as a psychology professor, he found himself fascinated by the intelligence of Border Collies and began watching herding trials. His interest grew as he observed how these dogs interacted with humans and seemed to understand complex tasks.
The Turning Point
This new fascination led him to rethink some of his earlier beliefs about dog intelligence. Dr. Pilley had once told others that science showed dogs couldn’t understand proper nouns (such as the names of people, places, or things). But after a conversation with local farmers, he realized that this view was flawed.
The farmers explained how their dogs could identify specific sheep from a group by name and respond to commands like “fetch Millie” or “bring me Jeb,” proving that dogs could indeed grasp individual names. This conversation was the turning point in Dr. Pilley’s understanding of what dogs were capable of, challenging his previous beliefs.
A Christmas Gift That Changed Everything
This revelation inspired Dr. Pilley to pursue a new approach to studying canine cognition. On Christmas before his 76th birthday, his wife Sally gave him a Border Collie puppy, Chaser, setting the stage for what would become a revolutionary experiment. From the start, Dr. Pilley was determined to explore the limits of Chaser’s learning abilities.
The Method: Errorless Learning
Starting at just two months old, Chaser began her training with what Dr. Pilley called errorless learning. Unlike traditional methods that sometimes involve correction after a mistake, errorless learning ensures success by setting the dog up for success every time. Dr. Pilley would introduce Chaser to a new object and give it a specific name, then ask her to fetch it. For example, Dr. Pilley would show Chaser a blue ball, say “blue ball,” and then ask her to fetch it.
Within days, Chaser was able to fetch the ball from another room. After just five months, she had learned 40 words. This success led Dr. Pilley to continue expanding Chaser’s vocabulary, ultimately reaching over 1,000 words. The errorless learning method played a significant role in Chaser’s ability to quickly and effectively learn.
Chaser’s Vocabulary Grew
As Chaser continued her training, Dr. Pilley expanded her vocabulary beyond simple commands. She learned the names of various toys, and even complex instructions like “fetch the red ball” or “bring me the frisbee,” showing how Chaser’s vocabulary grew into an advanced understanding of language.
By focusing on proper nouns and creating a clear, consistent learning environment, Chaser demonstrated just how much dogs can learn when given the right training.
What an amazing conversation!!
Another Language-Learning Dog: Bunny
Bunny, a Sheepadoodle, is continuing to push the boundaries of canine communication. She gained widespread attention when her owner, Alexis Devine, shared videos of Bunny using programmable buttons to “speak.” In fact, Bunny was one of the most followed dogs on the internet in 2024.
Inspired by the work of Christina Hunger, who trained her dog Stella to use similar buttons, Devine began teaching Bunny to communicate using the same method. Bunny’s journey began with her learning to press a button that spoke the word “outside,” and since then, she has reportedly learned over 50 words and can string together simple phrases up to four words long.
Now, Bunny is part of the TheyCanTalk study, a collaboration between FluentPet, researchers from the University of California, San Diego, and Bunny’s owners. The study aims to explore how animals like Bunny can use language-like communication through buttons, helping researchers better understand the development of language abilities in non-human animals. Through this ongoing study, scientists hope to gain insights that could contribute to breakthroughs in communication for non-verbal humans as well.
Two Dogs Changing the World with Words
The stories of both Chaser and Bunny have dramatically changed how we view canine intelligence. Chaser’s ability to understand over 1,000 words demonstrated that dogs can grasp far more than simple commands. Her learning process revealed that dogs can differentiate between nouns and verbs, showing a depth of understanding once thought beyond their reach
Meanwhile, Bunny’s use of programmable buttons to communicate adds another layer to our understanding, suggesting that dogs can learn to use language-like communication systems to express their needs and thoughts.
Together, these remarkable dogs highlight the incredible potential for canine mental skills when provided with the right training and tools. From Chaser’s vocabulary to Bunny’s expanding communication, both have challenged our beliefs and shown that dogs may have the mental abilities to understand and use language in ways we never imagined. Their stories inspire further research and open new possibilities for how we might communicate with our pets and even improve communication for non-verbal humans.