Chaser (38 page)

Clive also brought Chaser to the attention of
Nova scienceNow
producer and writer Julia Cort. Thanks to Julia and to Neil deGrasse Tyson for the scientific rigor and the sense of fun and human engagement with which they documented Chaser's learning for a national television audience. Thanks as well to Eileen Campion, publicity consultant to
Nova scienceNow
, and her assistant, Vicky, who arranged for Chaser to appear on NBC's
Today Show
and
ABC World News
on the day that
Nova scienceNow'
s “How Smart Are Animals?” program premiered. I am grateful to Matt Lauer of
Today
and Diane Sawyer of
ABC World News
, and their respective staffs, for the warm welcomes they gave Chaser and their sensitivity in showcasing her learning.

An enormous salute goes to my literary agent, Steve Ross of Abrams Artists Agency, for his belief, patience, and wisdom in seeing the book from inception to fruition. With his background as a highly successful editor and publisher, Steve saw the big picture of this book before I ever envisioned it and has been an invaluable source of support, insight, and advice at every step of the way. Thanks also to Steve's able assistant, David Doerrer.

At Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the publisher Bruce Nichols championed the book from day one. Courtney Young, senior editor, played an essential role in the book's development with a super combination of editorial support, insight, and creativity, and then expertly coordinated every element of the book's entry into the world. Alison Kerr Miller sensitively and deftly copyedited the book with painstaking thoroughness and attention to detail. I also want to thank Naomi Gibbs, Laura Brady, Chrissy Kurpeski, Martha Kennedy, Ayesha Mirza, and Megan Wilson for their respective editorial, production, design, marketing, and publicity contributions to launching the book.

I don't know where to begin to thank my co-writer, Hilary Hinzmann. I had no idea how he was going to shape our lengthy discussions in person and via Skype into some semblance of a readable book. His patience, eloquence, encouragement, talent, and dedication have made him a true collaborator, sounding board, problem solver, and friend. Somehow he managed to get inside my head, capture my voice and perspective, and put it all on the page. Whenever I voiced doubt as to how we were going to pull off the book and combine the science of Chaser's learning with the story of my family as I lived it, I heard him chuckle on the other end of the line and in his deep resonant voice say, “We'll get there, John.”

Hilary, job well done beyond my wildest expectations.

From the start, Chaser's story has also been my family's story, and I can never sufficiently express my gratitude to them. Without the belief and assistance of my older daughter, Robin, I probably would have given up trying to publish my findings with Chaser in a peer-reviewed journal. In my bleakest moments of frustration and perspiration, Robin told me that Chaser's learning had profound implications and would have worldwide impact. She encouraged me to persevere and was instrumental in arranging my collaboration with Alliston Reid on the paper that eventually brought Chaser to the attention of other scientists, the media, and dog lovers around the world. Robin's unwavering vision has continued to light the way for me throughout the writing of this book.

As work on the book began, my younger daughter, Debbie, served as my executive producer, so to speak, bringing to bear the artistry, organizational skill, and attention to detail that distinguish her work as a successful pianist, singer, composer, arranger, and record producer. As the book took shape over the winter and spring of 2013, she became a second co-writer, and I will always cherish the creative teamwork that Debbie, Hilary, and I achieved.

It has been a blessing that I have been able to collaborate with Robin and Debbie on Chaser's story. Their brilliance shines forever in my heart.

To Debbie's husband, Jay Bianchi, I owe great thanks for donating Deb to assist me on the book. Sally and I also appreciate his forging through his allergies to bond with the Pilley dogs throughout his and Deb's marriage. His humor and graciousness warm our hearts. God bless you, Jay, for past, present, and future sneezes!

Thanks to Aidan Bianchi, Sally's and my beloved grandson, for being a joyful playmate to Chaser, her best friend and partner in crime, and our young legacy to carry the torch forward, whether it is in science, computers, music, or martial arts. Always follow your bliss, Aidan.

Of course, it was Sally who brought Chaser into our family. Sally's love and compassion have always nurtured Robin, Debbie, me, and all our dogs and other animals. And her instinctive wisdom for living has grounded me and set me straight whenever I have been carried away with a foolish notion or knotted up in myself. Her sparkling eyes and radiant smile still make my heart skip a beat. I can't believe she chose me almost sixty years ago, and still chooses me. I am a lucky man, and I hope I have succeeded in sharing at least a portion of my luck with readers through this book.

 

JOHN W. PILLEY

 

I would like to thank Madeleine Morel of 2M Communications and Steve Ross for teaming me with John; everyone at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; and Janice Mann, Michael McGarrity, and Mimi McGarrity for helpful comments on the manuscript. Thanks to the Pilley and Bianchi families for opening their homes and hearts to me, and to Chaser for welcoming me into her world of learning by playing. Thanks most of all, John, for the opportunity to work with and learn from you.

 

HILARY HINZMANN

ABC (American Broadcasting Company),
[>]
–
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,
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ABCs (antecedents, behaviors, and consequences),
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,
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ABC World News
,
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–
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,
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–
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,
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Abelev, Maxim,
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,
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–
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Abilene Christian College,
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actions

direct imitation of,
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fixed action patterns, instinct,
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performing multiple actions with same object on command,
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See also
commands; imitation, learning by

agility training,
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Akeamamai (bottlenose dolphin),
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,
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Alex (parrot),
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Allen, Arthur

on being a full partner with your dog,
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on the Border collie “eye,”
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–
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Border Collies in America
,
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,
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–
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on Border collies' reasoning ability,
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–
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popularizing Border collies in the United States,
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training of Nickey,
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on trusting Border collies' instincts,
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See also Arizona Sheepdog
(movie); Nick/Nickey (Border collie); Old Tweed (Border collie); Rock (Border collie)

American Kennel Club (AKC), obedience exercises,
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American Psychological Association.
See
APA (American Psychological Association)

anecdotal evidence, scientific skepticisms about,
[>]

Animal Cognition
(journal),
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–
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animal learning experiments

and animals' ability to draw inferences,
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,
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and field experience, anecdotal evidence,
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procedures,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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and search for general principles of learning,
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–
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using Blue and Timber,
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using Yasha and Grindle,
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–
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,
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,
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,
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,
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See also
Clever Hans effect; operant learning/conditioning; testing; Blue; Grindle; Timber; Yasha

Annie (Mutt),
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–
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antecedents, behaviors and consequences (ABCs),
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,
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APA (American Psychological Association) conference, Washington, D.C.,
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–
[>]

aptitudes, aligning ambitions with,
[>]

Arizona Sheepdog
(movie),
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–
[>]
,
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attention-seeking behaviors,
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Ayers, Mike,
[>]

 

ball, as common noun, teaching Chaser to recognize,
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–
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,
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.
See also
common nouns

Barcelona Zoo, Snowflake at,
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–
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“bark” command,
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beach ball, Chaser's game with,
[>]

behavioral change, and non-reinforcement,
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–
[>]

behaviors

inhibiting, approach to,
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–
[>]

instinctual, components,
[>]

learning, starting at the end,
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See also
instincts, instinctual behaviors; training

Behavioural Processes
(journal), Pilley-Reid paper in,
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,
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,
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–
[>]

Ben (Border collie),
[>]

Beowulf
,
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Bianchi, Aidan,
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,
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–
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,
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,
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,
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,
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–
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,
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–
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,
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,
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,
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–
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Bianchi, Jay,
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,
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,
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–
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,
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–
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,
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–
[>]
,
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Big Corky, Green River, South Carolina,
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–
[>]

Billy (cat),
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Bimbo (German shepherd mix),
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–
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,
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,
[>]

bin, dropping toys into,
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–
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,
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,
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–
[>]
,
[>]

Bloom, Paul

on ability of dogs to learn categories,
[>]

on children's learning vs. dogs,'
[>]

on the Clever Hans effect,
[>]

criticisms of the Rico study,
[>]
,
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–
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,
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,
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–
[>]

Blue (Siberian husky),
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–
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,
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–
[>]

“Blue,” teaching Chaser to identify,
[>]

body language

Chaser's,
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,
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,
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dogs' ability to read,
[>]
,
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,
[>]

as trigger for animal response,
[>]

See also
Clever Hans effect

bonobos,
[>]
,
[>]

“Border Collie Comprehends Object Names as Verbal Referents” (Pilley and Reid), publication and response,
[>]
–
[>]

Border collies,
[>]
–
[>]
,
[>]
–
[>]

athleticism,
[>]

bonding with people,
[>]
,
[>]
,
[>]
–
[>]
,
[>]
–
[>]

capacity for creative learning,
[>]
,
[>]
,
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,
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–
[>]
,
[>]
,
[>]

coat color,
[>]

common commands used with,
[>]

dedication to herding work,
[>]
–
[>]
,
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–
[>]
,
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–
[>]

devotion shown by,
[>]

the “eye,”
[>]
,
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–
[>]

focus on last word spoken,
[>]

herding instinct,
[>]
,
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,
[>]
,
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–
[>]

life span,
[>]

listening ability,
[>]

need to work,
[>]
,
[>]

physical appearance,
[>]

problem-solving skills,
[>]
,
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–
[>]
,
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–
[>]

sensitivity to speech and tone of voice,
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,
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,
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