John Pilley

John W. Pilley (July 1, 1928 – June 17, 2018) was an American ethologist best known for his research in canine language learning with his Border collie, Chaser. He was a researcher of canine cognition and language learning. He was a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Wofford College and was an avid kayaker throughout his life. Pilley was awarded an honorary Doctor of Psychology from Wofford College in 2016.

Pilley was a graduate of Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He studied at Pepperdine University and received his theological degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey. He received master’s degrees from Stetson University and Memphis State University, where he also received his Ph.D. in psychology.

Out of the media frenzy surrounding Chaser, Pilley was asked to write a book about his journey with Chaser and the dogs that came before her. In 2013, Pilley teamed with writer Hilary Hinzmann to pen the book, Chaser: Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words, which became a New York Times bestseller.