Story of smart dog gets 6-figure book deal

By HILLEL ITALIE - boston.com

NEW YORK (AP) — Talk about a gravy train. The owner of a very smart collie has a very nice book deal.

John Pilley’s ‘‘The World’s Smartest Dog’’ has been acquired by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the publisher announced Wednesday. Pilley’s dog, a 6-year-old Border collie named Chaser, was the subject of a widely read essay in The New Scientist co-written in 2010 by the retired psychologist. The story of Chaser, who reportedly understands more than 1,000 words, has helped inspire further study about the intelligence of animals.

The book is scheduled for fall 2013. The deal was worth well into six figures, a publishing official with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss financial details and asked not to be identified.