Missouri State Wonder Dog
By Mandy Griffiths, MPBA Publicity Director
retrieving the bird upon command. Jim’s remarkable
on specific characteristics (e.g., a mother with a baby, a man with a mustache). He even responded to abstract queries such as identifying a doctor and associating Henry Ford with his automobile. Furthermore, Jim displayed proficiency in identifying vehicles with particular license plates and even demonstrated spelling abilities. As you might expect, my initial reaction mirrored yours. This individual trained his canine companion at home and afterwards showcased its abilities to an audience, eliciting considerable amazement. However, it was revealed that other audience members also issued commands to Sam’s dog, which it successfully executed, to the surprise of all present. Multilingual inquiries were posed in Spanish, Italian, German, and Greek, under the assumption that this would confound the canine subject. However, this proved ineffective; the dog successfully responded to each request. Sam and Jim received numerous engagements throughout Missouri and other states, with observers carefully scrutinizing their interactions for any covert commands or signals. None were detected. Jim was regarded as an exceptionally intelligent canine. The concept of Jim’s potential for future prediction was explored. Initial
Canines possess an extraordinary olfactory perception, but to what extent does their cognitive capacity extend? Are they capable of accurately predicting the outcome of sporting events? Do they have the ability to perform mathematical calculations? In the state of Missouri, we have designated symbols such as a state bird and flower. However, it may surprise you to learn that we also have a state Wonder dog. This distinction is not bestowed upon a specific breed, but rather an exceptional individual canine. His name is Jim. Jim, a Llewellyn setter and the smallest of a seven-puppy litter, was given to renowned hunter Sam Van Arsdale by his friends. Although Sam intended to train Jim as a hunting dog and entrusted him to a professional trainer in West Plains, the trainer reported Jim’s lack of training engagement, noting his preference for passive observation. After an unsuccessful training period, Sam brought Jim home, where he enjoyed tenure as a beloved house pet. While considering rehoming Jim, Sam ultimately decided against it and took him hunting, where Jim immediately demonstrated exceptional skill by locating and pointing quail, flawlessly
performance solidified his role as Sam’s hunting companion, leading to extensive hunting trips across various states. Sam estimates Jim retrieved over 5,000 birds before he ceased counting. The Missouri Conservation magazine and Missouri Life magazine have labeled him as the Hunting Dog of the Century. Now that you have a little background on Jim, let’s get back to the questions and the great talent that Jim had. With advancing age, Sam observed an unexpected intellectual capacity in Jim. During a hunting excursion on a warm day, Sam suggested seeking shade under a hickory tree for respite. Remarkably, Jim immediately located a hickory tree and rested. Intrigued by this, Sam conducted further tests. Jim successfully identified oak, cedar, and a tree stump on command. This prompted Sam to test Jim’s abilities in a more populated setting. In town, Jim accurately identified a red car and a woman in a blue dress. News of Jim’s abilities spread, attracting onlookers who posed increasingly complex challenges. Jim consistently demonstrated his capacity to locate individuals based
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 10
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