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Angie Faller
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One Smart Dog
Dave can add, subtract, multiply and divide, which seems a little odd given the fact he’s a dog.
Using his paws, the 9-year-old golden retriever wowed 40 kids and their parents with his mathematical skills at a summer reading program activity at Effingham Helen Matthes Library this week.
Dave the Math Dog warmed up with easier calculations like 5 plus 1, but he also moved on to more complex equations involving square roots and decimals, like 27 divided by the square root of three.
As if his previous tricks weren’t impressive enough, Dave proceeded to awe the crowd by subtracting numbers in Japanese and Spanish.
“He’s pretty smart on this type of stuff. He retains everything you try to teach him,” said Dave’s owner Frank Ferris, who recalled the time a teacher taught Dave the meaning of zero.
Ferris of Lerna said audience members have taught Dave numbers in 31 languages over the years. He also knows several words in American Sign Language.
Dave’s real name is Sir Dave Golden Boy, and he’s appeared on “The Dave Letterman Show.”
The Ferrises travel around the Midwest with Dave and Dave’s son, Murphy, and perform shows at schools, hospitals and nursing homes.
Ferris said his family discovered Dave’s ability on accident when he was 5 years old.
“My wife, Debbie, was watching the Discovery Channel when it said people don’t understand how much animals can learn from humans. So Debbie asked Dave how many fingers she was holding up, and he pawed out the answer,” Ferris said.
Ferris said Murphy hasn’t shown signs of Dave’s mathematical abilities yet, but he has hopes the 1-year-old dog will learn in time. Meanwhile, Murphy’s brother, Jackson, who lives in California, has shown signs of adding and subtracting.
For more information, visit www.davethemathdog.com.
Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@
effinghamdailynews.com.
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