Martin Morris, 48, has been educating seven-year-old Max the names of his toys since he was 12 weeks old.
Along along with his spouse, hospital cleaner Helen, 49, Martin has spent £1,115 on toys for Max – and now claims he can recognise each single one.
They shout the title of a toy – akin to ‘Hector the hedgehog’ – from one other room, and Max can root by means of seven luggage of toys to seek out the right one.
Martin, a taxi driver from Shrewsbury, mentioned: “Max is a very talented boy – we think he should be famous.
“We’ve got seven wash baskets, overflowing with toys. We’re at 231 now, and he knows every one of their names.
“You can test him all you like – even with toys that haven’t seen the light of day in a while. He’ll still recognise it.”
Martin and Helen adopted Max – born from two working sheepdogs – from a farm in Manchester.
The “name game” has grow to be a nightly ritual ever since – and the couple insist it retains the pup sharp.
Martin mentioned: “It’s taken us seven years to get to this stage – we read about the US collie called Chaser, who knows the names of 1,022 toys.
“But I don’t think any dog in the UK has managed to surpass 231 – making our boy the smartest.
“We’d buy Max a toy pretty much every week – Hector the Hedgehog, Sophia the Squirrel and Deeno the Dino, to name a few.
“And every night, before we go to bed, we play the name game.”
The “name game” entails Martin and Helen calling to Max from their bed room, after lining a collection of his toys up on the ground.
They shout a reputation to him, and he has to run and establish the toy.
Martin says the hound has at all times been in a position to do that with out treats, or every other incentive.
“We’ll go, ‘where’s…’ in an exaggerated voice – and then say the name of the toy.
“And off he’ll pop, looking for toys on the floor.
“He’ll smile at us afterwards, with this big smile that looks like a human’s.”
The couple don’t have any plans to cease testing Max any time quickly – and nonetheless purchase a brand new toy for him each week. .
Martin added. “His favourite is Leo the Lion – he’s the first one we ever bought for him, and he still remembers him.”
