Biggin 10-year-old’s best pal border collie has a head for maths

Alice Heatherill has autism, ADHD and Pica - an attraction to eating inedible objects.

Though mum Lesa admits her daughter can be a handful at times the friendship she has with eight-year-old Molly is keeping her mind on maths during homeschooling.

In an adorable video Lesa has captured the pair playing a times tables game in which the dog tries to roll a six with a dice.

During the footage Alice tells the canny canine to roll a six by making a hissing sound with her tongue.

Each time Molly fails delighted Alice - laughing uncontrollably - repeats the command until the persistent pooch succeeds and rolls the top number.

Mum-of-two Lesa, 38, describing Molly and Alice as ‘thick as thieves’, told how the pair had been ‘best mates’ since the family took their highbrow hound in as a rescue dog aged six weeks.

She said: “The dog has always been by her side.

“She keeps Alice out of trouble but in plenty of trouble as well - she’s very protective of Alice and her big brother Joshua.

“When Alice was little she used to lie on Mollie - they would just cuddle up and snuggle.”

However Molly is no bookish bore insists Lesa - adding that the dog also sits, gives paws and high-fives, rolls over, plays football and even howls ‘hello’ upon request.

Lesa said: “She’s just a really clever collie.”

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