Motor mutts pass doggie driving test with flying collars

France24 ^ | 12/10/2012 | Staff

[GlockThe Vote]

AFP - A pair of highly trained canines guided a modified car along a New Zealand race track Monday, passing their doggie driving tests with flying collars on live television, despite the odd off-road detour.

In a heartwarming project aimed at increasing pet adoptions from animal shelters, a group of cross-breed rescue dogs from Auckland were taught to drive a car -- steering, pedals and all -- to show the potential of unwanted canines.

Footage of the motorised mutts learning their skills has proved an Internet sensation but their ultimate test came on Monday, when the two best performers, Monty and Porter, were put through their paces on national television.

Monty the giant schnauzer cross was first up, driving the modified Mini down the straight by himself, in what is claimed to be a world first.

[GlockThe Vote]

Cool!!!!!!

[Paladin2]

Yabut, can they back up?

[GlockThe Vote]

Probably better than the crimingrants here in NYC!

[Charles Martel]

Part of driver training is learning how to deal with distractions...

[DoughtyOne]

Yeah, but I think it’s a little unfair with the cat-on-a-stick out front and all... /s

[PAR35]

Sure they can do it with the steering wheel on the right side of the car, but could they do it with a normal car?

[tumblindice]

Hey!

[ansel12]

[SoCal Pubbie]

Cats are behind this. They need chauffeurs to do their bidding, and they need them now!

[twister881]

And can they parallel park?

[spokeshave]

See your driving dogs and raise you 2 surfing goats..

[jimfree]

http://www.cafepress.com/+dogs-playing-poker+posters?cmp=knc-m-us&pid=3742398&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=MSN&utm_campaign=Pets%20Art%20-%20US&utm_content=search-b&utm_term=Dogs%20Playing%20Poker-posters

Poker-playing dogs anyone?

[verga]

Ping

[Eye of Unk]

Could have been worse. They could have taught monkies to drive.
Now if they can get a pig to fly.....

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[Larry - Moe and Curly]

It’s all fun and games until...SQUIRREL!

[left that other site]

I would trust Linda-The-Dog behind the wheel of my car, but nor steering the Harley.

One HAS to draw the line SOMEWHERE.

[moose07]

steering wheel on the right side of the car

Sure...a dog could learn with the wheel on the wrong side of the car, no problem. :)

[moovova]

Let my dog drive a car? Maybe.

Buy, I’d have to take away her iPod. She’s a addicted to texting.