Dogs are some pretty smart creatures. Cops use them to for search-and-rescue missions or drug hunts, the blind use them for street guidance, and Digital Trends’ Andrew Couts trains his pup for pure, heart-warming YouTube fun. They’ve also been known, on several occasions, to be extremely heroic and loyal, saving numerous owners from fires, storms, and assaults. Since these canines are so good at learning various tricks, New Zealand’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) decided to teach them how to drive.
You’ve read that right: Drive. An activity most humans can’t even perform properly. In a recently released video, the SPCA showcases three dogs – Porter, Ginny, and Monty – being taught to drive a Mini Cooper, and focuses on Porter making a right hand turn on a giant racing course. The car has been outfitted with custom, extended push pedals so most dogs can reach and control the mechanics.
“We train them to do different actions, touch is the first thing and then we teach them to touch the different objects with the right paw and left paw,” dog trainer Mark Vette told News.au. “They’ve all come through at this point and they’re all going really well.”
Although the sample video shows Porter making a simple and slow turn, the idea that dogs can eventually learn to drive cars just as well as Google’s self-driving cars is just mind-blowing, to say the least.
Will dogs become the new designated drivers? If so, this just gave a whole new meaning to these pups as man’s best friend. Watch the video below to see Porter hitting the race track and schooling most 16-year-old Americans.
Correction: The earlier version of this article stated that Porter was driving a manual transmission car. After further review, the Mini is an automatic, and we have corrected this error.
This seems like a good idea until… Squirrel!
And expect to see more dead cats on the side of the road.
LOL! This is a funny gag (what, you believed this?),
Just to correct one point It’s not a manual, that’s an automatic… I think asking a dog to use a clutch would be one step too far, an automatic is impressive enough :)
Amended that correction, thanks!
I absolutely love this! Dogs are such amazing creatures.
That puts a whole new meaning to “here wego”
i for one welcome our canine overlord
Well, we know the dog won’t ever be drunk or high behind the wheel…
Lmao I got to see to believe it !!! lol
G-sus!
So I guess the next phrase, “
*dead*
lmao welcome to the future
Calling something dumb when you have your last name as “Toldyoubaby”…sorry if I don’t trust your opinion
Show a video of this dog driving a car, n how the dog going to touch the gas petal? This is dumb
DYING!! Omg, this is so funny! No way!
Is this where Google got the idea for the self-driving car? VERY cute. And clever.
Used to be said ‘is your dog smarter than your 6 year old’ is now, ‘is your dog a better driver than your 16 yr old’
Mad dog drives him self crazy
Cooper can learn to drive Matthew Dunn
Cannes. Ha got a funny concept.
I used to have a dog that would drink any beer(s) I left lying around! Very smart and cunning animal. But she could probably drink and drive…
This works in NZ because they have what –200 ppl living on the island?
Whoooooa! :)
Fetch the Stick Fido ….
Just wait till the green movement gets wind of this b
Hey that’s racist. How did you know my Niece is Asian?
I believe it. People cannot drive. Not saying I’m the best, but I assure you my reactions far surpass most. I’ve never been in a wreck, and I don’t plan on it :)
CORRECTION: The dog is driving an automatic, not a manual. Sorry about that.
Actually, Natt, my 16-year-old niece is a darn good driver. I’d like a correction, too. And an apology. And some doughnuts.
oh, get with the program couts, at least I gave your dog some Internet love