It is often said that you cannot "teach an old dog new tricks", but three New Zealand dogs have decided to prove otherwise by learning a skill--- driving a car!
It
is
often
said
that
you
can
not
``
teach
an
old
dog
new
tricks
''
,
but
three
New
Zealand
dogs
have
decided
to
prove
otherwise
by
learning
a
skill
--
-
driving
a
car
!
What's even more impressive is that the three who have become skilled in just eight weeks are not special dogs that belong to some rich owners, but abandoned ones at New Zealand's SPCA.
What
's
even
more
impressive
is
that
the
three
who
have
become
skilled
in
just
eight
weeks
are
not
special
dogs
that
belong
to
some
rich
owners
,
but
abandoned
ones
at
New
Zealand
's
SPCA
.
To get their training started, 10-month old Porter, 18-month-old Monty and one-year-old Ginny were selected from a pool of seven potential candidates and moved to Animal Q, a talent agency that teaches animals tricks for movies and television shows.
To
get
their
training
started
,
10-month
old
Porter
,
18-month-old
Monty
and
one-year-old
Ginny
were
selected
from
a
pool
of
seven
potential
candidates
and
moved
to
Animal
Q
,
a
talent
agency
that
teaches
animals
tricks
for
movies
and
television
shows
.
The driving classes began with teaching the dogs some basic driving techniques like turning the steering wheels and applying the brakes.
The
driving
classes
began
with
teaching
the
dogs
some
basic
driving
techniques
like
turning
the
steering
wheels
and
applying
the
brakes
.
After that the dogs practiced everything they had learnt behind the wheels of a motorized car.
After
that
the
dogs
practiced
everything
they
had
learnt
behind
the
wheels
of
a
motorized
car
.
Then finally, it was time for the big test--- driving a real car!
Then
finally
,
it
was
time
for
the
big
test
--
-
driving
a
real
car
!
Human cars are not really built for four-legged animals, so the car they drove was adjusted so that the dogs could sit comfortably and easily reach the steering wheel with their paws.
Human
cars
are
not
really
built
for
four-legged
animals
,
so
the
car
they
drove
was
adjusted
so
that
the
dogs
could
sit
comfortably
and
easily
reach
the
steering
wheel
with
their
paws
.
Though they all seemed to do very well, the real test came on Monday night when Monty, the best driver of the three, showed his great driving skill on live television.
Though
they
all
seemed
to
do
very
well
,
the
real
test
came
on
Monday
night
when
Monty
,
the
best
driver
of
the
three
,
showed
his
great
driving
skill
on
live
television
.
Why would the SPCA go through so much trouble to highlight the skills of homeless dogs?
Why
would
the
SPCA
go
through
so
much
trouble
to
highlight
the
skills
of
homeless
dogs
?
The reason is to show that adopting a dog from a shelter does not mean owners are getting a pet that is worse than one purchased from a keeper.
The
reason
is
to
show
that
adopting
a
dog
from
a
shelter
does
not
mean
owners
are
getting
a
pet
that
is
worse
than
one
purchased
from
a
keeper
.
The CEO of the SPCA is hoping that this unusual event will be enough to convince the residents of New Zealand to consider them, when searching for a pet.
The
CEO
of
the
SPCA
is
hoping
that
this
unusual
event
will
be
enough
to
convince
the
residents
of
New
Zealand
to
consider
them
,
when
searching
for
a
pet
.
We surely hope so, meanwhile we are almost certain that these three pioneers have at least landed their names in the Guinness World Records, creating a category that probably does not even exist today!
We
surely
hope
so
,
meanwhile
we
are
almost
certain
that
these
three
pioneers
have
at
least
landed
their
names
in
the
Guinness
World
Records
,
creating
a
category
that
probably
does
not
even
exist
today
!
It is often said that you cannot "teach an old dog new tricks", but three New Zealand dogs have decided to prove otherwise by learning a skill--- driving a car!  What's even more impressive is that the three who have become skilled in just eight weeks are not special dogs that belong to some rich owners, but abandoned ones at New Zealand's SPCA.  To get their training started, 10-month old Porter, 18-month-old Monty and one-year-old Ginny were selected from a pool of seven potential candidates and moved to Animal Q, a talent agency that teaches animals tricks for movies and television shows.  The driving classes began with teaching the dogs some basic driving techniques like turning the steering wheels and applying the brakes. After that the dogs practiced everything they had learnt behind the wheels of a motorized car. Then finally, it was time for the big test--- driving a real car!  Human cars are not really built for four-legged animals, so the car they drove was adjusted so that the dogs could sit comfortably and easily reach the steering wheel with their paws.  Though they all seemed to do very well, the real test came on Monday night when Monty, the best driver of the three, showed his great driving skill on live television.  Why would the SPCA go through so much trouble to highlight the skills of homeless dogs? The reason is to show that adopting a dog from a shelter does not mean owners are getting a pet that is worse than one purchased from a keeper. The CEO of the SPCA is hoping that this unusual event will be enough to convince the residents of New Zealand to consider them, when searching for a pet.  We surely hope so, meanwhile we are almost certain that these three pioneers have at least landed their names in the Guinness World Records, creating a category that probably does not even exist today!