You have to see it to believe it. Since September, three dogs, Monty, Ginny, and Porter have learnt to drive a car. Hold a steering wheel, put it on the first gear, accelerate: it is through with long-term exercises and a lot of treats that the dogs were able to mechanically reproduce what they are taught.
This original approach is part of a cause beyond mere amusement. This is the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has launched this program to demonstrate how dogs can obey if they are well educated. The association hopes to educate owners about the problem of abandoned animals in New Zealand and wants to ensure that dogs collected can find a second home.
Their training was very fast. After a selection of dogs, SPCA trainers spent the first week to teach them to put their paws on specific targets and to sit on small car models, explains the site THV Today . The next two weeks, the dogs learned the basics of driving: appropriating the gear lever, turn left and right and finally press the accelerator all the orders of their master. After two months, the animals settled themselves in the most natural fashion behind the wheel of a car specially arranged, waiting to be told to start.
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