There’s a canine driving school in NZ that proves how intelligent dogs can be

It may be hard to believe, but there’s actually a canine driving school in New Zealand.

Yes, you heard right – one of the country’s charities is teaching rescued dogs how to drive a car.

Not just drive, but it’s actually putting highly-trained dogs through their doggie driving test.

At the Auckland SPCA, Kiwi rescued dogs have been trained to operate the pedals on a car, and steer the wheel.

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Rest assured, unlike the Google car, they’re keeping off the main roads.

What’s more, they’re going reeeeallllllyyyyy slow.

In other dog-related news, police in Texas apprehended a dog for reckless driving in a Walmart parking lot.

Meanwhile, ‘Bark Air’ airline landed the first private jet flight full of dogs.

Why is there a canine driving school?

The project is aimed at increasing pet adoptions from animals shelters, while also showing the potential of unwanted canines.

As part of the project, a group of cross-breed rescue dogs from Auckland were taught to drive a car.

As to be expected, footage of the motorised mutts learning their skills has proved an internet sensation.

The two best performers, Monty and Porter, were even put through their paces on national television.

Monty, a giant schnauzer cross, was first behind the wheel, driving a modified Mini down the straight by himself.

In what is claimed to be a world first, trainer Mark Vette said, “It’s all the dog doing it.

“He’s started the key, put the paw on the brake to allow it to go into gear, put it into drive, paw on the steering wheel, accelerator on, and off he goes down the track.”

Doubts about the canine driving school

Despite working with animals on various film sets, Vette admitted he had his doubts when the project was first mooted.

“I must say, this has been the toughest assignment we’ve had,” he said.

“We’ve done Lord of the Rings, [The Last] Samurai, many of the big movies, but to actually get a dog in a car with no trainer and it does the whole gig itself, I tell you what, it’s been a real challenge.

“No one’s in the car, no tricks, it’s all Monty driving – he loves it.”

Was the car modified?

The car had handles fitted on the steering wheel and dashboard-height brake and accelerator pedals.

It also came with a speed limiter to restrict it to walking pace.

But, according to Vette, there was a mishap before the test.

“The knob came off this morning and he was off down the road at about 30 kilometres an hour and we had to chase after him,” he said.

Porter – a bearded collie cross

Next up it was Porter’s turn, who tried the trickier manoeuvre of steering the car around of the one track’s bends with a reporter sat in the passenger seat.

Although largely successful, he ran off the track onto a grass verge at one point, with the reporter nervously asking the trainers “can we stop now?”

We’re still a long way away from seeing dogs on the roads, it would seem.

Well, let’s hope so anyway.