Dogs driving cars in New Zealand....yes, really

[Ace-Garageguy]

http://freshinfos.com/2012/12/14/new-zealand-dogs-driving/

[crazyjim]

Looks like my trip to New Zealand will be canceled.

[maltsr]

You're welcome here any time, Jim, plus the dogs have SHINY coats

[zenrat]

Don't know about in the States but given the way we hand out licences to kids* putting dogs behind the wheel might be a major contribution to road safety.

*Can you spell your name? OK, close enough, off you go.

[azers]

Sounds like how Washington state goes about handing out licenses.

[crazyjim]

You're welcome here any time, Jim, plus the dogs have SHINY coats

Well, that would make it okay, I guess.

[Harry P.]

Ok, so I'm watching the video and thinking what a completely stupid and useless waste of time this is!

So what does this prove? That dogs are pretty smart? We already know that. That dogs can learn to do things we didn't think they could learn? Ok...

But even the smartest dog on the planet doesn't have the cognitive ability of even the stupidest human. A dog can't respond to changing conditions in traffic. And besides, a dog can't park a car, or buy gas, or read traffic signs, etc., etc. So the point is, a dog can never be taught to really drive. It's impossible.

While teaching a dog to "drive" the way these people did might make for a cute circus act, other than maybe that, what's the point? If you want to teach dogs something, why not teach them something useful, like how to sniff out drugs or bombs, or how to be leader dogs for the blind. Can you imagine the time, effort and money spent on this completely useless project? Aren't the people behind this even a little embarrassed by their complete waste of time and effort? Seriously... they had nothing better to do?

Sometimes I just don't understand people.

[Ace-Garageguy]

"Sometimes I just don't understand people. :rolleyes:"

Me either.

[Roncla]

Ok, so I'm watching the video and thinking what a completely stupid and useless waste of time this is!

So what does this prove? That dogs are pretty smart? We already know that. That dogs can learn to do things we didn't think they could learn? Ok...

But even the smartest dog on the planet doesn't have the cognitive ability of even the stupidest human. A dog can't respond to changing conditions in traffic. And besides, a dog can't park a car, or buy gas, or read traffic signs, etc., etc. So the point is, a dog can never be taught to really drive. It's impossible.

While teaching a dog to "drive" the way these people did might make for a cute circus act, other than maybe that, what's the point? If you want to teach dogs something, why not teach them something useful, like how to sniff out drugs or bombs, or how to be leader dogs for the blind. Can you imagine the time, effort and money spent on this completely useless project? Aren't the people behind this even a little embarrassed by their complete waste of time and effort? Seriously... they had nothing better to do?

Sometimes I just don't understand people.

The whole idea of this was a publicity stunt to draw the local populations attention to the regions animal welfare organization ( SPCA ) and the homeless dogs confined within.

The dogs in the video were all inmates of the shelter and have since found loving homes.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10851829

Edited December 17, 2012 by Roncla

[dpride]

I've been to New Zillund and they are pretty lay back eh. Next they will have kuts and himspters driving.

[Harry P.]

Maybe next they can teach a kiwi to surf...

[Ju Ju]

that is a great business opportunity-designated driver dogs

cop : why is the dog driving ?

drunk : he was the only one sober.....

[zenrat]

I've been to New Zillund and they are pretty lay back eh. Next they will have kuts and himspters driving.

Possibly not the right audience. But I sniggered.

I suspect the main problem with dogs driving would be a tendency to drive too close to the car in front...

[peekay]

My heart swells with pride at the outstanding and unique achievements of my fellow countrymen....

(Harry is just jealous)

[Harry P.]

My heart swells with pride at the outstanding and unique achievements of my fellow countrymen....

(Harry is just jealous)

What about the outstanding and unique achievements of the dogs???

[peekay]

The best down-under-outstanding-and-unique-achievement-dog-story I know involved a Sydney truck driver who always took his dog on long hauls. On one trip he stopped for coffee on the way home, still 1200 miles from Sydney. As always, he left the dog in the truck but when he came back it was gone. He spent an hour searching but his tight schedule forced him to give up and drive on.

3 months later he hears a fimiliar bark outside his suburban Sydney home....

[zenrat]

Probably spent 3 months rooting the lady dog it had met and then just jumped on the next Sydney bound truck.

Now one of these kiwi dogs wouldn't have to wait for a truck going the right way. It could just hotwire a car and drive itself home...