Here's a dogged tale, then. Over in the UK, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has partnered with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to teach rescue dogs to drive.
Over the past two months, three mixed-breed dogs - Tulip, Jacob and Harry (no idea which is which in the photo) - have been taught to drive a Volkswagen Amarok by the animal welfare charity. The canines, trained at the Southridge RSPCA centre in Hertfordshire, have learned to control the brakes, gears and even the steering wheel.
The dogs were initially taught to steer using a wooden trolley pulled along with string. Mock car controls were then introduced before the dogs were trained to wear specially-adapted safety harnesses and put behind the wheel of the 180PS Reflex Silver Amarok, which bears the interesting number plate FR5T APR.
The animals then spent hours practising their driving skills while sitting alongside a human instructor, who has access to separate controls. To allow the dogs to drive the Amarok, their front paws rest on the steering wheel and the gearstick, while their rear paws rest on purpose-built extension levers that are attached to the accelerator and brake pedals.
In 2012, three dogs called Ginny, Porter and Monty had the honour of being the first to accomplish the deed in New Zealand – Porter holds the title of being the world's first driving dog, behind the wheel of a MINI. So who says you can't teach old dogs new tricks, eh?
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