Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks -- a trainer in New Zealand is teaching man's best friend to drive -- really!
The SPCA in Auckland thought it would be a good way to showcase how smart rescue dogs are and perhaps improve their adoption rate. So they called on animal trainer, Mark Vette, who was up for the challenge.
Out of a pool of seven dogs, Vette chose "Monty," "Ginny" and "Porter." Monty is an 18-month-old giant schnauzer whose owners turned him in when he became "too much for them to handle."
Ginny is a 1-year-old whippet mix rescued from abusive owners, and someone found 10-month-old Porter roaming the streets.
Vette explained their strategy.
"No animal has ever driven a car before so what we're going to do is we're going to do a straight and we're going to head off, so we'll start the car, get into position, brake on, gear in place, back onto the steering wheel, accelerator, take off and head along the straight and then stop," he said.
At first, they started with lots of indoor training with a fake car, using clicker-reinforced targets to teach the dogs how to shift gears, use a brake and steer.
"When we chain behaviors together, in this case we've got 10 behaviors we're all putting together, so each behavior is a trained behavior, and then you put them into a sequence. So it's a lot to do, and for the dog to actually start to get an idea of what actually is happening takes quite a long time," Vette said.
Five weeks later, Monty was ready to try the real thing -- on a closed track, of course. Monty hopped right in behind the wheel, put the car into gear, on command, then waited for the trainer to order "A" for accelerator.
Then he was off! Monty was driving...some might say a little better than what we sometimes see on Tampa Bay roads!
Monty and the other "drivers" will show off their new skill on national television in New Zealand on December 10th. Vette says after that "test drive," his roving rescue rovers just might be in huge demand. Says Vette, "It will be Dial-a-Dog" the week after this!"
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:12 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:12:03 GMT
Raising a family between 162 baseball games has its challenges. But the Rays 'Super Sam' Fuld is making it work, with a lot of help from his wife Sarah.
Raising a family between 162 baseball games has its challenges. But the Rays 'Super Sam' Fuld is making it work, with a lot of help from his wife Sarah.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:36 AM EDT2013-05-23 09:36:36 GMT
He is one of only two men in history to be held as a prisoner of war in both World War II and Vietnam. FOX 13's Lloyd Sowers tells the story that was held secret for many years.
He is one of only two men in history to be held as a prisoner of war in both World War II and Vietnam. FOX 13's Lloyd Sowers tells the story that was held secret for many years.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 5:40 PM EDT2013-05-22 21:40:31 GMT
Your refrigerator doesn't have to die young. Neither does your dishwasher.
Your refrigerator doesn't have to die young. Neither does your dishwasher. So why do they so often fail so early in their life? Experts say improper care is the death nail.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:29 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:29:55 GMT
Thousands of dogs are deployed all over the world, as part of the armed forces. When that service is over, there is a family waiting to give them a well-deserved retirement.
Thousands of dogs are deployed all over the world, as part of the armed forces. When that service is over, there is a family waiting to give them a well-deserved retirement.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:17 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:17:05 GMT
It takes just a few minutes, and crooks can drive off with stolen cargo and then sell it on the black market. It's happening at truck stops all over the nation with the estimated loss at $30-billion a year.
It takes just a few minutes, and crooks can drive off with stolen cargo and then sell it on the black market. It's happening at truck stops all over the nation with the estimated loss at $30-billion a year.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 9:43 PM EDT2013-05-16 01:43:06 GMT
An unmanned Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Wednesday, hauling the latest GPS satellite into orbit for the military.
An unmanned Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Wednesday, hauling the latest GPS satellite into orbit for the military.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 5:11 PM EDT2013-05-14 21:11:26 GMT
During his five months in space, Canadian astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield captivated the Twitterverse with photo after photo of our home planet, taken from orbit.
During his five months in space, Canadian astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield captivated the Twitterverse with photo after photo of our home planet, taken from orbit.
Monday, April 22 2013 11:43 AM EDT2013-04-22 15:43:20 GMT
A company contracted by NASA to deliver supplies to the International Space Station successfully launched a rocket from the Virginia coast in a test of its ability to send a cargo ship aloft.
A company contracted by NASA to deliver supplies to the International Space Station successfully launched a rocket from the Virginia coast in a test of its ability to send a cargo ship aloft.
Monday, April 15 2013 6:45 PM EDT2013-04-15 22:45:40 GMT
Two explosions shattered the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry away the injured while stragglers in the 26.2-mile race were rerouted away from the smoking site.
Two explosions shattered the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday, sending authorities out on the course to carry away the injured while stragglers in the 26.2-mile race were rerouted away from the smoking site.
Tuesday, April 9 2013 4:00 PM EDT2013-04-09 20:00:35 GMT
Crews finally pulled a sunken beer truck out of the Manatee River. The driver had escaped serious injury after losing control on I-75 and crashing during bad weather.
Crews finally pulled a sunken beer truck out of the Manatee River. The driver had escaped serious injury after losing control on I-75 and crashing during bad weather.
Monday, March 25 2013 4:44 PM EDT2013-03-25 20:44:08 GMT
James Hinchcliffe overtook Helio Castroneves with 26 laps remaining and held on to win his first career victory at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
James Hinchcliffe overtook Helio Castroneves with 26 laps remaining and held on to win his first career victory at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Monday, February 25 2013 8:49 AM EST2013-02-25 13:49:49 GMT
Hollywood's brightest stars turned out for the Academy Awards on Sunday. From the best dressed to the most forgettable, here's a look at Tinseltown's biggest night from the red carpet.
Hollywood's brightest stars turned out for the Academy Awards on Sunday. From the best dressed to the most forgettable, here's a look at Tinseltown's biggest night from the red carpet.
Monday, February 11 2013 10:08 PM EST2013-02-12 03:08:01 GMT
Cruises are the part of the Port of Tampa many know well. But there is so much more going on dockside. FOX 13 spent four months behind the scenes, learning how the port's many tentacles touch our everyday lives.
Cruises are the part of the Port of Tampa many know well. But there is so much more going on dockside. FOX 13 spent four months behind the scenes, learning how the port's many tentacles touch our everyday lives.
