Driving school for dogs in New Zealand

janusz · 8 Dec 2012, 08:42 PM

Monty the giant schnauzer is among the novice drivers who have learned to control the brakes, gears and steering wheel.

Tsunami · 9 Dec 2012, 04:07 AM

Amazing!

I like the idea of this setup a lot: proving the intelligence of dogs. I've had dogs for most of my life and spent much time amongst dog owners, and you'd be amazed how smart they are. My chihuahua for example managed to orientate himself and indicate the right direction to a house that he last visited about a year before. Guiding dogs for the blind are amazing, and kudos to those people who take the energy to train dogs for such noble purposes.

One small question though: is the dog in the film really a schnautzer?

I thought a schnauzer is usually smaller and has longer hair near the mouth.

janusz · 9 Dec 2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsunami

One small question though: is the dog in the film really a schnautzer? .

It's a giant schnauzer, as stated clearly in the text. In the voice-over (at 0:24 approx) Monty is called "a giant schnauzer cross".

n5bb · 10 Dec 2012, 09:20 AM

This seems to be a public relations stunt rather than serious research. I wonder how seriously to take a report of teaching a dog to drive when that breed (Giant Schnauzer) was originally bred to drive cattle!

Bill

janusz · 10 Dec 2012, 05:04 PM

Driving: a transferable skill??

FredOnline · 10 Dec 2012, 05:15 PM

What's next - texting behind the wheel?

And good luck with getting insurance!

Tsunami · 10 Dec 2012, 10:17 PM

The initiative is a bit discriminating too: how is a small dog supposed to be able to reach pedals and wheel? I can see a boxer able to do that, but what about the poodle, the tiny Yorkshire Terrier or the teckle? Or what if, say, a cat wishes to join the club and learn how to drive?

n5bb · 11 Dec 2012, 11:30 AM

Of course, we know that dogs can play poker, and that robots can drive cars, and that robots can play poker. If dogs can drive cars, then by symmetry I want to know if cars can play poker or bark and wag their tails like dogs.

FredOnline · 11 Dec 2012, 03:05 PM

Cars (or because of the drivers at the wheel) can play russian roulette, and they can go into a tailspin if driven badly.

8 Dec 2012, 08:42 PM	#1
janusz Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU Posts: 5,002	Driving school for dogs in New Zealand Monty the giant schnauzer is among the novice drivers who have learned to control the brakes, gears and steering wheel.

9 Dec 2012, 04:07 AM	#2
Tsunami The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: in between the bright lights and the far unlit unknown Posts: 2,527	Amazing! I like the idea of this setup a lot: proving the intelligence of dogs. I've had dogs for most of my life and spent much time amongst dog owners, and you'd be amazed how smart they are. My chihuahua for example managed to orientate himself and indicate the right direction to a house that he last visited about a year before. Guiding dogs for the blind are amazing, and kudos to those people who take the energy to train dogs for such noble purposes. One small question though: is the dog in the film really a schnautzer? I thought a schnauzer is usually smaller and has longer hair near the mouth.

10 Dec 2012, 09:20 AM	#4
n5bb Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: May 2004 Location: Irving, Texas Posts: 9,069	This seems to be a public relations stunt rather than serious research. I wonder how seriously to take a report of teaching a dog to drive when that breed (Giant Schnauzer) was originally bred to drive cattle! Bill

10 Dec 2012, 05:04 PM	#5
janusz Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU Posts: 5,002	Driving: a transferable skill??

10 Dec 2012, 05:15 PM	#6
FredOnline The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 2,616	What's next - texting behind the wheel? And good luck with getting insurance!

10 Dec 2012, 10:17 PM	#7
Tsunami The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: in between the bright lights and the far unlit unknown Posts: 2,527	The initiative is a bit discriminating too: how is a small dog supposed to be able to reach pedals and wheel? I can see a boxer able to do that, but what about the poodle, the tiny Yorkshire Terrier or the teckle? Or what if, say, a cat wishes to join the club and learn how to drive?

11 Dec 2012, 11:30 AM	#8
n5bb Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: May 2004 Location: Irving, Texas Posts: 9,069	Of course, we know that dogs can play poker, and that robots can drive cars, and that robots can play poker. If dogs can drive cars, then by symmetry I want to know if cars can play poker or bark and wag their tails like dogs.

11 Dec 2012, 03:05 PM	#9
FredOnline The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 2,616	Cars (or because of the drivers at the wheel) can play russian roulette, and they can go into a tailspin if driven badly.