Man's best friend learns to drive a car

A charity in New Zealand has taught three dogs how to drive a car, in an effort to show how intelligent man's best friend can be.

The campaign is part of a push by The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to encourage more people to give rescued animals a home.

Three animals were selected by trainer Mark Vette in September; after five weeks their training progressed to driving a trolley indoors, before graduating to cars a few weeks ago.

Vette, who has previously trained birds, deer and rats, believed the dogs could be taught through a sequence of movement skills required to operate a gearstick, release brake and steer a car. He said:

Following commands and directions from their trainers to accelerate, brake, steer and change gear, the dogs were filmed driving the modified car at an off-road track in Auckland.

Next week the dog's abilities will be tested live on television in New Zealand.