The owner of a dog who claims to be the first animal delivery driver in Australia has revealed how he was taught the tricky skill.
Bodhi — a Groodle who knows how to get behind the wheel and start the car — was showcased on Sunrise on Wednesday morning where his trainer explained how it was the dog himself that inspired the idea.
Trainer Luke Hura told Sunrise it had been “difficult” to train the celebrity dog, who has starred on Neighbours.
“He took to it quite well,” he said.
“Because all the training I had done with him previously, he had to learn how to keep his paws on the steering wheel, and hitting the button to start the car.”
WATCH ABOVE: The dog driving down the street to deliver an Uber Eats order.
“But he was constantly doing it (pressing the car start button) on and off, so he would be driving, he pressed the button and it would stop the car.
“It takes weeks and weeks to get a dog to learn how to put its feet on the steering wheel, hit the start button and pull it into gear.”
Bodhi had to learn all three skills for his debut as Uber’s latest driver which called on the dog for a new partnership with Petbarn.
The companies shut down an entire street to film the promotion.
Hura worked with another Melbourne-based trainer, Mira Tomasello to make Bodhi a competent and safe driver.
“I told him he needed another job and earn his keep,” Hura joked with Sunrise’s Nat and Shirvo.
“When I saw some clips, I thought, ‘my god’ — that’s hilarious.
“He’s sitting there quite relaxed like an old man, he just needed a pair of glasses and a hat.”
The partnership between Uber Eats and Pet Barn means Australians can order items from the pet store through the app.
