Charisa Bossinakis
A Jack Russel has learned how to drive a ute after being taught by his owner on their Victorian farm.
ABC News reports that Lexie, the pint-sized dog, has picked up a few skills behind the wheel on her 200-hectare home near Hamilton in southwest Victoria.
Her owner, Cam Zschech, 21, who grew up on his dad’s farm, returns to the property on weekends after working in the timber industry all week.
Recently, while moving sheep on the property, he thought he’d shake his things up by putting the canine in the driver’s seat.
"The other day we were driving along moving some sheep down the laneway, we were just idling along and that was how I learnt how to drive," he explained to The ABC.
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"So I thought, we've got a bit of time, why can't I teach Lexie to drive?"
The young man was shocked to see the pooch was quite natural at it, and since then, he’s given Lexie a few ‘more cracks’ at it.
He said: "She struggles because she's only just over the steering wheel, but if she sees the sheep in front of the ute, she loves the sheep that much that she points the ute in that direction."
To help Lexie navigate the car, Zschech always puts the car into first gear while letting her roam free as the car moves at a slow pace.
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Zschech disclosed that when Lexie was merely a pup, she suffered a horrific injury after being chased by an 80kg ewe that stood on her leg, causing her to ‘yelp’.
But since then, the doggo has made a remarkable recovery and now offers a vital service to the farm.
The 21-year-old said that Lexie and he frequently ‘work as a team’ to complete the chores.
Occasionally, Zschech will let Lexie steer the ute while he’s on the back of the vehicle distributing hay to the other farm animals.
"Sometimes she'll lean forward and has even honked the horn sometimes, she's a good sheepdog," he said.
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The young man said he frequently shares pictures of the tiny driver to amuse friends and family, which sounds like absolutely wholesome content.
So the next time you venture to the outback and see a ute, make sure you check to see if our little furry friend is behind the steering wheel.