Emergency training. Call 911....

Well here is an interesting tidbit in the world of dog news... It seems researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology Animal-computer Interaction Lab are working on ways to help us dogs call for help - in the event that our human needs assistance.  They are training canines to use dog-friendly touchscreens to dial 911.  They also have these cool high tech vests for dogs, equipped with sensors.  If there is an emergency the dog tugs a rope that is on his vest and it activates a sensor on the vest which communicates with a computer in the vest.  The computer will then either make a call, send a text or will even broadcast an audio message. 

This all sounds so exciting and progressive and such a cool technological advancement in canine communication.  What a far cry from Lassie running for help and barking when Timmy fell down the well. 

But seriously.  I can't EVER see it working for any of the dogs in THIS house.  I mean the FG would chew the tug with the sensor within 3 minutes.  And I can see Einstein smashing his face into a touchscreen and barking madly.  And he would no doubt figure out how to call numbers OTHER than 911.  I can see the phone bill now.  Not to mention accidental calls for help - which are CLEARLY dangerous, and which could probably result in some hefty fines. We love our human - but counting on us in an emergency...well...remember how Einstein and I  stood and stared at her when she broke her wrist a couple of years ago?  We obviously need more emergency training....and hopefuly we don't need it any time soon!

Have a good one.