Sunday, May 6, 2018

Border Collie Goose Control Is Effective When You Train The Right Dog

By James Wallace


Wild geese are beautiful to watch as they soar in the sky. Unfortunately geese can be nuisances, and sometimes dangerous, when they get in the way of planes, damage grounds, and disrupt public events. Most people don't want the birds hurt, just dispersed. One method that has proven effective, and is gaining acceptance, is border collie goose control.

Most people have observed a pet dog or cat with head down, tail and hips low, stepping silently and staring intently at an unsuspecting object. This how animals stalk their prey in the wild. It's instinctive, and can be refined to assist humans as early Scottish shepherds found out. They harnessed the natural obedience, endurance, and intelligence of collies to help herd their flocks.

It was not until the turn of the twenty-first century that utilizing them for geese control came into the picture. A Connecticut golf course was experiencing an influx of geese that were destroying the pristine greens and fairways. The superintendent went through the usual methods without much success. He eventually came up with the idea of trying dogs. Most got bored after the initial chases. He discovered that collies, on the other hand, were willing to go after geese repeatedly.

Dispersing geese populations this way is commonly referred to as hazing. You can hire companies to come out with collies and haze geese. You will not find these companies everywhere however. It is most common for airports and managers of large properties to employ this type of service. If you have a problem, it might be more practical to purchase a collie to train on your own or with the assistance of a professional trainer.

If you can find one of the dogs in a shelter, you will not only be ridding yourself of a geese infestation, you will be rescuing a beautiful animal from an uncertain future. There are several things you have to take into consideration when you are choosing a dog. Not all collies will chase geese. These dogs are herders by nature. Some are interested at first, but lose interest after their prey flies off.

Not every collie likes water or swimming. Animals have a natural instinct to head for bodies of water when they are being stalked. Somehow they know most predators will stop on the edge of the water sensing the difficulty of a water pursuit. A talented geese hazer will follow birds into water and chase them until the geese decide the current location is no longer safe.

Unless you are an experienced trainer yourself, hiring a professional to help you find and train a collie can be a good idea. Once the trainer understands your goals, he will know what characteristics to look for in a dog. He can accompany you on your search and teach you the most effective way to handle your animal.

Geese are graceful birds and fun to watch. They are becoming an increasing problem in some locations though. Using talented canines to chase them away is a great way to protect the birds and take advantage of a natural herder.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment