Faith and Will plunge into the water to harass a goose into taking flight.

NEW LEBANON, N.Y. -- A flock of Canada geese on the wing is an exhilarating sight. But exhilaration often becomes exasperation when the birds take up residence on parkland, a golf course or a pond, where their droppings can create serious health and safety problems.
With an abundance of short, tender grass for grazing and water for drinking and security, golf courses are particular favorites of the birds, although any open space with water nearby is a potential habitat.

Protected by law
Fifty years ago, the Canada goose was nearing extinction because of loss of habitat and excessive hunting. Today it has made a comeback and become one of those species of wildlife -- along with the raccoon, the opossum and others -- that has learned to survive in close proximity to people.
And, since Canada geese are protected under federal law, harming or endangering them in any way can result in severe penalties.
So what is a landowner to do when Canada geese descend en masse for a visit of indeterminate length? Go to the dogs -- specifically, border collies.
Descended from Roman and Viking dogs, border collies have been bred for centuries for their exceptional herding ability. The highly trainable dogs use a predatory, wolflike gaze to mesmerize and threaten their quarry, but they are also quite gentle.
This unique combination of intelligence and gentleness is what attracted Eric Johnson, proprietor of a newly established goose control service, to border collies.
Based in New Lebanon, N.Y., Wild Goose Chase operates in the Berkshires, northwest Connecticut and New York state's Capital Region and is the only service of its kind in the region, its owner said.
"Down in Westchester (N.Y), Dutchess (N.Y.) and Litchfield (Conn.) counties, people know about this kind of goose control service and know it works," Johnson said. "Up here, it's a new concept.

Similar silhouette
"Although geese can be aggressive with people, they have an innate fear of predators such as the arctic fox. The border collie, with a similar silhouette to the arctic fox and similar predatory behavior, seems to trigger that fear," Johnson said.
Convincing geese to abandon their nesting or feeding grounds takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how entrenched the flock is.
Under a contractual agreement, with fees dependent on the distance he must travel, Johnson and his dogs make two daily visits of about 20 minutes each to a site to pester the geese.
All the while, Johnson is continually directing his dogs, to come in on the geese faster or slower and from different directions. Persistent, consistent disturbance is what motivates the geese to find other nesting or feeding areas.
"Hiring a goose control service is not something to do lightly because of the time it takes and the expense," said Johnson. "But there are not that many other options out there to rid properties of geese."
Border collies can be trained to chase geese without touching or harming them. The dogs are excellent swimmers and can chase geese on water as well as land. They work silently so they don't disturb humans or other wildlife.
"They also love to work and please. Their satisfaction comes from carrying out their handlers' commands," says Johnson.
Border collies are known for devotion to their handlers. The bond between Johnson and his dogs, Faith and Will, is especially strong because Johnson raised and trained the dogs from 8-week-old puppies. Other operators of goose-control services purchase already-trained dogs, said Johnson, who noted that a well-trained border collie can sell for as much as $5,000.
Training a border collie is a major commitment, requiring daily sessions of up to an hour in length. But the work pays off.

Different personalities
"Working with border collies is a very mental process," Johnson said. "The more you understand how and why your dogs work, the better the results. Dogs, like people, have very different personalities. Will is very energetic. He really wants to work with you. Faith is extremely smart, with lots of spunk for a dog her size.
"She has no qualms about standing up to a 500-pound pig," Johnson continued. "But she's also more sensitive than Will, so I try to be more lavish with my praise for her."
Both Faith and Will worked with Johnson at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, where he was manager of the farm program for 12 years. As a result, they are highly socialized and adaptable.
Besides understanding dog behavior, Johnson must understand prey behavior and come up with a plan that uses both to advantage.
"The maturity of the handler plays a big part in the success of each venture. I've found the best approach is a calm, easy one. After all, the whole idea is not to hurt anything, just to convince the geese to move on."