When geese became a problem at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, resort management had some decisions to make. Instead of opting for noisy machines or methods that could potentially harm the wild geese trying to call the golf course home, Edgewood hired Whiskey, a five-year-old border collie specially trained to herd wildlife.
Whiskey the dog is part of the Edgewood maintenance crew, and he has a full-time position. While Whiskey doesn’t cash a paycheck, he gets compensated in treats, toys, belly rubs, and all the praise he can handle. “The hard working pup is responsible for chasing away the geese, ducks, and any other pesky critters that hinder guests' golf game,” explains Brad Wunderlich, the director of grounds and agronomy at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
Whiskey starts each day patrolling the course with his handler, deterring geese from settling onto the greens and water hazards. Throughout the day, Whiskey will complete sporadic runs to ensure the geese don’t try and settle back in and disrupt golfer’s games or make a mess on the turf. “In between patrols, he gets time to rest, play, and interact with staff and visitors. It’s a balance of work and plenty of well-earned downtime,” Wunderlich says.
Whiskey underwent special training from Flyaway Geese, an organization that promotes humane methods of moving unwanted wildlife. His border collie herding instincts combined with his training focused on migratory birds makes Whiskey the best dog for the job. And as a result of his hard work, not only is golf play smoother and more enjoyable, but the grounds stay in better shape, as well.
“Trained border collies like Whiskey are taught to control their energy, use eye contact and body language to move animals, and respond instantly to commands,” Wunderlich says. “The goal isn’t to scare the geese for fun—it’s to create a controlled, humane deterrent.”
“Whiskey… loves running, chasing geese (of course), and playing fetch when he’s off duty. He enjoys being around people and soaks up attention from golfers and staff,” says Wunderlich. “As for dislikes—Whiskey doesn’t like being idle for too long. He’s happiest when he’s got a job to do.”
“Whiskey… loves running, chasing geese (of course), and playing fetch when he’s off duty."