You could just point your dog at the wild geese and say, “git’em”.But there might be some issues with that. I could think of a few. In some cases at some times just going with no concern that the geese need to get out of there might be ok. But lack of control, lack of concern for safety and the feelings for those you are operating around, and our own personal ethics, may make you realize that understanding things like how to handle Border Collies and not panicking the geese are important. When I was at the Sheep Dog National Trials recently, I meet a farmer whose cattle were getting very sick with some deaths from polluted water. Tests showed it was caused by a lot of wild geese in the ponds. That would make me want to do something quick.
A good working Border Collie usually takes a lot of work, training. Yes, they have the amazing instincts. Americans usually go to “they are so smart.” But that is not the real point for working Border Collies. Smart is as smart does, you need to put it all into play to get the work done. Border Collies have a lot of stamina, think endurance and energy. Border Collies have a very strong instinct to herd, which can drive them to issues you don’t want to have. And, all these issues can show up in their work, on wild goose control, or on the farm.
We train our Border Collies to herd on our sheep and poultry. This is natural and bred into them. This is the natural environment and the intended life for Border Collies. Then we take all that training, discipline and practice out and do our wild goose control work. You need to know that working line Border Collies are bred for variety, distinct personalities, and herding instincts of different shades. Some Border Collies learn quicker than others. Your own understanding of the breed and of wildlife matters, a lot. Your own personal mind frame and emotions will make or break your relationship with your dog, and thus the quality and quantity of work you can do. And, for all you modern Americans, it is not what you think.
Being quiet and level-headed is all-important. Sheep do not take kindly to a lot of yelling or fast movement. That is a good way to get run over. You may think sheep are cute, but a sheep that is frightened can mash your knee cap or give you a concussion. Whereas wild geese may go away with a lot of noise, some get used to it. Herding dogs need quiet and direct leadership as this is their nature. You don’t see a stalking tiger jumping up and down like a sugar amped 4th grader, do you? That would only irritate the Wildebeest. And I don’t think would impress wild geese one bit. Now,a serious herding Border collie will impress sheep as well as wild geese. What do you think the herding instinct actually is? That’s right, the stalking instinct domesticated and amplified. It is up to you as a trainer and handler to use this safely and effectivly.