Bitches
Studs
Introducing
Litters
Offspring
Rainbow Bridge
Performance

Niakwa Country Club’s Rent-A-Dog

Are they ever cute! 

Over the last ten years, the goose population residing at Niakwa Country Club, had steadily increased to numbers that elicited a different response from the same members that at one time, would carry food in their golf bag, in an attempt to get close to those “cute” goslings. A few years ago, with the help of the Provincial Wildlife Department and Federal Conservation, we were able to lesson the effects of the nesting geese using various, humane practices. However, although these methods helped, the Board of Directors, was hoping for a more permanent solution. After reading the many articles on the use of dogs on golf courses, it was decided to bring a Border collie on to the property, in an effort to discourage the geese from expanding their maternity ward, on the land members wanted to call a golf course.
The first problem we had to solve was who would look after the dog, especially during the six winter months. Allergies prevented me from assuming the responsibilities, much to the disappointment of my family, and another staff member could not be found, even with the club willing to pay the expenses.
Early in January of 2004, the Wildlife Branch put us in touch with a new company that would rent out a trained Border collie for a minimum of six weeks, and for as long as a golf course may need. This company, Border Collie Bird Control, was started by Lara Forchuk, as a direct result of all the publicized goose problems plaguing golf courses and parks in Manitoba.
The strategy put into place, involved an employee moving the dog from location to location, wherever the geese were found hunting for nesting sites.
Once that employee was on the fairway occupied by these feathered toilets, a command was given that would send the dog on his mission, to scare the geese. The idea of this continual, and it had to be continual, harassment, was to ensure the pairs decided Niakwa, was not a good place to raise a family. The process worked very well last year, as no eggs were hatched on the golf course, however they were hatched on the land, on the opposite side of the river, which borders the property.  Thankfully, we had taken this problem into consideration beforehand, because the geese and their young would swim to our side of the river to obtain entrance to our restaurant, and its food they preferred. Green snow fence was installed along the river’s edge for only the period of time it took the young to gain their flying feathers. Although, aesthetically, this was not pleasing, the golfers welcomed the result.

Members had no problem accepting the costs associated with this labor-intensive program, because as everyone knows, the geese seem to multiply, exponentially, with each new, year.

Our Border collie, Bess, proved to be the answer to our goose problem, and will be employed each spring from now on. Niakwa’s General Manager, Brian Kullman, takes Bess home each night and weekends, after the dog has finished work. These dogs live to work, thus the seven day a week schedule is playtime for her. 

If only they could be trained to walk greens.

Jim Barr
Course Superintendent
Niakwa Country Club