A Permanent Goose Control Solution for Golf Courses
A trained goose-chasing dog your course owns — not another seasonal service contract.
Hi, I’m Lera — the trainer/owner behind GooseBusters. I help golf courses solve persistent goose problems by training rescue dogs to safely and humanely patrol their property.
Geese quickly learn to ignore most deterrents. Decoys, noise devices, and temporary services may work at first, but the birds adapt. The most effective long-term solution is a consistent canine presence — a dog the geese see regularly and learn to avoid.
That’s where GooseBusters comes in.
I source high-drive dogs from shelters and rescues across Canada, train them specifically for goose control, and match them with golf courses that need a reliable on-site solution. After training, the course takes ownership of the dog — gaining both an effective working partner and a unique member of the team.
In many cases, the cost of placing and training one GooseBusters dog is comparable to — or even less than — a single season contract with a traditional goose management service. Unlike seasonal services, however, the dog becomes a permanent part of your course team — with no ongoing service fees year after year.
The Process
Each dog completes approximately 4–6 weeks of focused training before placement.
Training begins by identifying dogs that naturally enjoy the work — individuals with the drive, curiosity, and athleticism that make chasing geese rewarding for them. I don’t force dogs into the job; the goal is to find dogs that genuinely thrive doing it.
From there, training focuses on building a reliable, well-rounded working dog, including:
Reliable recall and obedience
Goose-chasing and boundary work
Agility and physical conditioning
Calm behavior around golfers, carts, and staff
Training is customized to the specific golf course and the handler’s day-to-day routine. Terrain, water features, wildlife pressure, and daily activity all shape how the dog learns to work. Some dogs are trained for pond retrieves, others for navigating dense forested areas, wide fairways, or busy roads, while remaining neutral around busy tee boxes. Just as importantly, the dog is prepared to integrate smoothly into the lifestyle of the staff member who will handle them.
For courses within about an hour of Ottawa, I also include several days of on-site training to help the dog transition smoothly and learn the property.
Courses I’ve worked with have reported major reductions in goose activity and turf damage within the first season, please check out the Testimonials page.