"You Know the Problem...We Have the Solutions!"

In 1997, I created FIRST STATE BORDER PATROL after being over-run with thousands of hungry snow geese on my farm. Within days, I had my fill of these unwanted "guests" eating away at my young barley crop. In farming, "every acre counts and counting acres are everything." Before my eyes, I could see my springtime profits turning into a wasteland; it was becoming a several acre mudflat. I contacted several state and federal agencies trying to find some form of waterfowl relief. With no relief insight I took matters into my own hands. Armed with my canine training background and my Giant Schnauzer, Cody, I went to work. The snow geese were quickly "persuaded" to leave the field and my young barley crop was saved.

It Starts With the Dogs

FIRST STATE BORDER PATROL is a Delaware based, owner operated goose control business. No work is ever subcontracted out to other parties. The only employees you will see other than the owner are the dogs. Today, I use Working Border Collies which I train on the farm. Each dog gets trained on Katahdin Hair sheep which are also raised on the farm. The herding skills used to move wild sheep from one pasture to the next are used on geese. When a 35 pound Border Collie can move a 250 pound ewe, then moving a 10 pound goose can't be a problem. The herding commands typically used are: walk-up, look back, lie down, and that'll do. These are all off-leash commands and are used for full canine control.

In addition to using the dogs, I also use many other time proven goose control products and techniques. I will often reject those which are a waste of my client's money. Remember, it's your money and your goose control problem. Quality goose control can never take a one dimensional approach.

FIRST STATE BORDER PATROL looks at several problem areas. We look at the habitat used by the Canada or snow geese, any human influences such as feeding, and then the property. Our goose control approach also looks at the issues of public health and safety, the many aspects for the environmental issues of that property, and finally the overall cost to the client. It really is a total concept approach.

I use ABCA registered Working Border Collies which I train, like K-9 Split. To be successful in the business, it is important to have great employees like this one!

Goose control starts with the dogs but continues with weekling herding training.    K-9 Jess is working on her "away" command. This command is used to move the dog to the left of the K-9 handler and around the stock. 

Most goose control businessess buy their dogs from a K-9 broker. They must then go to some farmer for once a month or twice a year sheep training...We own the sheep, raise the dogs, and do all of our own training. FIRST STATE BORDER PATROL is a total business.

Lifetime Member of the American Border Collie Association

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hebrews 13:2