Two border collies have become unofficial heroes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto, using their herding instincts to keep soccer pitches free from geese. Sally and Ben are employed by Border Control Bird Dogs Inc. to manage geese that can deposit up to two pounds of waste daily, posing a hazard to athletes and turf.
Non-lethal herding technique
Geese management technician Gareth Williams, owner of the company based in Stirling, Ont., explained the method. "The dog just doesn't chase the geese like a normal dog would. Our dogs are trained border collies, which are herding dogs by nature. Instead of herding sheep, we change that to geese. They stalk the geese and stare at them with what we call 'collie eyes,' moving them slowly. The geese perceive them as predators. This is completely non-lethal and has no environmental impact. It can take 20 minutes to move 100 meters, with the dogs taking only two steps at a time."
Dogs on duty
Two-year-old Sally works primarily at the new FIFA World Cup training facility at Centennial Park in Etobicoke, while seven-year-old Ben is on backup duty at Toronto Stadium (BMO Field). Williams visits twice daily, early morning and afternoon, with additional visits if more geese appear. "They've spent millions on turf that geese find quickly. It's nesting season now, and once babies are born, they'll wander up to eat the grass," he noted.
Toronto Stadium, hosting six matches starting Friday, does not currently have a goose problem due to its enclosed nature. "They prefer open fields. We'll be on standby," Williams said. He contrasted their approach with other cities like Dallas, which use robotic security dogs for tasks like inspecting packages. "That's robots. Here in Toronto, we use proper dogs for a different task. Anywhere with green space, we do this," he added.
