Gus is our second dog--he is a short haired tricolored Border Collie. Like Ivy, he is also trained on sheep and can take both voice and whistle commands. He is an avid swimmer, following the geese immediately into the water if need be.
DIANA AND TIPPER
Ivy is our first highly trained Border Collie. She is extensively trained on sheep, as well as geese. This allows her to take flanking commands, going to the left or right, and to be able to be called off of whatever she is doing instantly if the need arises. She responds to both whistle and voice commands. Border Collies trained in this manner are safer to use in areas where there is traffic. In addition, they never revert to just chasing the geese, which can endanger the geese or nearby ducks. Ivy stalks her geese, rather than chases them. She has two degrees, an MBA and a Phd, from Pupperdine University. (Master of Bird Aggravation, Pretty hardworking Dog!)
TIPPER
Tipper is an undergraduate student of Ivy's who enjoys being on the job every day. We like to say that she "Borders on being a Collie." Although intensely interested in geese, she mainly likes to look cool and make friends with our clients.
A native Charlottean, Diana Travis started Goose Busters! in February of 2001 after a life long love affair with dogs made her realize she wanted to spend more time working and being with them. Formerly a landscape designer and consultant, her company Travis Landscapes had a superior rating on Angie's List. She brings to her new company the same dedication and commitment to client satisfaction.
Plow, our newest addition, is a great Border Collie with almost limitless energy. His "eye" when he's looking at geese can often scare them off a pond without him having to go in after them!
PLOW
MaryAnn joined Goose Busters! in 2007. She is a physical therapist by training, but decided to have a change of scenery and is mostly enjoying her new line of work a great deal. However, having been knocked over a wall by an angry nesting goose last year, she was glad to have the expertise on how to quickly recover!
