Hey, that's a VERY well behaved dog you have there

January 29, 2008 6:39 PM

What's up with all these dog silhouettes?

I started seeing them several months ago on large corporate properties. First, I thought it was kind of a tongue in cheek thing. But then I spotted them in a cemetery (!). Not on the graves, but on the front lawn of the entrance area. I've also seen these "dogs" on municipal grounds. Some are running, some in a sitting position.

Is it some sort of warped idea of a goose deterrent? Some sort of mental 'chin up Wilbur'? I'm now seeing them pretty regularly. If it makes a difference, I've seen them in Philadelphia (University City area) as well as Northern New Jersey. I Googled around for pictures, but nothing came up.

Any ideas?

posted by dancinglamb to Grab Bag (8 answers total)

I believe they are used to scare away Canadian geese.
posted by Funky Claude at 6:50 PM on January 29, 2008

(I'm pretty sure the name is "Canada Goose/Geese", not "Canadian Goose/Geese". FWIW I don't think I've ever heard a Canadian call them "Canadian Geese", only "Canada Geese".)
posted by loiseau at 8:55 PM on January 29, 2008

It may be an American thing, as I've only ever heard them called Canadian geese. I think in the spirit of reciprocity, Canadians should call them American geese.

OP, I had the same question (offline from AskMe), and was given the same answer about scaring away geese, too.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:03 PM on January 29, 2008

Response by poster: loiseau: I've always called them Canadian Geese (it's what I've called them since I was little). Apparently, either name works. Maybe it's a regional thing? I'm from NJ, if it matters.
posted by dancinglamb at 9:50 PM on January 29, 2008

I'm from the US and have always called them/heard them called Canada geese. Or sometimes just "Canadas", by birdwatchers Never Canadian geese.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:36 PM on January 29, 2008

This is unrelated, but I once saw a Canadian goose take off from the road after being honked at by a car and take a midflight shit straight on the offending vehicle. Also, I've heard plenty of people in Canada refer to them as Canadian geese.
posted by Krrrlson at 12:51 AM on January 30, 2008

As a Canadian, I've never heard them referred to as "Canadian Geese", always "Canada Geese".

And they're right to be terrified of dogs, I've seen what a dog can do to a goose who isn't quick to flight.
posted by smitt at 8:00 AM on January 30, 2008

How do you know they're Canadian? A lot of Canada goose flocks are nonmigratory now, too - so they might be American or even English geese!

I have to say, though, I'm shocked that dog silhouettes work to deter Canada geese. Full-time border collie patrols, I would believe, but I can't help thinking those silhouettes won't work for long. Canada geese are not shrinking violets.
posted by caitlinb at 10:40 AM on January 30, 2008