Quinn the Goose Dog enrolls at WSU

Say goodbye to the poop-covered walking paths on campus and hello to the newest member of campus, Quinn, the mighty goose dog.

Wichita State is excited to announce the arrival of Quinn and Chris Stoneberger, the dynamic duo behind Goose Troopers. The pair is fully licensed and work to protect geese and the Wichitans they interact with. 

Quinn is an adorable 5-year-old border collie who absolutely loves to work and receive praise. She spent time herding sheep on a farm in Kentucky before learning how to handle geese. Her goose dog training took years to complete, but she is now reliable and knows to never make contact with the birds. 

For Quinn, her reward doesn’t come in the shape of a dog bone or a new toy, it’s the completion of the job. The biggest compliment Quinn can receive is praise, and lots of it. When on goose patrol, she goes off word and whistle commands given by Chris. 

According to Eason Bryer, WSU’s director of facilities maintenance operations, several studies show that goose dogs are the most humane way to deal with geese. The method used by Quinn and Chris, which emphasizes a no-touch strategy, is approved by PETA, GeesePeace and the Kansas Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

“People love dogs and they hate poop, so to me it’s a match made in heaven,” Eason said. 

The main concern is for the safety of the birds. College campuses are not ideal living areas for geese. They can feel constantly threatened during nesting season, ingest chemicals and have an increased risk of getting hit by a car. 

Quinn and Chris cause no harm to the geese. They encourage them to move away from campus to another, safer, body of water. Reconditioning the bird is no easy feat and could take anywhere from 6-8 weeks to see initial success. Geese in the Wichita area have never been worked before, which makes relocation a long-term goal. 

As exciting as it is to have a new pup on campus, please remember that when she’s working she needs to be left alone. Quinn’s work requires complete focus, dedication and precision in order to get the job done. However, when the geese are gone and she’s strolling campus, Quinn will accept all the praises, “good-girls,” scratches and pets anyone has to offer. At the end of the day, she's a workaholic dog with a playful attitude. 

“She is one of those dogs that just gets along with everyone,” Chris said. She is so sweet.”