Dogs on patrol deter swooping seagulls from snack theft at Sydney Opera House

It might seem like a minor inconvenience, but swooping seagulls are a familiar frustration for anyone trying to enjoy a meal by Sydney Harbour. Now, working farm dogs best known for herding sheep are being trained to use those same instincts to keep hungry seagulls at bay. At the request of Sydney's Opera Bar, dog trainer James Webb developed a specialized program that teaches working dogs to deter seagulls. “It's really become like a science, how we do it,” says Webb of the Seagull Patrol. The program is harnessing the dogs’ natural herding instincts. “The reward is getting to chase the seagulls, so we get dogs that just love doing it, and then we work backwards with training from there,” explains Webb. The dogs are trained to anticipate the birds' movements, making them an effective and humane way to discourage unwanted visitors. “If we keep doing the same thing, the seagulls will just watch us walk up and down and they'll help themselves to food when the dogs not there, so we have to be a bit sneaky, so we get the dogs to creep up, we might get them to bark at them or appear when they're not expecting it and just keep the seagulls on their toes,” says Webb. The program has expanded to as many as five locations, including Melbourne's Federation Square, and the dogs have also been brought in at the new Sydney Fish Market. “There was skepticism about whether they would be successful or a gimmick. Since we've had the dogs, the feedback from everybody is tremendous,” says Tanya Lambert of the Sydney Fish Market. There are now 35 dogs trained for the role, with each working no more than a single four-hour shift each week. Known collectively as the "Seagull Patrol," they're working dogs on duty but ordinary family pets once they head home with their owners. Customers have welcomed the initiative, praising the seagull-free dining experience. “Fantastic job, I haven't got any sign of seagull on me, haven't seen one since I've been here,” says Peter, a restaurant patron. This article was provided by The Associated Press.