Is it possible that watch geese are replacing dogs as the preferred alarm system?  In some parts of the world the answer is yes. In some areas of rural China, police are successfully using geese to protect their police station instead of dogs.

         A guard goose is not a new phenomenon. Farmers have long known that their farm geese would repel an intruder, some only making noise while others attack. The geese know who lives (or in the case of the police stations) who works there and will not bother familiar people. However, people that the geese do not know had better beware. Even swans have been known to aggressively attack people who ventured into their territory.

         If a goose is sitting on a nest hatching eggs, the male will stay in the area keeping watch. They do not stay close to the nest in the event a predator comes into the area, this way the predator will be lured away from the female and the nest.

         Often if the pair nests in a suburban area or near a road, the male will refuse to get out of the way of vehicles or people. Attempting to shoo the goose away is rarely successful and can be risky. Some males will hiss, bite or attack with their wings spread.

         One of the features that make geese excellent guards is fantastic eyesight, better than dogs, (and people) both far and near. They also have sensitive hearing and can detect movement far better than humans. Geese are bold and are even being used to protect free range chicken flocks.

         Sometimes it is possible to lure a guard dog away from what he is guarding, but it is almost impossible to distract or lure away a goose. So, Fido beware, you may be replaced with a goose! Could we say that the poor guard dog is being goosed?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130725-geese-guard-police-china/