Sydney deploys herding dogs to deter seagulls from stealing food at outdoor restaurants

A restaurant near Sydney's Opera House has trained herding dogs to discourage seagulls from snatching food from customers' plates.

• Dog trainer James Webb has developed a training program for the dogs to anticipate seagull movements and deter them more effectively.
• Webb trains the dogs to use stealth and surprise, leveraging their sheep-herding skills, to keep the seagulls alert and cautious.
• Following positive customer feedback and the program's success, the "seagull patrol" has expanded to other Australian locations and now includes 35 dogs.
• Each dog works one four-hour shift per week before returning home with its owner.