This is the version of events I was told and I’ve passed it along over the years. Whether it’s 100% true or not, it’s a brilliant story that’s made a lot of people laugh when I’ve recited it.
So, the story goes that back in the 1950s, Ballantine’s whisky was being nicked by the locals in Dumbarton. Apparently, folk would break into the warehouses where the whisky barrels were stored and would help themselves. It became a real problem as Ballantine’s were losing loads through theft.
To stop the break-ins, they brought in eight guard dogs, German Shepherds (Alsatians), to patrol the grounds, but the locals weren’t easily beaten. They came up with a crafty plan; they’d go down at night and throw sausages and biscuits over the fence for the dogs. After a few weeks, the dogs got used to the routine and the same time every night the dogs would start lining up, tails wagging, waiting to be fed.
While some people distracted the dogs with treats, while the rest would hop over the fence, break into the warehouses, and carry on stealing the whisky. Eventually, the dogs were retired as they were not quite the deterrent they were meant to be.
Now comes the best part; a certain Brigadier Ronald Cowan, who was apparently a keen birdwatcher, suggested to Ballantine’s a rather unusual replacement – geese.
And that’s exactly what they did. They started off with seven Chinese geese, and over time, the number grew to more than 100 at its peak. The geese turned out to be extremely effective. They were territorial, loud, and especially aggressive when guarding their eggs. In fact, they’d often chase the workers all the way into the warehouses in the morning!
The geese became local legends. They were so well known they ended up in adverts, on local news broadcasts, and even featured in magazines. A couple of them even escaped now and again only for rewards to be offered and recovery missions launched!
The people of Dumbarton ended up given them a nickname: The Scotch Watch. They stayed on duty until 2011, when Ballantine’s finally retired them and installed CCTV to keep up with the times.
The geese were moved to Glasgow Green, where they were well cared for and enjoyed access to the River Clyde to swim and live out their days in peace. Still local legends I believe.
Written by Thestigno1 June 10 2025 15:27:34
