Robin MacFarlane

11/20/2025

Who is planning on getting a new puppy over the holiday season?
I'm considering offering a free "How to prepare for your puppy"
Q & A session... so trying to gauge interest.

Drop a comment below if you, or someone you know has a new pet joining the household soon.

This is Dash, he's been participating in the Puppy Program. He's learning all the things about not play-biting, walking nicely on a leash, going potty outside, fun games to play and how to grow up to be a great companion.

11/17/2025

Another article about gps, efencing and it's use for conservation, and cattle management. This one is a more comprehensive read and does a good job explaining both positives, and the current challenges of the technology.

Situated on Montana’s northeastern shortgrass prairie, the remnants of dubious cattle containment methods present a plethora of ills for Leo Barthelmess and his family. Rusty barbed wire and derelict woven-wire sheep fence litter the century-old Barthelmess Ranch, with some strands dating back to ...

11/07/2025

asking for your help...

I've never kept records regarding dates/locations of my workshops or the Ecademy program. I'm reflecting and looking in the rear view mirror a bit and would like a sense of how many events I've taught.

If you could drop a comment of year and location you worked with me and include if it was the Ecademy, a workshop or private mentoring that would be greatly appreciated!!

Thank you. 🙏

(sorry for duplicates...this request is cross posted on a couple other profiles also)

Send a message to learn more

11/04/2025

Congrats to the great group of pet owners that completed the 2 day Ecollar - Foundation Workshop this past weekend.

We shared a few laughs, talked through lots of training information and made good progress getting new dogs started on the ecollar and advancing the more experienced ones.

Keep up the great work everyone and remember....the main reason you came is to enhance your dog's ability to "be a dog". Granting the freedom to safely explore off leash is one of the greatest gifts you can provide your pup.

Be Your Dog's Hero!

11/03/2025

I go away for two days to teach a workshop.

I come home. I walk my dogs and what do I find?

I find a pile of broccoli on the far edge of the property because my husband put it there for the deer so he can catch them…on the trail cam.

But who’s eating it? The deer?

No, the Duck Toller. 🤦‍♀️😂

10/30/2025

He’s got an opinion about having to actually earn earn the paycheck. 😂

10/29/2025

This T-shirt came to me last week as a surprise give from a former client. I love it. She designed it herself as a tribute to her dog, Kenya.

But it's the story and meaning behind the t-shirt that I really want to share with all of you. What started out as a pretty dicey case, ended up being one of that I'm really proud of.

To check out the story of Kenya, the Malinois that learned to make good decisions, click this link ⬇️
https://robinmacfarlane.com/kenya-the-malinois-making-good-decisions/

It's one great example of what it means to be Your Dog's Hero!

10/24/2025

There are few things more rewarding than getting a progress update from a new client the day after your first lesson together.

To hear that "she's catching on so quickly" and "did extremely well" is a highlight in any dog trainers day.

Not only because the dog is doing well, but because it shows the owner's level of commitment. Commitment to learning, training and the dog's well-being is what it means to be Your Dog's Hero!

And the icing on the cake??
..when the instructions that spending time practicing "How to walk" will create fatigue and calmness more effectively than just going for a "drag you down the street walk" plays out exactly as you said it would. ☺️

10/15/2025

Last call for the November foundation workshop in Buffalo, MN.

There are 2 working spots still available and a few audit spots. Open to pet owners, bird dog folks and professional trainers.

If you learn how to set the foundation of your ecollar training correctly, you can move on to building reliability much more easily. Understand how to minimize confusion and enhance desire by learning how to work in drive and when to switch drives depending on your goals.

Over two days, I'll get the newbies started and the intermediate dogs advanced to higher levels of skill.

https://robinmacfarlane.com/product/remote-collar-training-workshop/
Sign up today, registration closes soon!

The Ecollar Foundation Workshop teaches how to safely and humanely use an ecollar so you can provide your dog more freedom and build reliability.

10/11/2025

Some of the current dog wisdom will suggest that you should not use modeling to facilitate teaching a behavior. While I am a huge fan of shaping and do a good amount of it, I disagree with the idea of taking a complete "hands off" approach"

Having a dog that is tolerant of touch is important, but there is also significant value in teaching the dog that touch in certain areas = the expectation of a certain behavior.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠:

You will create learned associations with tactile cues. Useful when the dog is older and potentially loses their hearing.

You can use the association to help the dog when you are overlaying ecollar pressure, (or other tools).

You are helping the dog get comfortable with touch and having their body manipulated into various positions.

Here is a snippet from the recent Dog Camp weekend where I was demonstrating the concept.

You mileage may vary...but it hasn't failed me yet, to create dogs that are "multi-lingual. 😊
Understanding verbal cues, visual cues and tactile cues gives you a variety of ways to communicate.