Robin MacFarlane

Robin MacFarlane Dog trainer. Workshop Instructor. In person and virtual consulting for pet owners and professionals

It was 90+ degrees. People were melting. The pavement could’ve fried an egg. So naturally… someone brought their golden ...
06/30/2025

It was 90+ degrees. People were melting. The pavement could’ve fried an egg. So naturally… someone brought their golden doodle. πŸ₯΅πŸΎ*

Over the weekend, I witnessed a some disturbing scenes at the Des Moines Arts Festival.

If you’ve ever debated, *β€œShould I bring the dog?”* when it’s hot out… this blog post is for you.

πŸ‘£ (Spoiler: If you wouldn't walk barefoot in a fur coat, your dog probably doesn't want to either.)

πŸ‘‰ Read the full post here: https://robinmacfarlane.com/dogs-in-des-moines-sometimes-its-best-to-stay-home/

And let’s agree to keep summer safe for our four-legged friends.

Should you be concerned about fireworks? Yes, you should. Every year dogs break free of their tie out, escape their yard...
06/29/2025

Should you be concerned about fireworks?

Yes, you should.

Every year dogs break free of their tie out, escape their yard or outdoor containment. They don't understand what the seemingly random explosions are. 🧨

While there are some dogs that are ok with fireworks, it's not worth the risk.

Secure your dog in a crate, or small room inside the house. It is so much easier to be safe, rather than sorry.

Buddy is a 9 week old small, mixed breed (havanese, poodle, yorkie) currently enrolled in my virtual Puppy Training prog...
06/25/2025

Buddy is a 9 week old small, mixed breed (havanese, poodle, yorkie) currently enrolled in my virtual Puppy Training program. His owner sent me an update and this photo...which is awesome because it shows she is doing the homework I suggest for pups at this age. πŸ™Œ

The "homework" is building resilience and confidence by letting the pup explore terrain that varies in texture (notice the surface differences of grass, gravel and the boulder) and undulation. He's scaling the boulder, which appears to have enough pitch that it will challenge him mentally and physically.

Too often, in situations like this, puppy owners unknowingly stunt their pups development by rushing in to "save" them. The same thing tends to happen as soon as a toy rolls under the couch...rather than encourage the pup to reach, stretch and use a few brain cells solving a problem, humans retrieve the toy for the dog.

Anxiousness in dogs has become a common problem. It doesn't need to be that way. Once you understand how to safely expose your pup to challenges and guide them as needed, you develop a stronger, more resilient mind that will serve them into adulthood.

Stop carrying your puppy everywhere. Hold off on thinking you need to teach them how to walk nicely on a leash right now because your goal is to go around the same boring neighborhood block day after day.

Instead, find places to be safely off leash or attach a harness and a long line when needed, and get out and explore with your puppy. Encourage exploration. Let your pup use their nose, let them wander into the water, the sand, or around behind the tree...Stand by to help IF needed..but give them the opportunity to solve problems themselves when at all possible.

Your dog will be more tired when you get back home due to all the mental stimulation, and you will have added one more brick into building the foundation of a well developed dog.

Go have to fun with your puppy!

http://bit.ly/4k6BLvW..and use the link ⬆ to join the Puppy Program for more advice and training tips!!

Thank you to this wonderful group of pro trainers who came, shared, and participated in the Ecademy course!! Thank you t...
06/17/2025

Thank you to this wonderful group of pro trainers who came, shared, and participated in the Ecademy course!! Thank you to the fabulous Aimee Sadler for stopping by to visit, to my daughter Maddie for being my side-kick this trip, and to Joanne from The Balanced Dog for hosting!

Today is day 5 of the Ecademy course for professional dog trainers. Yesterday our discussions focused on how to set up t...
06/16/2025

Today is day 5 of the Ecademy course for professional dog trainers. Yesterday our discussions focused on how to set up training plans and help clients go about proofing behaviors for reliability.

Improving the reliability of any given behavior means building the dog's comprehension of it against the variables of duration, distraction, and distance. For example: how long will a dog remain in a Down, with distractions present, plus the added consideration of how close the distractions are to the dog and how close (or far away) is the owner from the dog.

ALL of those pieces need to be accounted for as you build reliability.

When creating training plans, it is important to clearly define the training plan and outline homework that systematically works toward the desired goals and vision of each dog/handler team.

We honed some plans yesterday for dogs that struggle with dog/dog reactivity issues, and dogs whose off leash freedom needs to be resistant to predatory behavior. Plus, we got to do some bonus directional work with one of the attendees dogs.

Stay tuned for our final day report!

Ecademy Day 3 was a big day. The focus started with incorporating the ecollar into stationary behavior. Then moved into ...
06/15/2025

Ecademy Day 3 was a big day. The focus started with incorporating the ecollar into stationary behavior. Then moved into discussing our responsibility to have knowledge of the role that nutrition and other health choices play in building sound minds.

We worked on ideas for proofing the recall, building impulse control, and discussed how other tools can be incorporated to best suit the dog/handler team.

It was a big day and I suspect that both the dogs and the handlers are tired!

Day 2 of Ecademy was super productive. We touched on and practiced so many concepts, several of which focused on client ...
06/14/2025

Day 2 of Ecademy was super productive. We touched on and practiced so many concepts, several of which focused on client success, like: creating training plans that progressively move clients toward their goals, techniques in coaching that go beyond auditory and visual learning, and how to help our clients integrate new behaviors so they become learned habit.

We talked (and practiced) how to combine use of the ecollar with other teaching techniques and methodologies like leash work, lure & reward, training with play, working in drive, etc. This is so we can see the ecollar as something beyond a choice as the "big hammer" or "last resort."

It was a very good day and exemplified the mission I've been on for 25 years...helping people understand ecollars as a tool for the versatility they offer. Plus, helping trainers develop a passion for the nuance and complexity it takes to work with and teach the owners of the dogs we've set out to help.

Without that piece...we really aren't doing the job we need to do.

Started the Colorado workshop out with an Elk in the yard and a double rainbow. :-) We have an interesting group of dogs...
06/13/2025

Started the Colorado workshop out with an Elk in the yard and a double rainbow. :-)

We have an interesting group of dogs and a wide range of temperaments: happy-go-lucky pups, some insecure dogs that learned undesirable behavior like barking/lunging helped them feel a sense of control, some young, some older, some spicy, etc.

It's going to a great week and I'm excited to see how everyone improves!

*** and bonus!! Chris from Ruffwear came by for a few hours and brought cool gear for the group. What a great start!!

First rest stop of the day; Maddie and Champ the grand dog are my copilots on the road to Colorado. Ecademy in Estes Par...
06/11/2025

First rest stop of the day; Maddie and Champ the grand dog are my copilots on the road to Colorado. Ecademy in Estes Park begins tomorrow!

This is just a picture of a dog being a dog...or is it? Read the review one of my previous clients just left for me. πŸ˜π‘Šβ„Ž...
06/10/2025

This is just a picture of a dog being a dog...or is it?

Read the review one of my previous clients just left for me. 😍

π‘Šβ„Žπ‘’π‘› 𝑀𝑒 π‘Žπ‘‘π‘œπ‘π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ πΎπ‘’π‘›π‘¦π‘Ž, π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘” π΅π‘’π‘™π‘”π‘–π‘Žπ‘› π‘€π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘›π‘œπ‘–π‘ , π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘‘π‘–π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑒π‘₯𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘œπ‘“ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘’β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘–π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘™ π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘™π‘™π‘’π‘›π‘”π‘’π‘ , π‘…π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘› π‘€π‘Žπ‘  π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘› π‘œπ‘“ β„Žπ‘œπ‘π‘’. π‘Šπ‘’ π‘€π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘“π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘› π‘œπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘œπ‘” π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘›π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘ 𝑒𝑠 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘’-β„Žπ‘œπ‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘€π‘Žπ‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘›π‘™π‘¦ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘£π‘–π‘π‘’. π‘…π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘› π‘›π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘”π‘Žπ‘£π‘’ 𝑒𝑝. π»π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘£π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ 𝑒π‘₯π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘π‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘›π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘™ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘β„Žπ‘›π‘–π‘žπ‘’π‘’ π‘–π‘šπ‘Žπ‘”π‘–π‘›π‘Žπ‘π‘™π‘’, π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘π‘™π‘’π‘‘ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑒π‘₯π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘π‘œπ‘” π‘π‘ π‘¦π‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘™π‘œπ‘”π‘¦ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘’π‘‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘‘π‘œπ‘” π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘Ž π‘—π‘œπ‘¦π‘“π‘’π‘™ π‘“π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘™π‘¦ π‘šπ‘’π‘šπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿ. π‘…π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘› β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘Ž π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘› π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘›π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘ π‘’π‘ π‘ π‘–π‘œπ‘›, π‘ π‘˜π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘“π‘’π‘™π‘™π‘¦ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘–π‘™π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘’π‘ , π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘› π‘“π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘œπ‘€π‘’π‘‘ 𝑒𝑝 π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘’π‘  π‘œπ‘“ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘£π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘ , 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘–π‘π‘™π‘’ β„Žπ‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘˜ π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘”π‘›π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘ . πΆπ‘Žπ‘™π‘š, π‘šπ‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘‘π‘–π‘π‘Žπ‘™, π‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘£π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’, π‘…π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘› π‘Žπ‘™π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦π‘  π‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘’π‘™π‘“ π‘Žπ‘£π‘Žπ‘–π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘™π‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘Žπ‘›π‘ π‘€π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘žπ‘’π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘ 𝑒𝑠 π‘›π‘Žπ‘£π‘–π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘šπ‘œπ‘ π‘‘ π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘£π‘’ π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦. π‘Šπ‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘…π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘›β€™π‘  β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘, 𝑀𝑒 π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘–π‘›π‘” πΎπ‘’π‘›π‘¦π‘Ž'𝑠 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘™π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘œπ‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘™π‘’ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘‘ π‘ β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘’ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š. π‘…π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘› β„Žπ‘Žπ‘  𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑏𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘β„Žπ‘’π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘› 𝑀𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒𝑑 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘’π‘›π‘‘ 𝑔𝑒𝑖𝑑𝑒 π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘› 𝑀𝑒 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘Ž π‘ π‘’π‘‘π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘›π‘π‘’ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘Žπ‘ π‘˜ π‘œπ‘“ π‘Ÿπ‘’β„Žπ‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘™π‘–π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Ž π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘π‘’π‘’ π‘€π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘›π‘œπ‘–π‘  β„Žπ‘Žπ‘  π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘’π‘‘ π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘šπ‘œπ‘ π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘’π‘›π‘—π‘œπ‘¦π‘Žπ‘π‘™π‘’ 𝑒π‘₯π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘π‘’π‘  𝑀𝑒’𝑣𝑒 π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘! π‘…π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘› 𝑖𝑠 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘œπ‘› π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘–π‘›π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘π‘™π‘’ πΎπ‘’π‘›π‘¦π‘Ž 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž 𝑒𝑠, π‘‘β„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘£π‘–π‘›π‘”, π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘›π‘–π‘›π‘”, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘Ž π‘€π‘Žπ‘™ :)

If I helped you with your dog, could you do me a favor? I'm working to re-build my business in a new location and could use a few more Google reviews to help bump up my profile.

Click here to submit a review:
https://g.page/r/CWwC0enqfJi8EBM/review

I'd appreciate any words from my former clients in Dubuque or from my virtual coaching clients. Thank you!

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Des Moines, IA

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