Robin MacFarlane

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

๐‡๐ž๐ซ๐ž ๐š๐ซ๐ž ๐š ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ฐ ๐ฏ๐š๐ฅ๐ฎ๐š๐›๐ฅ๐ž ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ข๐ง๐œ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ž ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ž๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ :

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. ๐Ÿ˜Š
Understanding verbal cues, visual cues and tactile cues gives you a variety of ways to communicate.

Not dog related...but I suspect my followers are like minded and would value this information as much I do. The little t...
10/06/2025

Not dog related...but I suspect my followers are like minded and would value this information as much I do. The little things we do (or don't do) matter. ๐Ÿ‚

Fall is here. Can you find ways to leave the leaves? Our obsession with raking and removing fallen leaves drastically reduces both the number and types of insects in our human controlled spaces. Many species feed internally in leaves as larvae, overwinter as larvae, or overwinter in senesced leaves. With tens of millions of acres of lawn across the United States and Canada, raking leaves and discarding them as yard waste creates a staggering loss of biodiversity every year. It's time to change our habits.

A recent scientific study in Maryland found the following:

โžกAutumn leaf raking for yard waste decreased the abundance of spring emerging arthropods (moths and butterflies, beetles, wasps, flies, and spiders ) by 17 %.
โžกRaking and removing leaves reduced Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) species richness by 40 % and abundance by 45 %.
โžกRaking changed the composition of Lepidoptera and parasitic wasp communities . Parasitic wasps provide free, non-pesticide pest control for our gardens, and birds rely on caterpillars to feed their young.
โžกLeaf mining moths and their associated parasitic wasps were most adversely affected.
โžกRetaining leaves supports arthropods in both high and low maintenance yard areas.

Source: Science of the Total Environment, Volume 970, 20 March 2025, 178821, authors Max Ferlauto, Karin T. Burghardt

The recent Dog Camp weekend was a great success.Thank you to Trina Copeland of Copeland's Dog Obedience 101 for hosting!...
10/06/2025

The recent Dog Camp weekend was a great success.
Thank you to Trina Copeland of Copeland's Dog Obedience 101 for hosting! And to all of her family members that pitched in and took care of the details, Thank you!

Congrats to all of the pet owners that joined the weekend. We had some spicy dogs, some fearful and anxious ones, some young pups just starting their education, and some with high prey drive behaviors that can be challenging to get a handle on.

It was quite a mix, but you all showed up willing to learn. You asked questions, participated in the exercises, worked outside your comfort zones and demonstrated exactly what it means to be Dog's Hero. Thank you!

The progress you made in 3 days was remarkable. Keep practicing what you learned and imagine where you'll be in 3 months. ๐Ÿพ

This week, I'll be sifting through video and posting some of the best moments...stay tuned!

Congratulations to the amazing group of pet owners and professional trainers who recently completed the Ecollar: Beyond ...
10/02/2025

Congratulations to the amazing group of pet owners and professional trainers who recently completed the Ecollar: Beyond the Basics course.

I was honored to guide them through 7 weeks of instruction, homework assignments, video reviews, live calls and group discussion.

I'm excited for the pet owners. They learned more about how to work with their dogs to improve reliability, plus provide more fun and freedom!

I'm equally excited for the pro trainers who fine tuned training techniques, sharpened instructing skills and gained some valuable client motivation ideas.

Well done everyone!! ๐ŸŽ‰

The next Beyond the Basics course will be in early 2026. Add your name to the waitlist if you want to be notified when registration opens. (Link in comments section)

Had a lot of fun with this guy for the past few weeks. He did a board and train with me 5 years ago. He came back to han...
09/24/2025

Had a lot of fun with this guy for the past few weeks. He did a board and train with me 5 years ago. He came back to hang out for a few weeks while his folks went out of the country to get married. ๐Ÿ’’

Field trips to hiking locations, the Des Moines sculpture park and outdoor eateries with him helped pass the time.

For those that don't know, I'm in the midst of building a new house. I relocated this past spring and my husband and I have been "glamping" in the garage/building that will be my future training facility.

We're getting to the tail end of the build (I hope!!) and I'm super excited to start working on the garage building to set up the training area.

To anyone in the Des Moines, and central Iowa area interested in training help, reach out. I can get you started with private lessons immediately and should be ready for Board and Train sometime in November!

Virtual fencing for cattle...here in Iowa! Pretty cool. I really like the idea that it deters them from ๐Ÿ’ฉ in the waterwa...
09/17/2025

Virtual fencing for cattle...here in Iowa! Pretty cool. I really like the idea that it deters them from ๐Ÿ’ฉ in the waterways. ๐ŸŽ‰ ๐Ÿ™‚

The Nature Conservancy studied virtual fencing with cattle at a preserve for three years and hope the technology can help other ranchers.

I sent out a quick note to my newsletter subscribers this morning. I received such an outpouring of response emails, (an...
09/13/2025

I sent out a quick note to my newsletter subscribers this morning. I received such an outpouring of response emails, (and lots of great photos!) that I thought I'd pass it along in case anyone else needs to hear the message.
(if you want to join the newsletter, link is in comments)

And feel free to drop photos of your adventures below, we can use reminders of the beauty and joy that is out there. ๐Ÿฅพ

More hikes. Fewer problems:
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๐ผ'๐‘š ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘๐‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘’๐‘›๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘”๐‘’ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘“๐‘–๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘”๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘‘๐‘ . ๐ด๐‘ข๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘š๐‘› ๐‘–๐‘  ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘“๐‘’๐‘๐‘ก ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘“๐‘–๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘Ž ๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ค ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘™ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘’๐‘ฅ๐‘๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’!

๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘™๐‘ฆ ๐‘ค๐‘–๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘” ๐‘๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘™๐‘™๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ ๐‘›๐‘–๐‘“๐‘“ ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ค ๐‘ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ก๐‘ , ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘ก ๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก ๐‘‘๐‘œ ๐‘ฆ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘”๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘™๐‘™.

๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘ฆ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘”๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘™๐‘š๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘ก๐‘œ๐‘‘๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ'๐‘  ๐‘ค๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘™๐‘‘. ๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘›๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘‘๐‘š๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ค๐‘  ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘๐‘–๐‘Ž๐‘™ ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘Ž, ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ค๐‘–๐‘กโ„Ž ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘œ๐‘ค๐‘› ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ฆ ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘ , ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘˜๐‘’ ๐‘ข๐‘  ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘”๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘Ž๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘ข๐‘ก๐‘ฆ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘  ๐‘ข๐‘ .

๐‘…๐‘’๐‘๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘™๐‘ฆ, ๐ผ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘™๐‘š๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘š๐‘–๐‘›๐‘‘. ๐ผ๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘“๐‘ข๐‘›๐‘›๐‘ฆ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ค, ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘ , ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘ก๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘š๐‘’๐‘ ๐‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘”๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘’๐‘ค. ๐ด ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘š๐‘–๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘“๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘š ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘๐‘˜๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘š๐‘ฆ ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ก๐‘ก๐‘™๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘‘๐‘Ž๐‘ฆ.

๐‘Š๐‘’ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘Ž๐‘‘๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘Ž๐‘›๐‘‘ ๐‘”๐‘œ๐‘ก ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘ก ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘Ž โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘˜๐‘’. ๐‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘’๐‘ก๐‘ฆ ๐‘š๐‘–๐‘›๐‘ข๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘  ๐‘™๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”๐‘  ๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘›'๐‘ก ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘’๐‘š ๐‘ž๐‘ข๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘’ ๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘๐‘™๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘˜. ๐‘†โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘“๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘š๐‘ฆ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘  ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘‘๐‘’ ๐‘–๐‘ก ๐‘’๐‘Ž๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘’ ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘ค๐‘Ž๐‘Ÿ๐‘‘ ๐‘ค๐‘–๐‘กโ„Ž ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘”๐‘  ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘ก๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘’๐‘‘.

๐‘†โ„Ž๐‘–๐‘“๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘š๐‘–๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘’๐‘ฅ๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘  ๐‘ก๐‘œ ๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ ๐‘‘๐‘œ๐‘” ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘Ž๐‘–๐‘›๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘Ž๐‘  ๐‘ค๐‘’๐‘™๐‘™. ๐‘…๐‘Ž๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’๐‘Ÿ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘› ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘›๐‘œ๐‘ก ๐‘๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘“๐‘’๐‘๐‘ก ๐‘ฆ๐‘’๐‘ก, ๐‘ก๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฆ ๐‘ ๐‘๐‘’๐‘›๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘š๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘› ๐‘คโ„Ž๐‘Ž๐‘ก'๐‘  ๐‘”๐‘œ๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘Ÿ๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก. ๐‘Œ๐‘œ๐‘ข ๐‘—๐‘ข๐‘ ๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘ก ๐‘”๐‘’๐‘ก ๐‘š๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ๐‘’ ๐‘œ๐‘“ ๐‘กโ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘”๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘‘ ๐‘ ๐‘ก๐‘ข๐‘“๐‘“!

Minnesota dog owners join me Nov 1st and 2nd for a workshop hosted by Water's Edge Dog Center in Buffalo, MN.The primary...
09/07/2025

Minnesota dog owners join me Nov 1st and 2nd for a workshop hosted by Water's Edge Dog Center in Buffalo, MN.

The primary focus will be on ecollar conditioning. You'll learn how to build a reliable recall, improve impulse control and understand key concepts about incorporating a remote collar into your dog's training so you can safely have more off leash fun.

We'll also dive into:

๐Ÿพ Simple changes you can make to your daily routine to improve your dog's responsiveness.

๐Ÿพ How diet and routine healthcare choices impact performance.

๐Ÿพ Strategies for incorporating play and working in drive to create speed, enthusiasm and greater precision.
..plus much more!

This foundation workshop is open to pet owners, sport and working handlers, and professional trainers. I hope to see you there.

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

Diva was pretty pleased when we got another box from Gun Dog SupplyIf you haven't tried Bizzy Beds, you should. I've pur...
09/07/2025

Diva was pretty pleased when we got another box from Gun Dog Supply
If you haven't tried Bizzy Beds, you should. I've purchased lots of dog beds over the past 30+ years...these are by far the best combination of nice looking, exceptional durability and smart design. The dogs Love them!

Link in comments if you're looking for a new dog bed for your companion.

Sitting here plucking away and look who suddenly appears! ๐Ÿ˜…I'll have to think of a caption for this photo. Ideas?
09/05/2025

Sitting here plucking away and look who suddenly appears! ๐Ÿ˜…
I'll have to think of a caption for this photo. Ideas?

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