Robin MacFarlane

Robin MacFarlane Dog trainer. Workshop Instructor. In person and virtual consulting for pet owners and professionals
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Virtual fencing for cattle...here in Iowa! Pretty cool. I really like the idea that it deters them from πŸ’© 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 πŸ’© in the waterways. πŸŽ‰ πŸ™‚

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. πŸ₯Ύ

More hikes. Fewer problems:
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𝐼'π‘š π‘π‘œπ‘π‘π‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘œ π‘’π‘›π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”π‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘œπ‘œπ‘‘π‘ . π΄π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘šπ‘› 𝑖𝑠 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘“π‘’π‘π‘‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 π‘Ž 𝑛𝑒𝑀 π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘™ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑒π‘₯π‘π‘™π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’!

π‘π‘œπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘™π‘¦ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘œπ‘” 𝑏𝑒 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘™π‘™π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑠𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑓 π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ 𝑛𝑒𝑀 π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘ , 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑑 π‘šπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘”π‘œπ‘œπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘  𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑙.

𝐼𝑑'𝑠 π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘¦ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘šπ‘’π‘‘ 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦'𝑠 π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘‘. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ 𝑛𝑒𝑀𝑠 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘™ π‘šπ‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘Ž, π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘π‘–π‘›π‘’π‘‘ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘€π‘› 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠, π‘π‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ 𝑒𝑠 π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘”π‘’π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘’π‘‘π‘¦ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘  𝑒𝑠.

𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑦, 𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘  𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘šπ‘’π‘‘ π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘‘. 𝐼𝑑'𝑠 𝑓𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑦 β„Žπ‘œπ‘€, 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘šπ‘œπ‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘ , 𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 π‘šπ‘’π‘ π‘ π‘Žπ‘”π‘’π‘  π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ 𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑀. 𝐴 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘π‘˜π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘› π‘šπ‘¦ π‘€π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘‘π‘™π‘’ π‘ π‘Žπ‘£π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦.

π‘Šπ‘’ π‘™π‘œπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑒𝑝 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘”π‘œπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘Ž β„Žπ‘–π‘˜π‘’. 𝑁𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑𝑦 π‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘  π‘™π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘  𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑑 π‘ π‘’π‘’π‘š π‘žπ‘’π‘–π‘‘π‘’ π‘Žπ‘  π‘π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘˜. π‘†β„Žπ‘–π‘“π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘šπ‘¦ π‘“π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘  π‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ 𝑖𝑑 π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘–π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘œπ‘£π‘’ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘.

π‘†β„Žπ‘–π‘“π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘šπ‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘ π‘’π‘‘ 𝑒π‘₯𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 π‘‘π‘œ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘œπ‘” π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘›π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘  𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑙. π‘…π‘Žπ‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘“π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘ π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘œπ‘› π‘€β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘'𝑠 π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘“π‘’π‘π‘‘ 𝑦𝑒𝑑, π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘¦ 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’ π‘œπ‘› π‘€β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘'𝑠 π‘”π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘. π‘Œπ‘œπ‘’ 𝑗𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘šπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘”π‘œπ‘œπ‘‘ 𝑠𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑓!

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:

🐾 Simple changes you can make to your daily routine to improve your dog's responsiveness.

🐾 How diet and routine healthcare choices impact performance.

🐾 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! πŸ˜…I'll have to think of a caption for this photo. Ideas?
09/05/2025

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

This boy is a city dog. His owners live in Chicago. I did his initial training about 5 years ago. He's hanging out with ...
09/03/2025

This boy is a city dog. His owners live in Chicago. I did his initial training about 5 years ago.

He's hanging out with me for a few weeks while his owners are getting married out of the country.

It took him a couple days to acclimate to the calm and quiet but he's quickly catching on to the perks of country life. 🐾 ☺️

One of these dogs died yesterday. Died for one reason. Because the owners of these dogs are intentional idiots. These a...
08/27/2025

One of these dogs died yesterday.

Died for one reason.

Because the owners of these dogs are intentional idiots.

These are the two dogs I wrote about a couple weeks ago. I found them roaming my property, did some sleuthing to find out where they lived and got them home.

After the fact, I learned they weren't just escapees, they are allowed to roam free: All. The. Time. In fact, their owners were out of town for the weekend when they showed up at my place. 🀯

I haven't meet the owners in person, but am making some assumptions that they aren't of limited means. They have a nice home, a large property, manicured with a pond, 2 newer outbuildings, nice cars in the drive...all the "things".

These dogs have been taken back home numerous times by other neighbors, and turned into the local shelter several times...some how or other, that never got reported to the authorities. As of yesterday, things are on record.

The idea of letting a dog roam truly eludes me. What do people think the dogs are doing all day...heading down by the creek to read a book? Or hanging out under the apple tree to watch clouds float by?

Dogs are PREDATORS.

Predators are an animal that naturally preys on others.

So of course these two were doing what dogs do...and now I hear that one of my neighbors has a dead sheep and one of the dogs lost his life to a bullet in the process. The other dog remains on the run.

If you're reading this and still think it's ok to let your dog roam because that is what dog's need to do, don't bother to comment on my page. I have no more F's to give about willful idiocy.

Today I am hoping the other one crosses my path. I'll be looking...maybe something can be salvaged from this mess. 😠

Freedom is importantβ€”but so is safety. In my latest post,I share their story, plus some practical ways to give your dog ...
08/19/2025

Freedom is importantβ€”but so is safety. In my latest post,
I share their story, plus some practical ways to give your dog the best of both worlds. 🐾

https://robinmacfarlane.com/dogs-freedom-to-roam/

The post was inspired by two German Shepherds who showed up recently, wandered into my kitchen and were quite content to hang out for a while. I was able to track down the home they came from, a few miles away. When I found out their owners were actually out of town for a few days it was really disheartening....apparently seeing these two wandering in this rural environment is a common occurrence. πŸ˜•

Two Shepherds wandered into my kitchen and reminded me of an important truth: dogs need freedom, but they also need safety. Discover practical, breed-specific ways to fulfill your dog’s instincts while protecting them from harm.

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