Robin MacFarlane

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.

10/06/2025

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. 🍂

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:

➡Autumn leaf raking for yard waste decreased the abundance of spring emerging arthropods (moths and butterflies, beetles, wasps, flies, and spiders ) by 17 %.
➡Raking and removing leaves reduced Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) species richness by 40 % and abundance by 45 %.
➡Raking 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.
➡Leaf mining moths and their associated parasitic wasps were most adversely affected.
➡Retaining 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

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!! 🎉

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)