MacRae Sheepdogs

MacRae Sheepdogs Our passion is to increase the mutual understanding & bond between sheepdog handlers and their dogs. Please visit us www.macraeway,com/academy

Our positive, proven methodology is based on our dogs natural instinct to want to get to balance point; it is a system rooted in making a connection with our dog instead of a correction. We breed, train and trial Border Collies as well as provide on-line sheepdog training, and in-person clinics, lessons & custom training.

05/17/2026

Congratulations Bluegrass Champions,
Blake Byrum & Indy! 🏆👏👏👏🥂

05/17/2026

Yay Bute! Winner Bluegrass Open 2🎉🥂🙌
It was a class run, 91 points, below is video of her pen and shed.
Congratulations to Faansie Basson and Finn, winners Open 1.
Big thanks to judges Fraser Shennan and Ben Smith, the tireless crew of the KBCA, the endless list of volunteers, white house staff, sponsors, the Watt family for setting sheep and all the contributors that make this an absolute first class event.
Congratulations to Jeanine Henigin and Mo Nursery Champions👏👏🏆 full trial results on handlerspost

For the Double lift I drew up w Nite 16th, Cymro 20th and Alasdair and Bute 21st.
Forecast tomorrow is meant to be 90 and humid 😳 we’ll do our best.
We’re running both ends of the spectrum as today was Bute’s 1st open win and at 10 years, Nite is the old solider❤️❤️.
Moss had a top run going Open 2 but Alasdair didn’t hear the judge call the shed and left Moss to wear the lamb.
When she tried to break over Moss, the run ended in DQ (Nite is not the only old codger😂, I see a hearing aide in his future!)
Congratulations to all the finalists👏👏,
Double lift running order in comments — Loved getting to visit with friends and watch dogs we don’t often get to see; we’re very fortunate to have the opportunity of running in such an excellent trial🐾🥂

05/07/2026

There is currently a thread on Facebook with trainers recommending the use of electric collars for working sheepdogs. Few things are more destructive to a working Border Collie than an e-collar, and we absolutely condemn their use.
There is no “correct way to use it,” full stop.
It is a shortcut that prevents dogs from ever achieving their full potential and can have lifelong detrimental consequences.
We have rehabilitated dogs after e-collar use and seen firsthand the damage they can do.
Thankfully, we and many others have methods that do not resort to inhumane and barbaric treatment.
Please do not believe this is an acceptable option for your dog.
We felt it was important to share our perspective from our combined 70 years of training and competing at the highest level.
macraeway.com

04/17/2026

Faye's pen and shed; excited about her development 😍
The healthy cross bred sheep were a good test and could be tricky—
Some were quiet but reactive, cheeky, yet docile, all at the same time 😅
Detailed analysis of what went right, wrong and why, on the Academy later today.
Have an amazing weekend 🙌🐾🥂



Yay Faye🎉Nite and Gael (see what I did there 😅🙄😂)Way to Me Farm SDT: These 3 ran well all weekend. Congratulations to Sh...
04/13/2026

Yay Faye🎉Nite and Gael (see what I did there 😅🙄😂)
Way to Me Farm SDT:
These 3 ran well all weekend.
Congratulations to Sharron Allswede and Kerry winners Open 1 w 92👏👏
Nite was 2nd, 89 Faye 3rd, 88.

Open 2 , Faye won w 95 and Nite was 3rd on 93; well done Chris Elliott and Pete on 93, beat us on out work (52 dogs).
Bute and Cymro also ran🙈
Redeemed themselves Open 2, Bute was 4th w 91 and Cym was end of prizes w 89, mistakes were mine.

Very excited for Gael, daughter of Moss. This was her first time away from home.
She was equal points for 1st in Nursery 1 (was 2nd, coin toss for 1st place)
Congratulation to winners, Linda Tesdahl and Jeb 👏 Gael won Nursery 2 (17 dogs) .
That's Gael and Faye qualified for 2026 National and both will be available to good homes soon.

Huge thanks to Dee and Tom Bailes, such generous hosts💜 Farm, sheep and atmosphere were great.
Thank you to judges John and Sally Campbell, Jeannie Dennard, Sheena, everyone at set out, scribes and all who contributed to a very fun weekend 🤩🥂🥂

It’s not normal for a dog to quit working— Recently, at a trial it was said some folk consider this a part of training; ...
04/02/2026

It’s not normal for a dog to quit working—
Recently, at a trial it was said some folk consider this a part of training; it’s definitely not.
Turning a dog off of wanting to work, or diminishing his enjoyment, is rarely intentional but almost always has serious consequences.
Even if he doesn’t quit but shows signs of stress,
such as: sniffing, coming back to you, picking at grass, going half hearted around the sheep, going very wide or other, it’s important to recognize your dog is telling you something is wrong.
Additionally, dogs shouldn't need a ‘break’ or ‘time off’ training. However, some trainers use this rationalization because their method applies too much pressure.
If your dog has experienced diminished joy for working, the first step is to give yourself grace; you don’t know what you don’t know.
The next step is to become educated.

It may be as straight forward as trying to go too fast too soon,
didn’t include enough balance point, used discipline before cultivating desire, tried to force your dog, did too much drilling,
made the work too difficult, or even unintentionally, trained for an agenda rather than your dogs needs.
It could be more complicated, such as an excitable dog that underneath has a soft nature,
a type of eye that you don’t understand,
a temperament issue you inadvertently exacerbated or other.
There is no simple fix.
You can’t recreate initial enthusiasm but in many instances you can:
employ exercises, techniques, philosophical and mindset adjustments that can make an enormous difference.
When you put great effort into developing partnership with your dog, you can have amazing results and doing everything you can to help your dog enjoy his work is the best first step you can make. macraeway.com




03/31/2026

Create an exceptional working partnership.
Better connection. Better training.

🔷$100 off Platinum Membership
Code: WORKINGDOG

380+ videos, new ones every month & live coaching calls

👉Ends Friday
https://macraeway.com/plans/membership-plans/

Yay Moss & Bute 1st and 2nd GSDA Double lift 🙌🐾🎉🥂🦁👏Moss, Nite and Cymro all had fantastic turnbacks and while Bute had s...
03/29/2026

Yay Moss & Bute 1st and 2nd GSDA Double lift 🙌🐾🎉🥂🦁👏
Moss, Nite and Cymro all had fantastic turnbacks and while Bute had some trouble there, the rest of her run was lovely.

Moss and Bute tried hard to listen, even with the wind in our face.
Nite and Cymro decided the wind empowered them to know better (what I wanted), rather than listening to my whistles !!
NARRATORS VOICE: But, in fact, they did not know better🙈😅😂
so I retired.
We could only get there yesterday and what an excellent opportunity to practice a double lift in a Saturday trial.

Big thanks to the GSDA, judge Tildon Kirby, the set out crew, clerks, Alicia Lund, all that contributed and especially to Lisha Davis and her entire family for being such generous hosts🤩🥂

03/27/2026

Happy Friday; have an amazing weekend everyone 🙌🐾💜🥂—




03/24/2026

Mu**er, who dis handsome devil ...😅😂🐶

Introducing Lad 😍
Seeing himself in the mirror the first time 🪞🐾




✨🐾💪💪macraeway.com
03/16/2026

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macraeway.com


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Abbeville, SC

Telephone

(434) 955-3767

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