Real Handlers. Real Results.

Trusted by 2500+ members worldwide. From Novices to Double -Lift Champions, in their own words…

MacRae Way is a fantastic place to learn for anyone of any level who wishes to improve their skills and knowledge.  When my first daughter was a baby, I was stuck in the house a lot and decided that it was the perfect time to become a member and check everything out and I’m so happy that I did!  The amount of diverse content is amazing, from dog training to handling to judging to sheep care plus many other things. The MacRae Way Courses are super good, as well. I bought the turn back one and totally changed my teaching method of the turn back after that and have had really good success with it since. It’s very intuitive to the dog and makes sense to them, elevating their confidence and enthusiasm. The Office Hours Zoom calls are very fun to watch, always interesting things that Alasdair and Patricia discuss and they answer questions that people write in. I’ve had a few virtual lessons with Alasdair; from a particularly puzzling problem to a general evaluation of a dog and he never disappoints! His vast knowledge of everything to do with Border Collies and sheep is quite amazing.  To this day I still use the MacRae Way method for teaching shedding, another example of how intuitive and positive the methods are; I learned it over 20 years ago in a shedding clinic. I’ve told all of my regular students plus many other people to sign up, there are so many great exercises and content. It’s a fantastic resource for all of us sheepdog trialists and enthusiasts!

-Haley Hunewill

MacRae Way Academy is an amazing forum for sharing knowledge, wisdom and news about everything related to working sheepdogs.  As a novice in the sheepdog world and a new sheep owner, I am finding the information invaluable.  It is a perfect adjunct to the Courses, clinics and lessons, at a very reasonable price.  Thank you for making this available!

-Mary Mackenzie

I train my own dogs, and as a dedicated  “student of the game”, I can say without hesitation that the Academy is absolutely best in class.

What I appreciate most is the focus on foundation and fundamentals. True progress comes from doing the basics well, and the Academy makes those fundamentals shine. Another huge breakthrough for me has been shedding. I struggled with this for years, feeling like I was always chasing different ideas without a clear path forward. The MacRae method changed that completely. They break the work down into clear, manageable steps, and for the first time it feels consistent and achievable. Even better, my dog is responding with joy and understanding—that means the world to me. I also love the Office Hours. Having the chance to ask questions and learn directly from the very best in the sport is such a gift. And I can’t say enough about Patricia’s commitment to keeping the Academy fresh and relevant. I feel supported not just in the mechanics of training, but also in the bigger philosophy of treating our dogs with kindness and fairness. That’s incredibly important to me, and I’m deeply grateful to have a resource that reflects those values.

-Robann Mateja

Great way to progress in becoming a top handler.
I have attended many lessons and clinics to try to become a better trainer and handler. The one thing no lesson or clinic can give you is the ability to go back and review/revisit/remind yourself of the techniques that will help you and your dog(s) become better teammates. Macrae Way Online training courses and Academy does just that. On many occasions, I will have some new problem crop up in training a specific dog, and as a member of the Macrae Way, I can search for training videos that address ways to handle that particular problem. As we all know, our dogs have different responses to different training methods; Macrae Way recognizes that and provides multiple ways to address problem areas to give you the best chance of success. It’s not just a “one size fits all” approach.The best thing about this training is that not only do we have the master trainer to learn from, we have someone who has successfully traveled the path from beginner to national champion who does a fantastic job of breaking down the steps to success into easy to implement training.

WORTH EVERY PENNY!

~Keena Turner

I was worried online learning may not quite be enough to help me progress as a handler and trainer as much as I wanted. I could not have been more wrong.
The premium enrollment is perfect for a handler of any level with any dog. As someone who has gone through years of schooling at universities; The MacRae Way Academy really has content and learning available for someone just starting or someone looking to get their metaphorical PhD in sheepdog trialing. There are office hours to ask questions, they take student requests for more training videos; individual online lessons are available, trial analysis and judging are all there. I could not have enough great things to say about their teaching and recommend it to anyone of any level.

-Mindy Price

MacRae Way has been enormously helpful to me. There are so many things I appreciate. These include: very clear instructions about how to improve specific types of performance, with diagrams; information about the types of dogs that will benefit from an exercise and those that should avoid a particular exercise or approach; clear recommendations for progression through exercises and levels of exercises; and recommendations about particular types of sheep for particular exercises. I like knowing that if I’m struggling with a particular problem there is almost always information available to address it, and if there isn’t, there’s the opportunity to request new content or have the problem discussed during office hours. I also really benefit from watching the narrated runs of MacRae dogs.

~Carla Green

The MacRae Way videos and articles help me stay on the right track with my dogs. I’m able to get assistance in widening flanks, in bringing a started dog further along, in improving my shedding technique, and in identifying solutions for the myriad of other issues that crop up during training.  I’ve watched many of the videos where various trial runs are narrated and this helps me be aware of how points are lost and how to keep points. What I value most about The MacRae Way is that no secrets are kept. Answers to any and all questions are given freely, with thought, and with the advancement of the trainer and the well being of the dog foremost in the responses.

-Ellen Beasley

I have learned a lot from the MacRae Way videos! Patricia is always helpful and accessible for questions; I only wish I had more time to watch more often, it is a terrific resource!

~Gerianne Darnell

Excellent way to continuously learn at your own pace. I appreciate the flexibility to view the content as often as I wish. Tremendous amount of info available anytime you need it on the highly successful MacRae Way Academy training methods. Fantastic and enjoyable way to expand your training knowledge designed for both the beginning and experienced handler. I highly recommend it for anyone wishing to learn from some of the world’s best handler’s.

-Russell McCord

Just signed up for the Macrae Way Academy, a great resource for all things sheepdog . The access to the training videos is a no brainer for me. I have learned a lot from the MacRae’s system and look forward to learning much more!

-Bryan White

I can’t thank you enough for making this possible!  So many use violence instead of training and with this being so available people can see how to do it the right way!  I have been doing border collie rescue for 16 years and this is going to help people communicate better with their dogs!!!!

-Catherine Tucker

The MacRae Way Academy is a wonderful resource for experts as well as beginners!  I only get to train my dogs on sheep 4-5 times a month.  But by having unlimited premium access for an entire year, I can continue to learn about training sheepdogs even while in the city!  The videos are clear, concise, and well thought out.  I also enjoy the year long access to the material, so I don’t have to worry about my subscription running out when life gets busy!

-Jackie Bludworth

The MacRae Way Academy is an essential addition to the already comprehensive offering of MW online courses that emphasize a positive, and proven, non-coercive approach. From dog handling tips, video analysis of trial runs, handling strategies, interviews, articles-even tips for living with dogs, the Academy is not to be missed! My personal favorite is trialing and judging tips. There, we get detailed analysis of judging sheds and pens- essential for handlers and judges alike. The Academy is a panoply of  videos, articles and sound recordings.

-Pam Helton

My dog was happier and more responsive after just one session with your step-by-step Academy videos! I’m a novice and this has helped me so much, thank you MacRae Way

-Jayne Elliot

As a novice, I did not know where to start. The MacRae’s structured, positive system has made all the difference. One of my favorite features is the Zoom Office hours. Monthly coaching not only is a chance to ask questions, it keeps me motivated. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping us, help our dogs.

`-Jack Hancock

Well done on the Academy!  I am impressed!!

-Joane Unrau

I am THRILLED I ordered your video.  It’s the best thing I have done for myself ever. Thank you for doing them. it’s giving me the boost I needed and it’s how I start my day.

-Christine Jobe

The MacRae Way is an excellent and entertaining insight into how two of the best trainers and handlers of sheepdogs work to shape the minds of their champion dogs. I found it very motivating as it breaks the training process down into enjoyable steps. It helped me bring the best out in my dogs in a way that they were very happy to respond to and I think that it would be an invaluable addition to anyone’s training program!

-Derek Fisher

The Macrae Way online is fantastic. It is not only full of valuable info on starting young dogs, it is has very valuable info on fixing problems with dogs already going. This video is the beginning of an entire training process. As proven time and again in all things a solid base and foundation is essential to build anything great that will stand the test of time –  just look at the pyramids.

Thanks so much for this video course and your willingness to share your vast experience and knowledge with us. Looking forward to the next step and courses in your very successful training system.

I would and have recommended this to both beginners and experienced handlers alike.

-Geri Abrams

Thank you to the Macrae Way!

I have started 4 dogs since watching this series and it has made a world of difference in how they have come along. I have been training/starting dogs for close to 18 years and this series has made the most sense to me – the dogs are taught in such a way that they do the right thing from the start which imprints on them and carries over. The bonus is being able to watch it over and over and then train! Looking forward to the future videos!

-Dee Penatzer

The starting young dogs video series was excellent for me as I am starting a young dog right now. I am the type of learner that needs to see what someone is talking about as well as having it explained. The MacRae Way video did both very well . Lots of little gems of wisdom in there. I highly recommend!

-James Hadley

The training series is tremendously helpful, even if you have been to many MacRae clinics. For my friends just starting out, there is nothing that will aid your understanding more than watching the series before and after attending a clinic. I know I will be reviewing the series at every stage with my next dog. It’s wonderful to be able to see so many examples of the best approach for different types of dogs.

-Renee Newcomb

I have been implementing the MacRae on line series to train my two young pups beginning with the “Starting a Young Dog” and now have moved on to the “Outrun Series”. I love that the MacRae method of training does not include harsh or negative corrections but rather shaping the dog by rewarding with the sheep and praise for a job well done or not. Just two weeks into the Outrun Series my young dogs are outrunning with purpose and depth behind the sheep. I highly recommend these series to anyone regardless of your handling level but especially for someone starting a young dog. I now go to the field with purpose and know I am doing the right thing for my dogs. I am looking forward to the next series “Driving” which I hope will be out soon. Thank you to the MacRae’s for sharing years of experience and knowledge of the working Border Collie.

-Anne Charlton

What a great way to stay engaged learning! With so many training days lost due to weather at this time of year, these video courses can keep you fresh and active. Good to see little differences in the dogs and how the method changes to suit them. There are lots of useful bits of information a viewer can be ready with the next time they take their dogs out to work.

-Mike Polites

If you want a clear and positive way to teach your dog Turnbacks, then order this online course! The teaching method is carefully structured, gradually increasing each element so that the handler and dog understand and, more importantly, enjoy every step. The MacRaes are known for their signature turnbacks. Watching this course can help handlers and dogs achieve that same level of competence and enthusiasm for this thrilling aspect of sheepdog trials.

-Jennifer Boznos

I wanted to start training turnbacks in February in case I would be fortunate enough to need them for the international in September. It is very important to me to train dogs a correct foundation so that if things go wrong anywhere I have the foundation principles to fall back on.The price of the turn back was initially off putting for me but when I considered the cost of not having the correct foundation I immediately made the purchase. When Alasdair talked about turning the dog over the inside shoulder I immediately knew I had made a good purchase. He talked about making things intuitive for the dog and that is exactly what I was looking for. When I turn them back I want them expecting where to find their sheep – Intuitive. I needed a system that I could clearly understand and thereby clearly communicate. This is IT.  Thanks very much for the help Alasdair and Patricia.

-Paddy Fanning

When I started to train the turn back on my dog Lad I realized I really didn’t know where to start.  My previous experience had taught be that the dog needed to know more than to turn over their shoulder and look back for sheep behind in the near distance.  I wanted what I had seen on the trial field!  The video not only helped me to understand what the finished product needed to be but also a direction on where to start and the progression to get what I wanted!  I still have work to do, but I now believe I know the steps.

-Tracy Hinton