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A Shared Language Changed The Lives Of Katja And German Shepherd Ilona

Agility is a sport that can take the relationship between the dog and human on an entirely new level. Read the story of Katja and Ilona!


"Ilona came into my life in the spring of 2016. She was 1,5 years old and had grown up with a German Shepherd breeder in a pack of dozens of other dogs. I, Katja, had recently lost my GSD puppy in a tragic accident. I adopted Ilona to get some happiness back into my life.

Ilona was very shy at the beginning. Having lived in a large pack, she was confused and frightened in her new home. She crouched by the door, too scared to come in. Then our white rescue cat confidently tiptoed to her and brushed up against her. Ilona licked the cat and relaxed visibly. She had met her first friend.

Ilona quickly found her place in the pack consisting of an old, fat lab, three cats, three rabbits and two horses. Her relationship with the humans wasn’t quite as straightforward.

Training was challenging, because Ilona wasn’t motivated by treats or toys. She didn’t want to play and it was hard for me to connect with her. I had always had dogs, but I had to admit that if I couldn’t come find a solution soon, I’d be in big trouble. It also appeared that Ilona had started controlling everyone that I was interacting with.

Forming a bond through the OneMind Dogs Method

I started googling dog training classes; I was prepared to try anything. In hindsight it was pure luck that I found that the Active Dog training school in a nearby town. They were about to start their Agility for Puppies class. I was a bit bewildered about the thought of agility, but I reckoned they wouldn’t accept our application if they thought Ilona was too old or the wrong breed.

I was so happy and relieved to start the classes. Goes without saying that I had to swallow my pride when my 2-year old German Shepherd ended up in a group of small, cute puppies! The other participants chuckled at us, too.

We learned important basics in the puppy class: staying, heeling, focusing and the meaning of body language. We stared at a stick as if it was a miracle and rewarded the dog for noticing it.

The biggest “aha moment” for us was when I started anticipating what kind of behaviors Ilona would offer and rewarded her for getting it right. At that point something clicked in Ilona’s head. She became logical and consistent in her thinking. Her behavior became calm and measured and she was very discreet with the other dog and handler teams.

I was amazed by these changes. The OneMind Dogs Method and monitoring the other dog and handler teams solved the issues we had around understanding and connecting with each other. Our bond became stronger.

At first I was a bit embarrassed by Ilona’s slow and clumsy way of moving when she did weaves or went around the wings of jumps. The other dogs were so nimble and seemed to be dancing with their handlers! Our teacher, Mari, saw what I was thinking and wisely told me that I shouldn’t compare Ilona with the other dogs. I should accept her the way she is and let her progress at her own pace. What Ilona loses in speed, she makes up for in intelligence and patience.

We’ve had so many fun moments in our agility prep classes. Ilona has made everyone laugh at the end of the classes when we do exercises individually. Sharing the joy of achievements with the other dog and handler teams has been truly amazing.

Benefiting from the new behaviors

Ilona started offering good behavior also at home. The new handling technique has been extremely beneficial during horse riding trips, where Ilona is running off leash. She has become obedient to my commands and hand signs. She follows me more closely than I follow her. She doesn’t chase cars anymore and I don’t have to raise my voice when I tell her not to chase cats. The focusing technique has worked.

Ilona relates to other people in a more neutral way and isn’t as jealous of me anymore. When we started the training classes she was afraid of other people, but that has also changed now that she’s focusing on the task at hand.

Learning together at our own pace

I never thought I’d find myself doing dog agility, even less with a German Shepherd. I thought agility was an elite hobby and not open for anyone. In reality, agility takes the relationship between the dog and human on an entirely new level. Understanding the logic behind a dog’s behavior opens up a new world for the handler. Ilona and I are completely hooked on the learnings we’ve had through the OneMind Dogs Method.

I realize now that I have grown and developed as a handler probably more than my dog. Ilona was in a sense ready for this, we were just missing a shared language. This hobby has brought us a lot of joy and laughter. If a bucket is upside down on the bathroom floor, Ilona puts her paw on top of it and waits for me to reward her.

I’m grateful that we can do agility at our own pace. When you don’t set any expectations, every moment of success achieved together feels like a highlight on the learning journey."

Katja Jumisko

Our mission is to give a happy life to dogs by helping people become amazing dog owners. We are passionate about increasing the mutual understanding between the dog and the owner, making a life together more enjoyable for both.