Anna Eifert has been a driving force in the dog agility scene for over 20 years, combining her love for dogs with a passion for training. Growing up in Hungary, her journey began with a mixed breed named Pajti, which sparked her interest in agility.
With over two decades of experience, Anna has competed at prestigious levels, including World Championships, and has become a respected OneMind Dogs Coach. Her approach emphasizes understanding the dog’s perspective, fostering a deep bond between handler and dog. Anna’s training philosophy is rooted in continuous learning, having studied under some of the best in the field, and she is known for her ability to break down complex techniques into accessible lessons for her students.
Today, Anna shares her expertise through seminars and coaching, inspiring a new generation of agility enthusiasts. Join us as we explore her incredible journey, the challenges she has overcome, and the transformative power of the OneMind Dogs method in her life and the lives of her students.
Q: Tell me Anna, where did all this start for you? When did you discover your love for dogs?
A: I was in elementary school when my mom allowed me to have my first dog, a mixed breed “street dog” named Pajti. My first purebred dog was a standard Bull Terrier, Freddie, who sadly passed away from blood cancer at just 5 years old. I still wanted to do agility with him, but he preferred playing at home.
After that loss, I decided on a Miniature Bull Terrier instead, and that’s how Giovanni came into my life in 1998. I started agility with him the following year. My first Border Collie, Nevian, was born in 2004 and won a silver medal at her first World Championship in 2006. I currently have three dogs, all girls: Dú (13 years old), Nebraska (7 years old), and Minden, who will turn 1 in September.
Q: What inspired you to start agility with your dogs?
A: I love dogs and I love sports, so agility is the perfect combination for me. It allows me to bond with my dogs while engaging in an exciting and challenging activity.
Q: What challenges did you face when you first started agility, and how did you adapt?
A: When I began, there was no trainer at the dog school where I trained. A few of us would get together and learn as we went, which had its challenges.
For example, I spent a lot of time training long, straight lines, but when I asked my dog to turn, he would keep going straight. It took time, but he eventually learned everything except for independent weave pole entries. I tried various techniques, but nothing worked, and I had to help him through it.
I was thrilled when we won the Winter Cup Series in Korneuburg, Austria, in the A2 medium category. In fact, when we started, there were only small and large categories, and the medium category was introduced during his career. Now, I teach the 2×2 method for weaves, which is highly effective for independent entries.
Q: Can you describe your training journey? What were your initial goals, and how have they evolved?
A: The thing about learning is that it’s an infinite process! I’m always learning new things and developing my skills. Looking back, I feel like I didn’t know much compared to what I know now. After a while, I had the opportunity to train with excellent coaches like Ildikó Halász from Hungary and Christine Charpentier from France.
They taught me so much that Nevian and I were able to step onto the podium at our first World Championship. I was a fairly good handler, but I didn’t have much knowledge about the whys, and Nevian was an easy dog with a perfect balance of obstacle focus and handler focus. Dú was very different, and I had to relearn everything with her.
Fortunately, I met OneMind Dogs founders Janita and Jaakko in 2010, who became my best teachers. Dú was not an easy dog, and I struggled with her. Still, she helped me become a much better handler for my other dogs and a more experienced trainer for my students. Dú’s challenges led me to take Janita’s mental training online class, which was the best investment I’ve ever made. It not only made agility easier but also improved my life in general.
Q: What are some memorable moments or milestones you’ve experienced during your agility training?
A: I vividly remember the first seminar with Jaakko in 2010, where we learned techniques like the Tandem Turn, German Turn, and Jaakko Turn. My Hungarian coach had taught me the Tandem Turn, and I was confident with the German Turn, but I struggled with the Jaakko Turn. I would turn just 2 inches too much, and Nevian would read it as a Rear Cross. When I finally got it, I could only do it at a certain angle and was hesitant to change it. It took some time before I truly understood the concepts of connection, commitment, and cue.
Another memorable moment was learning the Double Lap Turn with Jaakko in 2011 and the Japanese in 2013. I disliked the Japanese technique at first because I was always late, but now it’s one of my favorites with Nebraska. I’ve been training with Janita and Jaakko since 2010, 1-3 times a year, and there have been countless “aha” and light bulb moments. Sometimes it’s just a small detail that has a huge impact on your training and trial runs.
For example, when Janita told me that dogs go where they watch, and if I see the eyes, they will do one stride on that line (it was a threadle with a False Turn and Forced Front Cross), it helped me tremendously with timing.
Q: How has your relationship with your dog changed or deepened through agility training?
A: I would say it has become better because I understand the dog’s perspective better, not only in the agility field but also in everyday life. Agility is my favorite game, and I take it very seriously. OneMind Dogs helps me play it better and better with my dogs. What more could I ask for?
Q: How has OneMind Dogs influenced your journey?
A: OneMind Dogs has been a game changer and made me a much better handler and trainer. I have a much deeper understanding of the game. When watching agility trials, I can understand almost everything on the course in every run I watch, and identify the reasons for each mistake and know what better solutions would be.
That said, I have to say, it’s like taking the red pill: your life will change, and there’s no going back. You see the truth, and sometimes it’s painful when you clearly see a handler mistake on the course, but people are blaming the wrong verbal cue or, even worse, blaming the dog. This is a huge mental challenge for me, but it also strengthens my devotion to being the dog’s advocate and teaching people the dog’s perspective and how to use body language in agility.
Q: Describe your journey to becoming an agility coach.
A: My initial motivation was that if I could give seminars in Hungary and abroad, I could spend even more time with agility. My silver medal gave me the confidence to try abroad, so I contacted places like the Hotel Wolf in Germany, and I’ve been going back there since 2007.
What started as one seminar a year has now grown to 4 or 5 annually. After receiving enough invitations, I quit my job as an editor at Axel Springer and became a full-time agility trainer. Seminars are still enjoyable, and they’ve even taken me to Australia, but I find the most fulfillment in working with my own students during regular lessons.
Watching a student progress from having a puppy to trialing and making the national team is incredibly rewarding. I have a few people who only train and don’t trial, but that doesn’t matter to me. Seeing their journey from the very beginning and helping them develop is simply incredible! My passion has become my profession, and I’m grateful for that every day.
Q: What advice would you give to others considering agility training with their dogs?
A: One of the best things you can do is understand the dog’s perspective and how to use the seven handling elements on the course. Dogs naturally react to our body language, so if you learn a handling technique, you can use it forever with each of your future dogs. When teaching obstacle skills, remember that you get what you reward!
Q: What are your future goals with your dogs?
A: My goal is to be the best possible teammate for my dogs. If that helps me achieve the FCI World Champion title, even better! Those runs don’t need to be perfect; I only need the best ranking.
Thank you so much, Anna, for sharing your incredible journey with us! Your authenticity and passion for agility and your dogs shine through in every answer.
It’s been a pleasure having you, and I wish you all the best as you continue to inspire others and pursue your goals in the world of agility. Keep up the amazing work.
