A deaf border collie taught us that connection between human and dog does not need words. We simply need to learn to listen.
Tine Larsen is 36 years old agility fanatic from Denmark, where she lives together with her boyfriend and three Border Collies, one Cocker Spaniel and two cats. The family lives in an old farm 100 km outside from Copenhagen. When she moved to the countryside she also got her dream to come true as nowadays she has a little agility course. Tine has successfully practiced agility for years. However, one day she noticed that agility was not going as smoothly as before and something was not right with her dog. This is a story about how Tine reconnected with her dog Mac.
Written by Tine Larsen
This is a story about my beloved Border Collie, Mac
Agility is my passion and I have been practicing it for 11 years. My current dog is a six years old Border Collie, Mac. Mac has always been a speedy, happy and highly motivated dog who, like most other Border Collies, loves to do agility. In the summer of 2011 we had the opportunity to participate in a seminar organized by OneMind Dogs Coaches Jaakko Suoknuuti and Janita Leinonen. I found their method so inspiring, that I was eager to know and learn more about it. Therefore we travelled to Finland again in March 2012 to participate in another seminar.
Wow – what a great experience and uttermost incredible trip!
After I returned to Denmark, I tried applying the different techniques I had learnt in Finland in practice, but for some reason they didn’t work out for us. On the agility course, our runs started to bear mark of misunderstandings and confusions, and I didn’t have a clue why? Furthermore, I noticed that things were not quite right. On the home base, Mac often ignored me when I spoke to him. Additionally, he didn’t come to greet me, when I arrived home. Something seemed to be utterly wrong.
Vets diagnose
In August 2013, Mac and I went to see a special vet, who tested his hearing and the result was clear – Mac 
was diagnosed with deafness on his left ear.
Despite the great relief after receiving an answer on Mac’s strange behavior, I was completely devastated. I honestly had a hard time imagining that we could return to train agility together. The only thing I had on my mind was contacting Janita for advice, as her late dog, Tekla, was also deaf. In spite of the favorable cheering and practical advice I received from Janita, I continued to feel utterly sad and unmotivated.
Bronze medal in the Danish Championship with a partially deaf dog
The same negative feelings seemed to haunt me, when Mac and I participated in the Danish Championship. This was three weeks after Mac’s diagnose. I didn’t feel like running at all, but I had to – as my teammates were counting on me! Despite my lack of motivation, I promised myself to implement a good run with the help of Janita’s advice – to concentrate on my body language and to stay silent on the course.
Formerly, for some reason or another, I hadn’t follow Janita´s advice about performing silent on the course, even though I had been told about it several times before.
This time, I followed her advice. I performed the course in silence and it was supported with correct body language. Our excellent cooperation led to two great runs. During the first run, Mac knocked down two bars but the next run led to a clean run – our first clean run in one year!! Moreover my teammates did excellent and we ended up taking the bronze medal in the Danish Championship. I could hardly believe it! I was over the moon. At the same time I was filled up with an emotional mix of sorrow and happiness. A feeling of uncertainty haunted me for the following weeks and questions about the future flourished in my mind. Was the success at the Championship just a coincidence or was it continuous?
Competing again successfully
Some weeks ago, Mac and I participated in our first competition after winning the bronze medal at the Championships. Once again it went really great. Another clean run!
Now I’m finally starting to regain the belief in Mac and myself, and to our future agility career! I believe that this is a new beginning and chance for Mac and me, in a completely different world. I am so proud of my Mac. What an amazing dog I have been treasured with!
From the bottom of my heart – thank you so much, OneMind Dogs! Thank you for the inspiration. And Janita - I want to sincerely thank you for your positive and helpful advices. Without you, Mac and I, we wouldn’t be in this positive state of mind! Your help mean the world to us! Thank you so much!
It means the world to me :-)
"Today is the beginning, of the rest of your life."
-Tine Larsen
