The company

1997

• Establishment of the JULIUS-K9® company as a family business.
• The first warehouse was a garage.
• The first inquiries come from police units with service dogs.
• The first products (muzzles, leashes, etc.) are delivered to Austrian companies and authorities.

1998

• Main sales area: Austria and Hungarian police agencies. HILAN, A.W. Barth, Friedrich Heindl, in addition to wholesalers, more and more retailers are joining as Julius-K9® sales partners. The main users of Julius-K9® products are police service dog units, military units and canine associations.

2000

• The dog training centres of the Austrian Ministry of the Interior in Strebensdorf and Bad Kreuzen, and then the Kaisersteinbruch military base, regularize several JULIUS-K9® products, including the K9 Powerharnesses.
• JULIUS-K9® begins production and development of bullet and stab resistant equipment
• They were the first in the world to develop dog harnesses based on hook and loop systems.
• After the world of service dogs, hook and loop fastened patches that can be attached to dog harnesses have also become a success among private dog owners.

2003

• JULIUS-K9® powerharnesses and other developments are also presented to an international audience (World Exhibition VDH/Dortmund).
• “Talking dog harnesses”, i.e. K9 Powerharnesses, have become famous in Europe
• • Julius-K9® supplies almost all of Europe with its products. K9 products are delivered to individual specialist retailers through authorized wholesalers.
• Julius-K9® regularly appears at various exhibitions and expos (Berlin, Munich, Erfurt, Dortmund, Friedrichshafen, Udine, Budapest) and at police product presentations.
• The first Julius-K9® brand offices are established abroad.
• JULIUS-K9® sponsors charitable causes and supports not only canine sports and animal protection, but also the work of special rescuers (RESCUE 24, Baptist Charity Service).

2008

• After Vienna, wholesale warehouses were also established in St. Pölten and Düsseldorf.
• European mass production resulted in exceptional product quality.

2009

• JULIUS-K9® dog harness won first place in the testing of independent professional dog trainers commissioned by WDR (Germany) Television.
• JULIUS-K9® products are already copied in five Chinese factories and sold in Europe. To stop this, JULIUS-K9® takes legal action against several companies in several European countries, and protects the latest developments through Patent Offices.
• The side bag that can be attached to a dog harness becomes a licenced innovation.

2010

• JULIUS-K9® develops its new product group under the brand name IDC® (Innova Dog Comfort), Gyula Sebő submits 20 patents within a year.
• The rate of use of German raw materials in Julius-K9® products increases to 70%, while the production capacity increases rapidly.
• IDC® dog harnesses are presented for the first time at the Dortmund dog show.
• K9-Sport Kft. takes over the service of Western European store chains.
• The distribution of K9 Powerharnesses developed in 1997 in Germany is entrusted by JULIUS-K9® to one of the world’s largest wholesalers, TRIXIE.

2011

• JULIUS-K9® brand representation already operates in 21 countries around the world.
• JULIUS-K9® is growing into one of Europe’s largest dog equipment brands.
• The Cologne Supreme Court bans the sale of the most common dog harness, marketed under the name “DOXLOCK”, in its competition law ruling for the entire territory of Germany.
• Takes part in animal protection and humanitarian projects both domestically and abroad. The company helps the canine police units to survive, shoots documentaries and participates in TV shows.
• Within the framework of IDC® innovation, unique developments continue and the product range is expanded.
• The largest suppliers of goods in Western Europe include the JULIUS-K9® product categories in their programme.
• The owner of JULIUS-K9® protects almost 50 technical solutions in Hungarian and foreign patent offices. This makes JULIUS-K9 the largest manufacturer of dog equipment with the most patented innovations on the world market.

2012

• Sales also increase in African, Arab, South and Central American countries.
• Projects are launched to support and promote responsible dog ownership, sterilization and adoption.
• The IDC®, JULIUS-K9®, and K-9 Units brand names are announced and accepted in all the countries of the world that are significant in terms of population and/or economy.
• JULIUS-K9® starts to pursue an exemplary branding strategy in its markets.
• Production of IDC® straps begins based on patented plastic industry technologies. The workforce is expanding and continues to develop, while the K9 factory near the company’s headquarters is renovated.
• • Additional warehouse and office construction; the development of medicinal mattresses combined with medicinal herbs.

2013

• The IDC® multifunctional dog vest innovation opens up a new field for JULIUS-K9®.
• Animal protection foundations receive direct and indirect support, and long-term work begins with several Hungarian and German animal protection organizations.
• The previously registered JULIUS-K9® and IDC® brand names are under trademark protection in about 50 countries around the world.
• The world’s first universal hook and loop fastened small bags, which can be attached to the dog handler and the dog harness, are launched.
• Company managers establish World Companion Animal Day, which falls on 20 June every year.

2014

• JULIUS-K9® wins trademark proceedings against Rocket Dog (California).
• JULIUS-K9® managers and volunteer assistants found their own animal rescue and rehabilitation association.
• Educational cooperation is started with several professional associations, with the aim of job creation and student training.
• JULIUS-K9® declares 2014 the year of the children. National drawing competition, dog shows for children promoting responsible animal husbandry.
• The world’s first international JULIUS-K9® rescue dog championship will be held.
• Julius-K9® LLC, the North American subsidiary responsible for commercial and trademark rights, is established, the first headquarters of which will also be a garage in Florida.
• The 1,700-pallet storage building in Hungary, which provides both Chinese and American export tasks, is handed over.
• The one millionth dog harness, the JULIUS-K9®, with Velcro chest belt and side label improvements, is on sale.

2015

• The IDC® 3in1 multifunctional vest wins the Pet Business Industry Recognition Award in the United States.
• JULIUS-K9®’s 2,700 m² office building is completed, thanks to which the sales, logistics, legal and marketing team becomes centralized in one place.

2016

• More colours than ever appeared in the palette of IDC® dog harnesses.
• Introduction of the “CANIS” product line – dog harnesses with very colourful, very cheerful graphics.
• T-shirts with puppy graphics.
• Neon coloured dog harnesses for visibility.
• Creation of an online trade team to facilitate trade on Amazon.
• The Stealth® dog harness, specially developed based on the needs of armed forces, will be introduced, which, thanks to its design and equipment, ensures that the wearer can move without hindrance and stays less visible.

2017

• 2017 is the year of improvements. International presentation of Duo-Flex® dog harnesses.
• Active and successful campaigns against counterfeits.
• The individually developed mantrailing/outdoor harness of the Budapest Mantrailing Academy and JULIUS-K9® is ready, which is also to be tested in live deployments.
• The company’s 20th anniversary.
• Handover of the new office building of approximately 2,700 m² in May, establishment of centralized storage and trade.
• Opening to the Turkish market – establishment of a Turkish subsidiary.

2018

• The Ebárvaház Nonprofit Association, founded in 2013, whose main supporter is JULIUS-K9®, rescued 80 homeless dogs and placed them with families this year.
• Participation in the conference of Europol and anti-counterfeiting authorities in Budapest

2019

• The Ebárvaház Nonprofit Association, founded in 2013, whose main supporter is JULIUS-K9®, rescued 77 stray dogs and placed them with families this year.
• The Austrian animal protection authority found the K9®Powerharness, the IDC®Powerhám and the IDC®Longwalk dog harness to be safe
• Gyula Sebő, the founder of our company, was voted Businessman of the Year by EY.
• The head of our company, Gyula Sebő, gave a lecture at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on world brand building, global trade and logistics.
• Progress against product copycats – we participated in a coordinated European industrial law protection operation with the authorities
• Interview with Gyula Sebő in Forbes magazine about the history and future of JULIUS-K9®, and with Anikó Bakos, co-owner of the company group and founder of Ebárvaház, about the activities of the animal shelter
• The new JULIUS-K9® product, the IDC®Longwalk dog harness, won a Red Dot award
• JULIUS-K9®, with its 500 employees, becomes be the largest dog equipment manufacturer in the EU

2020

• The Ebárvaház Nonprofit Association, established in 2013, whose main supporter is JULIUS-K9®, rescued 88 homeless dogs and placed them with families this year.
• On 9 July, we published the renewed JK9 logo of our company.
• The extremely light IDC®Powair dog harness was launched.
• Longwalk dog harness lasting test in several countries with the participation of 700 professional and hobby dogs.
• A Powerhám copy won a Plagilarius award in Germany.
• • The IDC®Longwalk dog harness received the German Design Award.

2021

• The Ebárvaház Nonprofit Association, founded in 2013, whose main supporter is JULIUS-K9®, rescued 82 homeless dogs and placed them with families this year.
• The development of the new harnesses and toys to be introduced in 2022 entered the final stage.
• With the creation of the asset management foundation, we laid the foundation for the generational change in the history of JULIUS-K9®.
• The IDC®Longwalk dog harness was awarded at the German Innovation Award and also won a British innovation award.
• The Longwalk dog harness became the most joint-friendly dog harness at the LUXlife Pet Product & Services 2021 Awards.
• Introduction of automated machine lines in production in addition to traditional processes
• Interview with Gyula Sebő in the American Newsweek magazine about JULIUS-K9® innovations.
• A positive ruling in the EU Tribunal case for the word mark “K-9” in favour of our company.

2022

• The success of the JULIUS-K9® dog food collection is permanent in the largest supermarket chains.
• The development of Jk9 animal vitamins continues.
• We took successful response measures to the energy crisis.
• We launched the high-tech plastic programme in the name of recycling. Thus, we replace many metal components with plastic ones.
• The development of the dog harness supporting the treatment of cancerous tumours was successfully completed.
• The first two pieces of the Speed dog harness collection for extreme hikers and athletes came into being
• Dog harnesses are made in unique colours in our own printing plant (Limited Edition).
• Dog harnesses and Paw Patrol leashes and collars are sold under the Paw Patrol brand name
• The scientific investigation of our Longwalk dog coat development continued, and the positive effects on the dog’s nervous system became clear.
• We introduced the 4-day working week on an experimental basis.
• Our Spanish partner started manufacturing JULIUS-K9® dog beds under a license agreement.
• The award-winning 3in1 multifunctional dog vest is renewed, the JK9®Multivest now has four functions.
• There were further successful product listings on the American market.
• Company founder Anikó Bakos is doing outstanding shelter work in the area of animal protection, and the number of adopted dogs continued to increase.
• Gyula Sebő gives lectures at company founding universities and entrepreneurial forums, helping young people to start their careers and supporting the efficient operation of businesses.
• By licensing the JULIUS-K9® brand, we give American companies the opportunity to successfully enter the European market, while the high-quality JULIUS-K9® product range can be expanded