As a coach I teach people to build connections with their dogs and also help with different kinds of problems like pressure, sensitivity, low-drive and motivational problems. My goal is that I could encourage handlers to take one step further than they ever imagine they could.

As a coach I try to be encouraging, cheerful and listening. I want that people in my classes can be truly themselves and the same thing comes to the dogs.

Distance handling combines things I really enjoy: skills, dogs confidence and the relationship between dog & handler. This is also the reason why hoopers was just like made for me! I have been coaching distance handling in agility for several years to different types of dogs and handlers and now I can do it also in hoopers.

I have been training and competing in agility since -97 with different breeds like Whippet, Portuguese Podengo-mix, Papillon, Mudi and Border Collie. My training mentality is to get maximum potential from the dogs I have and not trying to find that "perfect top dog".

At the moment I'm training hoopers and agility with my Border collie Uppis and papillons Isla and Boom. I also have Mudi Vekku who is now retired and co-owned with my parents but we have been competing in agility and doing also hoopers with him.

I enjoy the vibe that I get when I can compete in bigger tournaments with my dogs but more I love just to train with them. With papillon Isla (who is only 22cm) I have been building distance handling with the idea that she could have as good skills like Border Collies. The same mentality comes also to my young papillon Boom.

You can find us from instagram and youtube where you can see our daily life and training hoopers & agility. There you can also find couple of videos from my students.

STUDENTS THEN & NOW (Problems with motivation, pressure, sensitivity):

Kansikuvat info, suomeksi ja about me taitavan Niina Kivirasin / Valokuvaus Viirukka käsialaa