As a handler, Saija trusts her dog. She knows how to use and utilize most techniques and she doesn’t hesitate to handle from a distance. Saija enjoys being able to send and receive her dog on the course and not have to run to every obstacle with it.

As a coach, she strives to be positive and encouraging with her students. Having said that, she also likes to challenge her students to push beyond their comfort zone. Rewards are also important, which is why Saija likes to remind the handlers to reward their best buddy often enough!

“I want the dogs to have enough obstacle focus, and I want to train my dog and handler teams to become skilled in various techniques,” Saija says.

When asked what her favorite things to teach are, Saija says it’s all about the big picture: “I love agility as a whole.”

Certificates

OneMind Dogs Coach