The new gold medalist of Nordic Agility Championships, Raisa Vähätalo, has pursued agility for almost 20 years. Raisa will be facing her next agility challenge in Luxembourg this weekend.
Raisa got interested in agility by watching her cousin practise, borrowed the cousin's dog and then took on an elementary course in agility with her own dog Eurasier Ronja. Nowadays Raisa works together with Border Collie Repo (Nordic Champion 14, Finnish Champion 13, Finnish Agility Champion, Finnish Agility Jump Champion Nice of Nice Of You To Come Bye Fearless Fox) - with an awesome touch! Raisa and Repo's next big agility challenge is the upcoming FCI Agility World Championships in Luxembourg and they are already aiming to be in those games in the future too.
Are you a competitive and target-oriented agility athlete?
"Nowadays I am quite competitive and target-oriented. I think it's part of my basic character to be quie competitive. In addition I am pretty target-oriented in everything that I pursue seriously. I was interested in competing in agility already when I started training agility but surely my goals were different back then. At the time just starting to compete and finishing a run were some of my future goals."
What are your next agility target and when do you plan on achieving them?
"My target is to further develop as an agility handler and dog trainer. Another goal of mine is to keep enjoying agility with the best dog in the world in international championships - the feeling of seamless cooperation, the thrill of the pace and giving my all."
What kind of attitude do you think you have in agility? Are you happy with it?
"Sometimes better, sometimes worse. Sometimes when you really invest in something and things backfire you feel disappointed. Then you need to take a breath, look in the mirror, think about your own attitude and what really is important in this world and agility. For the most part my attitude reflects the fact that I think joy, happiness and good things to be more productive. And what I think is important in agility is doing things together with your dog. I go to competitions to enjoy getting to compete and make a run with my dear dog."
Do you coach agility and what is important to you as a coach?
"I sometimes coach agility at my club. As a coach I think it's great if I can make someone have a light bulb moment, to understand how something can be done whether it's a matter of handling technique or dog training. Practising is such a big part of agility that it should always be fun and inspiring. I think the best, right kind of relaxed way and happiness to train can be found through a good feeling."
Is there something special you have learned from your dogs and other people in agility?
"I feel that each and everyone of my dogs have taught me something special. Repo has taught me trust and that is irreplaceable!
Jaakko Suoknuuti has taught me certain kind of peace and the right kind of state of mind. Janita Leinonen, on the other hand, has taught me courage to move on the course. With the help of these experiences we have taken a big leap forward and I think that understanding these kinds of bigger entities has helped me move forward, to the next level."
