Christoffer works with agility handlers to support them in the mental game. “My focus is on the handlers and helping them reduce their fear and anxiety, and replacing it with joy and enjoyment of the sport and, at the same time, achieving a higher level of performance.”
We had a chance to talk with him about how rituals can help agility handlers perform better in competitions. He also shares his top 5 tips for improving the mental game.
A bit nervous to compete? Having a hard time concentrating? Is someone watching me and thinking I’m not good enough? Not good enough for my dog? There are so many different thoughts that can hold us back in competitions, and also in training. Mental aspects play a huge role in success. It’s, of course, easier to be self confident, when your dog is well trained, but, according to Becky Sinclair, the founder of the “Agility mental prep” group on Facebook, we should, nonetheless, work more on our mental skills to get better in agility.
Imagine that you’d suddenly get the flu, that just wouldn’t go away, and, instead, it would get worse and worse. Months and years would pass but instead of getting better, your muscles and joints would be sore and get cramps, your blood pressure would be high, and your body would just shut down. The pain would be so bad that you would pass out and you would lose your muscles, not being able to even brush your own hair. And doctors would keep saying that you would never get better. All this happened to young Angelica Prytz, who, until then, had been very active and loved life. Read how agility saved her life!
Emily Abrahams sold everything, packed her border collie Loki and flew from her home country Australia to Europe. After spending a year in Europe, training in 7 countries, competing in 11, forming quite a network in agility world, she tells us what she’s learned about life, people and agility. The things that are closely connected with agility addicts like you and me.
Avallon Cup is a 4-day event held yearly in Avallon in Burgundy, France. It’s unlike any other high level agility competition. In 2018, there were 4 competition fields, 1500 competitors from 23 countries and 12 of Europe's top judges. Read what the owner of the event, Fabrice Laligant, thinks about the changes in dog agility and what we should be aware of, based on his observations during Avallon Cup 2018.
