"Its not about the Competition"
Performance anxiety in dog agility is rarely just about the course. If nerves, hesitation, or self-doubt are showing up in the ring, they’re likely showing up in other areas of your life too — even if you haven’t noticed it yet.
It might be:
• The pressure to “get it right”
• Fear of being judged or looking foolish
• Feeling like you’re not good enough
• Worrying about letting your dog down
• Carrying stress from work, family, or past experiences
Your dog maybe reflecting your nervous system in overdrive — a symptom of deeper emotional patterns.
In dog agility, anxiety often shows up as performance pressure — the fear of messing up, being judged, or looking foolish in front of others. You might feel like you’re not good enough, like you’re letting your dog down, or like everyone’s watching and waiting for you to fail.
That pressure doesn’t just affect you — it affects your dog too. Dogs are incredibly attuned to our energy. When we step into the ring carrying stress from work, family, or self-doubt, they feel it. Even the best-trained dogs can mirror our tension, hesitation, or overwhelm.
That’s why, when I work with agility handlers, we rarely talk just about competition nerves. We explore what’s really driving the anxiety — often rooted in past experiences, perfectionism, or fear of judgment — and begin to shift those patterns.
Imagine walking into the ring already as your best self — calm, focused, and confident.
Imagine your dog responding to your grounded energy with joy, clarity, and connection.
That’s where the magic begins.
Does This Sound Like You?
✓ You overthink every run and second-guess your decisions
✓ You feel pressure to perform perfectly or not at all
✓ You dread being watched, judged, or making a mistake
✓ Tried "pushing through" nerves - but then had brain freeze
✓ Spent ££ on trainers and calmers with little change
✓ Tried "Positive thinking"? (easier said than done)
✓ Experienced increased heart rate, shaking or nausea
✓ You feel like you’re letting your dog down
✓ Feel like you don't deserve your dog, and he's wasted on you
✓ Long to compete with Joy, confidence and connection again
What We Do Together
I help dog handlers like you:
• Identify the root cause of performance anxiety
• Rewire your mind with empowering, supportive patterns
• Build calm, focused confidence — in and out of the ring
• Reignite your passion and joy for the sport
Whether you’re preparing for competition or just want to enjoy training again, this work goes deep - and it works
Ready to Compete with Confidence?
Book a free Breakthrough Coaching Call and let’s explore:
• Where anxiety shows up in your life
• What’s really driving your performance anxiety
• A customised blueprint to help you feel confident in any situation
