Nathalie de Korte

Date of birth: 23-11-1980

Residence: Heikant

• What do you love about sports with dogs?

Teaming up with your dog, the mutual trust you build and the adrenaline rush you experience together.

• What breed of dog(s) do you have and what is/are their name(s)?

I have border collies, Koda aged 9, Tebbie aged 6, Murdock (Muppie) aged 2 and Brave aged just 1.

• What sports do you play?

Agility as a main sport and also recreational canicross

• How long have you been active in this sport(s)?

12 years

• Which part do you prefer and why?

Agility is my great passion. Running to the start together, me in high concentration and my dog super excitedly hanging in the leash, then we go as fast as we can for 30 seconds and try to get everything out of it. Will I make the switch? Can I give the command in time? Will she not disappear into the wrong tunnel hole at full speed after all? But even more I can enjoy the training sessions, the building up of exercises, the confidence that is growing and with that the speed, without the pressure of competitions or results.

• What are your goals for the future in this sport(s)?

I got to be at the FCI World Cup once with Koda, which I hope to experience again in the future. In addition, the annual goals are selecting for the WAO and the EO.

• What is your greatest sports moment to date?

Maybe not in terms of results because with our best result we just missed the podium but Koda really enjoys running in front of an audience. The WAO is organized annually in Ermelo and the final of the games, the gambling, is run in the large indoor hall with stands, that is my highlight of the year. From the moment we are allowed to take our place in the front rings my tension is gone, Koda goes completely out of her plate with enthusiasm because she knows very well where we are and what we are going to do. Hearing the crowd and feeling the atmosphere before entering the ring is amazing, goosebumps.

• What is the funniest or least funny sports moment to date?

Although things are getting better, the selections for the competitions I really want to enter remain a big source of worry. My stress makes me do strange things, Koda is used to it by now and doesn’t care, he drags me through everything but for my younger dogs I will really have to get it under control.

• Can you give one tip to other athletes on what is best to do/don’t do in this sport(s)?

Love the dog first and the sport second. Don’t be influenced to do things in training that you don’t support and keep following your own feelings.

• What is your favorite Fastdog product for your dog(s)?

Without a doubt, the recovery shakes. As soon as the dogs finish their round they run back to the car/camper because they know they will get their shake there. Even our youngest dog of just 1, with the little training he has had takes himself very seriously and also expects the shake when he is done!