At age 20, Stockton native Chris Perondi set out to find himself a furry companion. Like many, he wanted a dog that could keep him active and serve as the perfect Frisbee partner. Chris began researching breeds that fit his criteria, and adopted Pepper, an Australian Cattle Dog/Border Collie mix in 1996. “He basically changed my life,” Chris smiles.
Pepper exceeded all of Chris’ expectations. He was a Frisbee fanatic, obedient, smart, and what Chris describes as a “natural”. Chris’s interest in dog training and disc games grew as he and Pepper practiced and attended events. “I would see dogs doing these tricks at events, and I would go home and work with Pepper…I didn’t exactly know what I was doing as far as training goes, but Pepper picked things up so easily,” he explains. Soon after, Chris and Pepper entered into disc events and placed at 
high levels in almost every competition. This inspired Chris to start the very first Northern Central California Disc Dog Club. His club, Northern California Disc Dog Extreme, quickly exploded gaining local coverage. “The club had almost 100 members in only six months!” he exclaims. The publicity not only skyrocketed the popularity of the club, but also opened other doors for Chris. “Rescue organizations began contacting me to perform disc demonstrations at their adoption events, “ he says.
With a background in public speaking, creating a structured, scripted performance came with ease and was very enjoyable. Chris soon received additional invitations to perform at local school assemblies and festivals. After making contact with the San Francisco 49’ers, he and his furry performers became favorites at their halftime shows and tallied an impressive 70 shows in 1999. That year, Extreme Canines, his canine show, was born. Chris was then able to adopt additional rescue dogs from local shelters as the newest members of his team. This was the perfect opportunity for Extreme Canine to promote animal rescue, something very near and dear to Chris’ heart.
Just two years later, Extreme Canine was a full-time job. Chris found himself to be an efficient, successful dog trainer, taking aspects from different methods and making them his own. He and his rescue dogs were on the road for eight months at a time, performing at fairs and events in almost every state in the U.S. He reminisces his first few years of performances, considering them basic when compared to his current acts. “Back then, jump rope was the best trick!” he jokes. Since then, Extreme Canines has transformed into Stunt Dog Productions Inc., and backflips and handstands are among the dogs’ most complex tricks. Together, Chris and his wife, Suhey, travel the U.S. with their 11 rescue dogs promoting responsible pet ownership, rescue, and spay and neuter.
“We let our audience know that all of our performers are rescue dogs, and we support our mission with some pretty powerful statistics,” Suhey explains. “Five million dogs every year are brought into shelters and half of them do not make it out alive.” “It’s an amazing feeling to have rescued these innocent pups and now have given them a loving home and a fun life,” she continues. “I can feel how much my dogs love me, and that makes me a happier person. I love that what we do encourages people to adopt and have more fun with their pets.” Stunt Dog Productions has not only changed the lives of rescue dogs, but Chris and Suhey’s, too. Over the years, they have both ditched their full time jobs, sold their house to buy an RV for their travels, and dedicate five days a week to working with their dogs.
Today, spectators and fans can enjoy the time dedicated by Chris and Suhey. Their shows continue to grow and change, offering the ultimate canine experience. The show length recently expanded to an hour and a half, with the addition of dancing, acting, singing and comedy. Be sure to catch show classics like the “Golden Bone Show Down,” where teams of dogs compete in a number of tests and spectators pick the winning team! Chris and Suhey’s passion, creativity and dedication shine through their ever-impressive, one-of-a-kind performances. The high-energy show will impress and entertain viewers of all ages, in hopes to support their mission.
“My goal is that my dogs will leave a mark on their (the audiences’) hearts,” Chris concludes. “I want to impress upon them to adopt from shelters, spay and neuter their pets, and be responsible pet owners. This is a quote I have in my show program: ‘A dog that leaves a mark on your heart will never be forgotten!’”
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Stunt Dog Productions Inc.
stuntdogshow.com