Stephanie Roberson-Thomas, Dock Diving

Training and communicating with dogs has just naturally been a way of life for Stephanie, who began so young that she relied on the photos, and not the words in the family “how-to” dog book. A love affair that started with that first Standard Poodle has spanned almost five decades and involved training multiple breeds for a variety of activities, including dock dog jumping, Rally 0, obedience, tracking and agility.  During the last 12 years, she has taught more than 100 organized classes for canine sports enthusiasts and five years of perpetual agility classes.

An American Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club member since 1995, Stephanie is an avid owner/handler/trainer/breeder working conscientiously to show the versatility of this American breed.  Her home-bred dogs have excelled in a variety of performance venues, as well as the breed show ring.  She has put more than 110 titles and certificates on just eight dogs.

 Talley, Stephanie’s 10 ½ yr. old Chessie, first began dock jumping more than nine years ago and competing a year and a half ago.  She was soon joined by rescue Chocolate Lab Jake; her first born son, Sully; and his littermate, Rya.  All four retrievers earned dock dog titles, with Jake & Sully recently taking first placements in their jump divisions at event finals.

 Stephanie is a member of Carolina Dock Dogs, based in Sanford, NC, as well as a long time member of Cape Fear Dog Training Club, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and MAC agility group.