Meet Our Board

Contact Robin – Email: 4rhoffman44@gmail.com

Robin has been very active in a Breed Club in several positions, including Treasurer for 15 years and President for four. He was involved in setting up initial agility trials way back when (paper), and shown in Agility, Breed, and Obedience, and earned agility MACHs on two different dogs.

He spent 30 years at the L.A. City Fire Department, then 11 years as consultant for 9-1-1 system. Along the way, rewrote several large manuals for the Department using language, grammar, and punctuation skills (as well as field knowledge of tech aspects of fire service).

Contact Karen – Email: karenernest@icloud.com

Stay Pawsitive ! That’s what it takes to be successful with most any venture. Karen is the junior member of the Board with only 20 years experience in training her 7 Siberian Huskies in competitive Companion and Performance dog sports. Two Champion Tracking dogs (there are only 3 Huskies at that level), AKC Excellent titles in Agility & Rally, coupled with other level titles in Obedience, Scentwork, Barnhunt. Karen trained and handled Trina, the only Siberian Husky, to earn Champion Tracker title with and additional VCD1 title; CD in Obedience, titles Excellent Agility titles. All of her dogs have competed in AKC events with varying titles with the exception of her puppy, Visa who is just 8 months old. Current partners are Gemmie, Smudge & Visa.

Over the last 50 years Karen has worked in the tech industry for major Fortune 100 companies in Strategic Planning, Program and Product Management. For the last 25 years, she has successfully owned and operated a digital printing business in San Diego and is recently semi-retired. 

Contact Lauren — Email: 1doglady@gmail.com

We had been dogless for several years after our Greyhound passed away. In 1953 we moved to Georgia and the begging began. Dad: “Lauren, if you want a puppy you will have to train it.” I agreed and got my first Boxer in 1954. Military brats move a lot and when you are an only child your dog helps you through this and making new friends. I learned to train from my father, who was raised on a Kansas working ranch, training horses, mules, and dogs.

In the Philippines, 1956-58, we kept 2 puppies from our first Boxer litter and took group classes from the military dog handler. Next stop was a base in central PA where Mom and I took several young Boxers to classes given by a State Police officer in Hershey. Shelties were added to the mix in 1960. 

In 1970 I started teaching obedience for Dauphin Dog Training club and opened my own grooming and training business. I moved to San Diego in 1978 and joined OCSDC to have a place to train my dogs. I bought and merged two grooming businesses, and taught group classes with Ginger Nolan. Soon I was also teaching for the club. 

In 1984 I trained hunting dogs in northern California for 6 months. There were many ups and downs for OCSDC when newer training methods were not allowed to be used by trainers. Hot arguments ensued during meetings (at the home of Audrey Johnson) between the “old timers” and those who wanted to use treats and new methods. 

New blood joined the board. It was during this time that Nancy Asbury joined forces with us. Betty Ribble’s arrival at a meeting was the final piece of the puzzle needed to save the club. Her credentials and knowledge over-ruled the objections from the older members. 

New training methods and friendships created the club that has since flourished. Well-trained dogs will be valuable members of their human families and rarely end up in the “pound.” This is why I teach.

Doing the math…. I’ve been training dogs for 69 years!

Contact Linda — Email: lindasfgreco@gmail.com

I joined the OCSDC out of nostalgia and to support this great Club. I had become an associate member by joining the class. I was notified that I could become a regular member. I joined to support the Club where I established a great foundation for training dogs. I’ve been training dogs since 1968 and their handlers since 1978. I decided to run for president when it became apparent that there were some administrative inconsistencies that needed attention.

I will work for this Club to get the records, Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, Standing Rules, and practices of the Board into compliance with the AKC, the State of California and the IRS. I like sorting these issues out in the most professional and transparent way for the members.

Administrative Experience 

• OCSDC  Regular Member,  Hollywood Dog Obedience Club (HDOC)-Member, 2007-Present. 
• HDOC Vice President Board member four of those years. HDOC Novice Obedience, Instructor 2012 to present.
• Founding Member of the National breed club, America’s Berger Blanc Suisse Club Inc.  (501 C3) President ABBSC 2013-Present. Foothill Trails District  Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles, CA (FTDNC). Recording Secretary for the Bylaws and Standing Rules Committee during the founding of the  Neighborhood Council.

Dog Training Experience

• Trick trained our family dog at 8 years old.
• Raised and trained puppies for Fon Johnson Explorer Scout Program. 
• Started training my first group obedience class as a teenager.
• Hollywood Dog Obedience School - Board and Train 1977. I had six weeks to train dogs, on and off leash reliably, recall, heel, sit, down and stand stay. 
• Private Trainer, 1982-Present Specializing in behavior problems.
• Dog breeder, 2013 to present. Establishing a comprehensive puppy program.
• Proprietor of Menifee Dog Sports.

Contact Betsy — Email: eahartwig@cox.net

I've lived in San Diego since 1980. 

At work I was a federal prosecutor (Asst. U.S. Attorney) and a state prosecutor (Cal. Deputy Attorney General).  For stress relief, I brought home an 8-week-old German shepherd puppy in 1990 (#1 "Quincy"). When she got bored and renovated the backyard, I went to the OCSDC for help.  

From Quincy to Ricochet (#8 GSD) the dogs and I studied obedience, herding, rally, tracking, scent work, trailing and locating, carting and conformation, and I learned to compete in dog sports. One of my pups was the first GSD to be a breed champion AND a tracking champion.  

I've been on the board of directors of the German Shepherd Dog Club of San Diego, other dog related clubs, and my local Soroptimist club.

Contact Kathy — Email: pawswithattitude@hotmail.com

It was Rin Tin and Lassie's fault!  Dogs are my first love period!   I started training as an assistant to Miss Stevens, a retired State Humane Officer at age 11.  She taught at our local park and rec center.  She was a great mentor!  She taught me how to work with the hard to train dogs, how to praise them to get their attention. And how to get buy in from their owner handlers to better communicate with their dogs.  Her mentorship was invaluable, it has served me well.

Work:  Employed by the world famous San Diego Zoo.

• Developed and trained trainers and exotics for educational animal shows for 42 years.
• Certified Master Trainer, over 10,000 hours thru the Zoological Society of San Diego.
• Hands on training of many exotic canines, wolves, bush dogs, singing dogs, dholes, and many species of foxes.
• Established four terrific cheetah/dog pairs at the Zoo for educational shows, special events, school programs, TV programs, and lure coursing. 

Event titles:  Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tracking, Herding (sheep and cattle), Trick, Carting, Lure coursing, and a smattering of Conformation (no titles).  I have working line German Shepherds.  

Club experience and participation:  Have been on dog club boards off and on since 1990.  All Breed Dog Obedience Club was my first board experience as a director. I belong to six dog clubs in San Diego.  And I am on the Board of three: President of the German Shepherd Dog Club of San Diego County;  Board member of the Agility Club of San Diego and Board member of the Obedience Club of San Diego.  All three obedience Clubs and Silver Bay Kennel Club.  

I have served as Trial Chair for the Obedience and Rally Trials many times for the Obedience Club of San Diego as well as the German Shepherd Dog Club of SDC.

Have done countless Raffles (now known as opportunity drawings) and hospitality setups for trials.  Have also served as trophy chairperson many times for the above clubs.  

Club-wise I hope we can continue to all work together to promote our favorite dog activities throughout San Diego and beyond.   If we want to keep our dog sports, clubs must work together to achieve better results.  I look forward to serving on this very versatile board.