DPDTC Member Spotlight Archive

Deep Peninsula Dog Training Club
Member Spotlight Archive

Pat Alvarez
Linda Planting
Mary Lou Copp

Pat Alvarez

Pat started Obedience training in 1972 with a male Doberman. He has taken his dogs to numerous CD's and CDX's, as well as five UD's. Pat is licensed to judge all AKC Obedience Classes.

Pat became a trainer in 1978 and has been a trainer for Deep Peninsula DTC, Town and Country DTC, and Santa Clara DTC. He was also the Captain of the Doberman Drill Team whose performances thrilled audiences in the United States and Canada.

Pat lives in Los Altos Hills, California with his wife Rosalie, who is also a licensed AKC judge. Together they started the K-9 Units for the Santa Clara Sheriff's Department and the Gilroy Police Department and are now advisors and evaluators for new Dogs ready to go on the street. Pat is a member of Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Deep Peninsula DTC, Town and Country DTC, Santa Clara Valley KC and the Northern California Judges Association.

Pat and Rosalie presently reside with a Doberman Pinscher, a Ch. Miniature Pinscher CDX, and two CDX Golden Retrievers.

Linda Planting

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If I were asked “why did you join DPDTC?” I’d have to respond, “It’s the people.” What a great group of folks! We’ve all heard that “it takes a village to raise a child.” I have found that “it takes a club to raise an Entlebucher!” As much as I love obedience work, I think I might have thrown in the towel long ago if it weren’t for the encouragement and empathy of my trainers and fellow club members.

I got hooked on obedience training and competing 25 years ago when my German Shepherd, Sable, and I earned a C.D. title. Unfortunately, hip dysplasia retired her from the obedience ring before we could go farther. My next dog, Farrah the Rottweiler, developed coronoid disease in her elbow and then arthritis and was lame before we ever got to Novice. We trained with DPDTC under Dorothy Mash and took lessons from Rosalie and Pat Alvarez, but never competed due to Farrah’s lameness.

I knew I wanted to once again participate in obedience when I was looking for the “next dog”. I thought I had that covered as I was assured by Entlebucher breeders and owners that “Entlebuchers did very well in obedience.” In hindsight, I realize that I neglected to ask if any Entlebucher had ever successfully competed in obedience trials and received titles. I have since found out that there is only one Entlebucher with a C.D. from the Canadian Kennel Club and just last month, the first Entle earned a C.D. under the Foundation Stock Service provision from the AKC. Hopefully Max will be the second Entle in the United States to attain that elusive C.D. title.

As with most things in life, I find that the more energy and effort you put into something, the more you get out of it. So it is with Deep Peninsula Dog Training Club. I encourage all of you to volunteer and get involved with the various club activities. You and your dog will both greatly benefit from it.

Mary Lou Copp

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When my bundle of energy we call Ginny came into my life, I knew I was in for some major challenges. When she grew the extra inch that put her oversize for showing in conformation, I immediately enrolled her in obedience training when she was 1 1/2 years old or 7 1/2 years ago. We went to a myriad of matches with nothing to show except for failing scores. Although we were learning a lot, I quickly saw that this was going to take some time and I had better join Deep Peninsula in order to help with the fees. In 1996 when I joined, I had taken a year off from work to pursue anything but running my own business and began putting on agility trials for Mission Trail Poodle Club. As it so happened, Deep Peninsula was looking for a Trial Secretary for the 1997 Trial, so I agreed to take on the challenge and remained in the position for one more year. My next position was President which I held for two years, so I had the pleasure of bringing the club into the new millennium. Meanwhile, not only had I taken on a part-time job, but it became full-time in 2000. Currently, my job does at times get in the way of my “leisure” time, but I seem to fit everything in. We added DeeDee to our “family” when Ginny was 1 1/2, but she was gone on the show circuit much of the time until she finished her championship at age 2 1/2 when I began her obedience training, as well as agility training for both. So far, it has been a fun ride filled with many challenges that I would not trade for anything.

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