DOCOT Club Officers for 2024-25                              Head Trainer & Club President - Rick Jacoby, 

Vice President - Leslie Ogg,  Treasurer - Tammy Harrison,  Secretary - Jana Long.

   Board Members: Michelle Pulford, Doran Richard, Cindy Halle

Business Meetings (No Training) 

Club business meetings (no dogs or training) are held the first Thursday of the month at the Walteria Park Senior Center Clubhouse at 3855 W. 242nd Street in Torrance. (Note: The Senior Center is the building next to the Torrance Walteria Branch Library.
Meetings start promptly at 7:30 PM

Membership Information

Club membership is $10.00/year individuals and $15.00/year family. To become a member you must first attend 3 monthly meetings and be voted in by the current DOCOT Board. Members are entitled to register a new dog in the Novice Class at no charge and are invited to all annual and special events.

History of the Dog Obedience Club of Torrance (DOCOT)

In April 1951, the original name of DOCOT was the German Shepherd Club. In 1956, to put more emphasis on the training of all breeds of dogs the German Shepherd Club became a charter Club as part of the Torrance Parks and Recreation Department. In September of 1956, the German Shepherd Club changed it's name to the "South Bay Dog Obedience Club". From 1957 - 1977, there were youth summer dog training classes for ages 10 -14. A final name change occurred in 1961 when the club became the “Dog Obedience Club of Torrance”.
The club founder and original trainer was Roy Smith. Roy was the trainer until he passed away in 1977. Jose and Jim Butzirus, members since 1963, took over the training classes in 1977. Over 20,000 dogs have graduated from the obedience classes (with second and even third generation handlers completing the program !!!) since the original club was founded in 1956.

Former Trainers

Joanne "Jose" Butzirus and Jim Butzirus the former trainers for the Dog Obedience Club of Torrance were long time Torrance residents. Jose and Jim ran the DOCOT Novice class for decades together, putting over 10,000 dogs and handlers through the program.