How We Work
Latest news
Smart Dog University Awarded "At Your Service" Summit Award
Awarded to a Frederick County retail or service business for making its store, office location, or web site a destination for an increasing number of customers; undertaking actions that generate customer loyalty and satisfaction; and bringing positive recognition to Frederick County.
Laurie’s approach to providing stellar service includes unparalleled online resources, community education and involvement, and extraordinary scheduling flexibility.
Smart Dog University provides “good manners” coaching at local veterinary hospitals, customized in-home training, and a unique group class called “Canine Building Blocks.”
Over 1800 Twitter users benefit from free tips on this popular social networking site, and many more have access to a wealth of information via Smart Dog University’s web site, blog, email newsletter, and Facebook page.
Laurie has presented at regional and national conferences, bringing recognition to her company and to the Frederick business community.
Laurie Luck, SDU Founder, Presents at ClickerExpo Conference
Laurie Luck will present a talk at both 2010 ClickerExpo's - the premiere dog behavior conference. The 2010 ClickerExpo program is filled with innovative courses, creative teachers, and fun events.
Smart Dog Blog Is In a Book!
And we're as happy as a Labrador with a new tennis ball about it!
Smart Dog University's blog, Smart Dog Blog is featured in a book - TypePad for Dummies - dedicated to blogs and blogging. Featured in the Ten Bloggers Using TypePad Wellchapter, the book details how SDU uses video to help readers get to know Laurie and the training she does at SDU. SDU is dedicated to spreading the word about dog-friendly positive reinforcement training and the Smart Dog Blog has really helped get information and training tips out to dog owners.
Out + About Is Back!
Sold Out! Registration is open for the ever-popular Out + About course. It's bigger and better in 2010! In addition to teaching your dog how to greet people nicely, how to walk politely on a leash, and how to pay attention, you'll also have the opportunity to take the Canine Good Citizen test. Register now - spaces are limited and always sell out!
Intern Program Now Open
Interested in becoming a dog trainer, but aren't ready to commit to a full educational program? If you're in the Metro DC/Baltimore area, check out the Smart Dog University Intern Program! Take a look at the job description and email Laurie Luck if you have questions or if you're interested in applying to the program!
Talos, new service puppy
Talos, the Great Dane puppy we're training to be a service dog has finally arrived! Nine weeks old when he arrived, he'll spend about 18 months with us learning and experiencing the world in order to prepare for his very important job. Keep up with his progress on the Smart Dog Blog and Your Smart Dog newsletter.
Now Accepting Applications for Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior
The next Karen Pryor Academy will be held in Columbia, MD and will begin in July 2010. The Dog Trainer Program is designed for people interested in becoming dog trainers, and those who want to take their training business to the next level. The program combines the convenience of distance learning with the power of hands-on teaching.
Laurie is a faculty member of the Karen Pryor Academy and conducts KPA workshops in Columbia, MD, and across the U.S. If you're thinking about a career-change or simply want to learn more about training, Karen Pryor Academy might be exactly what you're looking for.
Smart Dog University Offers Classes at Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital
SDU is now offering classes at the beautiful Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital. Conveniently located less than a mile off I-270, Greenbriar is an ideal location for dog training. They have some great outdoor spaces - you'll find us outside if the weather allows.
Laurie Luck Joins Karen Pryor Academy
Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior is an innovative institution committed to educating, certifying, and promoting the next generation of animal trainers. World-renowned trainer, author, and behavioral biologist Karen Pryor is a pioneer of force-free training technology. Pryor launched the Dog Trainer Program to ensure that pet owners and their dogs have access to top-tier training delivered by superlative teachers. "Our graduates are not only skilled trainers, they are excellent teachers," said Pryor. "Laurie Luck is a prime example. We’re thrilled to have her as a faculty member."
"I wanted to become a KPA faculty member because I believe in the quality of the program," said Luck. "I’d been searching for a way to introduce others to the positive clicker training philosophy for quite some time. I am committed to clicker training and feel that it is the absolute easiest and fastest way to teach our dogs what we’d like them to do. So I jumped at the chance to join Karen Pryor Academy."
Luck’s experience as a KPA student provides unique insight to the curriculum she now teaches as a faculty member. "I’ve had firsthand experience with every piece of material-every video, every assignment, every facet of the course-from the student’s perspective. I’ve had to teach my dog everything the students have to teach their dogs. So my frustrations and successes will aid me in my approach to teaching the material. I can share my successful trials (and my not-so-successful trials) with students, showing that I’ve been in their shoes, that I’ve experienced similar thrills and frustrations-and that I made it!"
Luck’s first Dog Trainer Program series begins January, 2009, in Columbia, Maryland. KPA is now accepting applications for Luck’s first program and plans to offer another beginning in March, 2009.
Laurie Luck is now TAGteach Certified
TAGteach is a revolutionary science-based technology that enables educators and coaches to teach efficiently and helps students learn effectively.
TAG is an acronym for Teaching with Acoustical Guidance. The focused, positive nature of this method yields immediate and stunning results that are clearly evident to teachers, students and parents.
So what? Not only can Laurie teach your dog, but she's now uniquely qualified to teach YOU! Ever had a really good coach? One that helped you excel? (Or worse - ever had a coach who just kept repeating the same advice, no matter how little it really helped you "get it"?)
Don't waste your time or your money working with a company unless you're sure they can deliver on their promises. Smart Dog University knows how important the person at the end of the leash is and we'll work to ensure your (and your dog's) success.
Another location for your convenience!
It just got easier to take a Smart Dog University course! We'll begin offering training at our newest location in Mount Airy in January 2009! Conveniently located on Main Street in Mount Airy, the Mount Airy Animal Hospital is partnering with Smart Dog University. Stay tuned for more information as the new year draws closer.
Join Me on Facebook!
Learn a little bit about the person behind SDU on Facebook.
Register for Canine Good Citizen
There are a few spots left for the Canine Good Citizen class. This class will help you and your dog pass the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test. Register Now!
Laurie Luck Elected President Of Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)
We are very excited to announce that the Board of Directors of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers has elected Laurie Luck to serve as President. CCPDT is an international testing and certification program for professional dog trainers.
The CCPDT's certification program is based on humane training practices and the latest scientific knowledge related to dog training. Competence and continued growth in training practices is promoted through the recertification of qualified professionals.
Zoey's Dawg Stop is SDU's Newest Location!
SDU is proud to announce we've added a new location for group classes - Zoey's Dawg Stop in Urbana! The classes will launch on May 1, so if you're interested, sign up now!. Zoey's Dawg Stop offers a wide selection of holistic food, supplements, and other natural products that support and complement a holistic, natural lifestyle for your pet.
Stop in and see their selection of healthy kibble, raw food, treats, and supplements—products that provide your pets with a healthy, nutritious diet free of by-products, wheat, corn, soy, chemicals, and artificial preservatives.
And of course, Zoey’s also offers tasty, delicious, and most importantly, healthy, wholesome treats for your canine and feline friends. They also carry a great selection of beds, clothing, bowls, and other unique items—for pets, and their people.
Zoey's is located in The Villages of Urbana, across from Giant, and next to Chevy Chase Bank.
Zoey's Dawg Stop is open Monday - Friday 10-7, Saturday 10-6, and Sunday 12-5.
Tango + Laurie Are Delta Registered Pet Partners
In March, Tango and Laurie passed the Delta Pet Partners Skills Test and the Pet Partners Aptitude Test, and are eager to begin working with the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program.
The mission of the R.E.A.D.® program is to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors.
The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children's reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.
Today, hundreds of registered R.E.A.D. teams work throughout the United States and Canada. R.E.A.D. is one of those ideas that, in the words of Bill Moyers, "pierces the mundane to arrive at the marvelous."
Stay tuned to this spot - we'll keep you updated on the program. If you're interested in volunteering with your dog, let me know!
Laurie is Maryland's First Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner
A clicker-trainer for 15 years and dedicated to the most recent developments in the dog training and dog behavior fields, Laurie is thrilled to continue to expand her horizons. Just graduated, Laurie is excited to be involved and associated with the Karen Pryor Academy.
The Academy builds on decades of scientific research and practical development by behavior analysts, ethologists, clicker trainers, and TAGteachers around the world, culminating in a groundbreaking curriculum unlike any other.
The Academy believes that great teachers possess both a solid knowledge of the science that governs learning, and honed practical abilities in both training animals and teaching other people to train animals.
The Academy was created in part, to ensure that those who call themselves "clicker trainers" are held to the highest standard. Because the popularity of clicker-training continues to grow, sometimes trainers will say they use the clicker, but will also use punishment-based methods as well. Just because a trainer says they use a clicker doesn't mean they are a true clicker trainer. Karen Pryor's program is the first program to guarantee the quality of clicker trainers and hold them to the highest standard.
SDU Attends CVC East Veterinary Conference
A lifelong learner, Laurie's always looking for opportunities to learn more about dogs and their behavior. She attended the CVC East conference, held in Baltimore, MD, on April 29. Keeping current on the latest research and findings in the field allows Laurie to keep YOU up to date, as well!
Laurie's Work with Service Dogs Highlighted in National Magazine
Laurie was interviewed about her work training Labradors as service dogs for the Popular Dogs series Labrador Retrievers. Laurie gives a "behind the scenes" look at what goes into training a Lab for service work. Laurie talked about the qualities that make a good service dog, as well as some things that might disqualify a dog from service work. Look for the magazine at your local PetsMart and Petco stores!
Laurie and Tango Head to Cleveland, Ohio
Road trip! Tango and I can't wait to head out on the road again! This time we're headed to Cleveland, Ohio to attend the premier clicker-training event Clicker Expo.
We love traveling together AND learning together! I enjoy taking Tango with me (he's the yellow Lab at the top of this page) -- we have a terrific time. We both get to let off some steam, as well as relax.
Be sure to stay tuned to the April edition of Your Smart Dog because I'll tell you all about how much fun we had and all that we learned! (Don't subscribe to Your Smart Dog? Click here, it's free! And you're sure to be "in the loop" when it comes to all things dog.)
Laurie Represents the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers at Super Pet Expo in Edison, NJ
I traveled to New Jersey to help educate dog owners about the importance of working with a certified pet dog trainer (CPDT). Over 24,000 pet owners attended and many of them had their dogs in tow. It was wonderful to meet so many dog-loving people and help educate them about how to choose a trainer for their four-legged friend.
Honeydew and Laurie Luck Educate the Government about Service Dogs
The Department of Commerce invited Laurie Luck and Honeydew to their headquarters in Washington, D.C. to speak about the service dogs, the work they do, and what it's like to train a service dog. Honeydew had her first experience with the Washington Metro area transit -- her Metro train experience was a valuable learning experience. Laurie is happy to report that Honeydew faced this challenge admirably and passed with flying colors. While at the Department, the pair also paid a visit to the Child Care Center so the children could get an up-close look at a service pup in training. It was hard to tell who was having more fun, Honeydew or the children.
Laurie Luck and "Nemo" Featured on Charlottesville, VA, news for their work with Service Dogs of Virginia
A Charlottesville, VA news station interviewed Laurie about her experiences as a puppy raiser. Using clicker training, trainers teach the dogs behaviors that enable them to help mobility impaired people.
Smart Dog University wins international Award
SDU's newsletter was chosen as a 2006 APEX award winner. Real Life Rewards -- Use Them Everyday was chosen as a winner in APEX 2006. the 18th Annual Awards for Publication Excellence is an international competition that recognizes outstanding publications from newsletters and magazines to annual reports, brochures and Web sites.
According to the APEX 2006 judges, "The awards were based on excellence in graphic design, quality of editorial content and the success of the entry in conveying the message and achieving overall communications effectiveness." Learn more about SDU publications here.
Laurie Luck to Serve on Board of Directors for Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)
We are very excited to announce that Laurie Luck has been asked to serve on the Board of Directors for the CCPDT, an international testing and certification program for professional dog trainers.
The CCPDT's certification program is based on humane training practices and the latest scientific knowledge related to dog training. Competence and continued growth in training practices is promoted through the recertification of qualified professionals.
