How We Work

We help you to have a well-mannered dog.

Since 1994 I’ve been working with dog lovers helping them become more knowledgeable about how best to teach their dogs.

What’s it like to work with Smart Dog University (SDU)? On this page, we’ll tell you the kind of results our clients have experienced and we’ll also give you a sense of our guiding beliefs, training philosophy, and how we’re different than most dog training professionals.

Doggie Education – Smart Dog University excels at teaching you about your dog. ALL about your dog, not just how to get Rover to do this and that. We believe in providing you the tools you’ll need to work with your dog for the long haul, not just “quick fixes.” To that end we have free information and recommendations, the Smart Dog Blog, customized private in-home sessions, mini-group in-home sessions, small group courses, and targeted workshops. Another way to say it: We have just about anything you want to help you teach your dog.

Doggie Results

When you work with us you can expect to see sustainable and desirable changes in your dog’s behavior. You can expect to see these things:

Your new puppy will learn good manners from a young age and bad habits won’t even have a chance to take hold. It’s a matter of learning real solutions that work with your dog and promote cooperation, not domination.

You will be able to “problem solve” issues your dog experiences and your dog will respond quickly and enthusiastically to your requests. You won’t learn one-time fixes, you’ll get an education that will help you for the life of your dog.

You will build a positive, enriching relationship with your dog – one that will continue to get better and stronger as you spend more time together with your dog.

Your dog will become a treasured family member that you enjoy being with.

You’ll learn how to turn a “stubborn” dog into a reliable and willing dog. And best of all you'll learn how to do this without dominance or power struggles with your dog.

You’ll learn how to prepare your dog for and introduce your dog to your new baby. And how to help both baby and dog to learn respect for one another as they both mature.

Guiding Beliefs

What does SDU stand for? What are the beliefs that guide our practices?

Cooperation is better than domination – Your dog needs an education, not a lesson in dominance. The dominance myth only slows you (and your dog) down.

Clicker training is the fastest and most efficient way to teach your dog – and it’s fun, too!

Reward good behavior – a cornerstone of the SDU philosophy. Rewarded behavior occurs more often. The more often good behavior happens, the less “bad” behavior happens.

No two dogs are alike – Different dogs like different things. One size does not fit all. We’ll tailor the program to your dog, your family, your lifestyle.

We’re flexible - Although we have a variety of service offerings, SDU approaches each family with the same attitude: we design the training program to produce sustainable results for you and your dog with the least amount of struggle.

Above all, we love dogs – We will never ever ask you to use punitive, aversive, or unpleasant techniques to teach your dog. We use dog-friendly methods that we can back up with science, not doggie psychobabble.

You probably want to know a little bit more about the person behind Smart Dog University, Laurie Luck, CPDT. Click here to find out a little bit more about my experience and background.