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In 2001, Woodbine resident Laurie Luck founded Smart Dog University to help dog owners improve their dogs' behavior. Luck offers group courses, workshops, and private in-home coaching for pet owners. Luck holds a master's degree in psychology from George Mason University, served as president of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer. She is a Delta Certified Pet Partner and offers community outreach through Your Dog's Friend and Reading Education Assistant Dogs.

Luck became a Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior (KPA) Certified Training Partner in January when she graduated from the Dog Trainer Program. Just 10 months after graduating, Luck was invited to join the KPA faculty because of her performance in the program, and her depth of experience.

"Our graduates are not only skilled trainers, they are excellent teachers," said Pryor in a press release. "Laurie Luck is a prime example. We're thrilled to have her as a faculty member."

Luck, who runs her business out of Mount Airy, said that she gained a lot of knowledge from the academy training.

"I'd been searching for a way to introduce others to the positive clicker training philosophy for quite some time," said Luck. "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 first Dog Trainer Program series will begin in January in Columbia.

KPA is now accepting applications for Luck's first program and plans to offer another beginning in March 2009.

For more information on Smart Dog University or Laurie Luck, visit www.smartdoguniversity.

com or call 240-848-3468. For more information on Karen Pryor Academy, visit www.karenpryoracademy.com.