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Turning your dog from unruly to dutiful does not require the skills of Cesar Millan, Laurie Luck says.

Luck, who launched Smart Dog University in Mount Airy in 2005, said the biggest misconception about training dogs can be found on television shows such as "The Dog Whisperer," where Millan trains dog owners to be the "pack leader" and project a dominant personality to get their pets under control.

"You don't need to be alpha," said Luck, of Woodbine. The notion of the owner having to be "pack leader" is "completely, patently false."

Luck started Smart Dog University to provide private, in-home training for dogs as well as group training, with classes held at Mount Airy Animal Hospital, Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital in Urbana, and Kingsbrook Animal Hospital and Yellow Springs Veterinary Clinic, both in Frederick.

Luck's venture into dog training began after she adopted a dog from a shelter about 16 years ago. Luck said she "lucked" into a positive reinforcement training class for dogs in an effort to train her pet in good behavior.

Luck charges $159 for her group sessions, which consist of up to eight classes and include two free sessions. Private in-home sessions cost $109 each. Luck estimated her 2009 revenues at $30,000 to $40,000. Smart Dog University recently won an At Your Service award in the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce's annual Summit Awards program.

The dog training business is holding its own during the economic slowdown, according to Mychelle Blake, a spokeswoman with the 5,500-member Association of Pet Dog Trainers in Greenville.

While the group lacks data, "most of our members are reporting anecdotally that they haven't been hit too hard and some have increased their business over past years," Blake said in an e-mail.

Luck is a certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers in New York and is also a certified training partner from the Karen Pryor Academy in Waltham, Mass., which provides behavioral training for animals including dogs. She is also a faculty member with the academy, teaching trainers.

Tia Guest, program director at the Pryor Academy, said Luck was among the academy's first group of graduates and described her as a "standout student."

"As an instructor she has a way to communicate with people on every level," Guest said of Luck.

Robin Brown of Frederick said both she and her golden retriever benefited from Luck's classes.

"It became clear that we as people needed training too," Brown said. "You need to read the dog's language because they are definitely reading yours."