Students Say

THE PET TEACHER
In-YOUR-Home Dog Training
248-232-3655

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT
THE PET TEACHER ...

Whatever else you do with your dog, do the Gentle Leader session with Denise! What a
difference it makes using this collar, but you also need to learn HOW to use it. I had
tried it without Denise and I fitted the collar wrong, and also used it completely wrong. I
followed her instructions, had her over to show me how to use properly, and its like I have
a new and improved dog. I'm so happy that I'm now starting a 4-session package with her!
And it's so great that she has all those individual sessions she offers. Sammi and I will be
forever grateful for Denise!
Katherine M., Novi

Denise, you just left our house and I wanted to tell you what a difference in just this
first session! You're so gentle and calm with our Bichon, Chloe. It taught us that yelling
and spanking are not only unnecessary, but also make our relationship worse which we
suspected but didn't know how else to get her attention. Steve and I are really looking
forward to our next sessions with you!
Mary Lou H., Birmingham

We were given Denise's name by our veterinarian as someone who would be able to work
with us and our two newly adopted dogs, Arlo and Herbie, both of whom came to us earlier
this year with unique issues; Arlo, a toy poodle, was extremely shy and unsure of people,
and Herbie, a Yorkie-Poo, was just the opposite, extremely hyper and wild!

Almost immediately Denise was able, with her easy voice and kind manner, to get Arlo as
well as Herbie to respond to her.

We initially signed for 4 training sessions, but knew before they were complete that we
could benefit from additional training, thus we signed up for another 4.

The results for us have been terrific! Herbie responded extremely well to the command
training and has calmed down a great deal; Arlo has come out of his shell so much and
continues to do so more and more each day.

We are so glad that we were able to find Denise and gain her assistance with our "boys".

Thank you!
Kay and Tony F., Livonia

I had no idea how little we knew about training our dog. I thought we could easily handle a
little puppy but was I wrong! Denise, thank you for teaching us and our Molly how she
should behave in our house. She learns more everyday as she matures and thanks to you we
survived those early puppy nightmares and we never had to yell at her or do anything else
that would scare her. You're the best!
Darren and Millie J., Commerce Township

Thank you, Denise! I had been using some of the techniques from that show on TV and my
dog had become worse! I am so grateful for you teaching me that it’s better to use only
positive techniques with my dog and to stop trying to bully him to prove I was the leader.
Now he’s truly a calm and “thinking dog” (as you would say) and Rocky has learned to listen
to me because *I* now know how to communicate with him. Denise, YOU are the Dog
Whisperer!
Jim B., Canton

I tried another trainer who wanted me to throw things and make strange noises at my
dog. My Cocker Spaniel became so terrified that she didn't want to leave her crate and
when she did she was very nervous. Thank you, Denise, for showing us to stop our pup's
jumping and nipping without making her afraid of us. We are very grateful to you.
Nancy and John C., West Bloomfield

A quick statement from me and Luna the Moon Girl Bull Terrier. I have had dogs and I
have had dog trainers, but only since I've met you have I had both in total alignment at the
same time. My dog loves you because she wants to behave for you not because she fears
you. She respects you not because she is afraid you will punish her but because she knows
if she does what you have taught her she may "earn" a reward. Your methods and
unbelievable positive conditioning, and if a dog already has an unwanted behavior, the
counter conditioning you teach leaves me speechless. The only thing I could do for Luna
beyond what I already do is kidnap you and make you live with us.
Midge D., Sylvan Lake

Just a note to let you know about Velvet before our big road trip -- she's great!!!!!!! Not at
all the little dog who wouldn't come out from under the table a few short weeks ago. She
has sit, come, down perfect; stay is good till she can’t see me then she comes to find me,
but with all the problems she came to me with I can deal with this. At least I know she
stays close … sometimes so close I trip over her. She loves the seat belt harness for the
car. I had her and Jake both wear them around the house and yard so she would get used
to it. She's now off the floor in the car and sitting up on the seat looking out the window
enjoying the ride and has even stuck her nose out the window a few times.

If it hadn't been for you and all your help there would be no way we could have made it
across country.

The insight into how velvet was reacting to life and everything around her has helped us
have a much better and trusting relationship together. I now have a keen eye on how to
read the different moods and fears that she has, also the skills on how I should react and
handle them. You were our saving grace and Velvet is now a different dog. She still has
her skittish fear of new people and things but also has the confidence to look at me for
reassurance. And I now have the know-how to react correctly to her. I can't tell you thank
you enough for all your help!!!!!!

I'll drop you a line once we get out to California and let you know how the trip went.
Thank you,
Cris, Velvet, and Jake, Canton

I want to thank you again for ALL the help you have given us to help lead Noah into being
the best he can be! We continue to see amazing strides in his personality and abilities!! I
LOVE it!!!

Thanks You, Thank You, Thank You!!!! With your amazing help we are now able to be Noah's
Leaders!!!!!!!!!!! You are truly great at what you do Denise, and we feel honored to have been
in your "class."
Thanks Again!
Ric, Sharon, Brad and Noah the Wonderdog!, Clarkston

I like Denise's training style and especially appreciate the fact that she comes to the
home and trains in the dog's environment.   Denise sat us down and explained very
thoroughly the way a dog thinks. She is extremely knowledgeable about dog behavior and
what will bring on positive behaviors.   Likewise she knows how to reverse unwanted
behaviors. She helped us, as a family, understand where he was coming from and how he
would learn from us. Throughout the sessions, scheduled at our convenience, it was
obvious that Denise was very experienced, was very clear in her directions and always
sent an email the next day recapping the session the night before. She is a wealth of
information for anyone passionate about their pet.

"Denise, thank you for explaining it so well. All your training has been very useful. You are
very good at what you do! You're an excellent animal behavior person and are good at
communicating with owners too. Thanks for all the valuable info via email.
Thanks for all your patience with us."
Caroline Foster, Veterinary Technician
and "Yankee Doodle", Plymouth

Thank goodness for Denise! She's made our first experience raising a puppy a whole lot
easier! Lucy is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a very high strung and hyper breed, not to
mention 95 lbs. of puppy! She was a chronic barker, jumper, and took ME for walks.
Needless to say, the traditional methods for getting Lucy to calm down weren't working.
With the help of Denise, we learned some very helpful positive reinforcement techniques
for getting our puppy to behave. Denise completely reshaped the way we think dogs learn,
and we've been reaping the benefits ever since!
Jackie M., Grand Blanc

Denise trains dogs faster than anyone I have ever witnessed. She has confidence in the
dogs, and I think that they pick up on that. She also treats them like adults, not like
babies. It's like when children are treated with respect and not babied, they step up to
the challenge and act more responsible and mature. The dogs love her, also!
Doug H., Plymouth

The core training education that I got from Denise has helped me tremendously in working
with my dog, Cookie, who has gone on to receive several titles. Denise always made
training enjoyable for me and my dog.
Kim Teall, Belleville
Kimberjac Labradors, www.kimberjaclabradors.com
Home of U-GRCH, Sunset Double Stuff, WC, COC

My dog, Lola, and I really enjoyed the class and learned so much! Denise's techniques
make sense and are easy for dog and owner to understand. Thanks, Denise!
Molly R., Plymouth

The in-home classes with Denise were such a great investment! My entire family learned
so much, including our 6, 8, and 12 year old sons. We now understand how to communicate
with our 1 year old Golden Retriever, Jake,and things are once again calm at our house.
Thank you, Denise!
Jim R., Birmingham

I couldn't be happier with my experience with Denise. Her class was fun and my puppy and
I learned a lot. We really enjoyed the class and what we took from it. We still use her
techniques today. I would highly recommend it to any owner who loves their pet!
Christina H., Plymouth

I feel this training has been invaluable. Denise teaches more than just sit, come and stay,
but also a way of being with your pet and connecting with them in a loving, respectful way.
I have always felt connected to animals, but with my pets found myself irritated by
certain behaviors, which led to resentment and anger toward my pets. Working with
setting boundaries and with leadership issues has made all the difference in the world.
What I really liked was the one-on-one work. I have been to group classes and there is no
comparison. Denise was able to see the behaviors that were really bothering me and then
help me work with my dog in a way that was so loving. I have learned that rewarding good
behavior works a whole lot faster than focusing on the negative - something I keep
reminding myself with my kids. The leadership and boundary issues I learned from Denise
applied to more of my life than just my dog. What a great learning experience from a very
nonjudgmental teacher.
Denise K., Clarkston

Pet problems?   We are so glad we were put in touch with Denise. She's so very
knowledgeable and caring and will do anything to make sure you and your pet(s) live happily
ever after TOGETHER! Do not hesitate for a minute and DON'T even think about giving
up your pet. They need you and you need them. Please call Denise for help. Then
EVERYONE will be happy!
The Burnsteins, Farmington Hills
(And the Burnsteins made a very nice donation to the Michigan Humane Society in my name
as an additional thank you! Thank you to them!)

Denise is a very professional and knowledgeable trainer. I have found her methods to be
especially effective and humorous. My dog still "dies" when you bang and shoot her - a
trick that Denise taught us! My dog has responded exceptionally well to training with
Denise and has taken at least 4 classes with her. We keep coming back for more!!
Marie R., Dearborn Heights

Denise has a clear love and devotion to dogs, which is apparent from the moment she comes
to your home. I love her non-aggressive approach to coaching the dog into being a well-
behaved family member!
Kelly K., Milford

Griff and Kit, my Golden Retriever and my Aussie, have such great times with Denise.
They have actually learned to listen and display attention that they didn't have before.
They really enjoy their sessions.
Mary Ellen K., Pleasant Ridge

Denise is so kind to the dogs (and to the owners). She has an amusing sense of humor,
also. She offered to help me with a doggie personality problem, and seemed to show real
compassion, rather than just trying to make a quick buck. When another specialty trainer
was approached with the same problem, I met with pressure and arrogance. That's when I
called Denise and I got the exact opposite.
Donna H., Plymouth

Denise's warm and inviting manner was such a big hit with both our family and our Beagle,
Annie! We had 5 sessions with Denise, and Annie has come a long way! Today, our
veterinarian said that Annie is a very well behaved Beagle, which I guess might be
considered an oxymoron. I would, and have, recommended Denise The Pet Teacher to dog
owners!
Lisa G., Beverly Hills

We are so grateful to Denise for helping us with our dog, Bailey. Bailey had become
aggressive toward other dogs and we thought we wouldn't be able to keep her. Denise is
so knowledgeable about dog behavior and was able to explain to us what was happening. She
gave us exercises to do that have really helped Bailey be more comfortable around other
dogs. Way to go, Denise! We will definitely recommend you.
Janet S., West Bloomfield

Our Boston Terrier puppy, Max, was more like a terror. Jumping, biting, growling at our
kids with lots of potty accidents in the house. We learned so much from Denise. Max now
no longer jumps or growls, and the biting has almost gone away completely. We followed
her house training steps and now no more accidents! We are very happy now.
Don & Tina T., West Bloomfield

Our dog Sam came from a shelter. He was found as a stray and was probably abused.
What seemed like a sweet and quiet dog at the shelter turned out to be a shy and fearful
dog at home. His separation anxiety was very bad. He broke a tooth trying to get out of
his crate, yet if we let him run the house whenever we were gone he would destroy our
walls and furniture! Denise worked with us on some training issues and also gave us lots of
ideas to use for the separation anxiety. He's much more calm now and we can leave him
out in the house when we leave without his destroying anything. He just calmly waits for
us to get home. Bless you, Denise!
Mike and Joan H., Farmington Hills, MI

How easy this was! Denise came to our home, taught us things about how dogs learn that
we never knew. The sessions were fun, her techniques make sense and don't hurt, our
puppy Chloe learned quickly, and our kids are able to practice her techniques with the dog.
We definitely recommend you work with Denise!
John and Patti G., Bloomfield Hills, MI

Ah! The light bulb went off after I met with Denise! Now I understand why forcing my
dog to do something wasn't working. After only a few minutes with Denise and using her
techniques my dog stopped being 'bad' and became calm and focused. I never had to push
him down at all. Positive training rocks and so does Denise!
Jim V., White Lake

No more choke chains! The darn thing never worked on my dog anyway. Now I've learned
the right way to walk my Samantha and how what I do affects the way my dog behaves on
leash. What a blessing to learn positive reinforcement techniques. Thank you, Denise.
Judy and Jon M., Bloomfield Hills

Positive attitude goes farther than punishment, trainer finds
By MARK TERRY
Special to The Daily Oakland Press

Lloyd and Rielly are staring at Denise Lukacs with absolutely rapt attention. Lukacs, whose business name
is The Pet Teacher, is a dog trainer whose philosophy is to use only positive reinforcement techniques.

Lloyd, a Wirehaired Fox Terrier, is almost stone deaf, requiring a different approach from verbal
commands. Lloyd's buddy, Rielly, is a long-haired Lhasa Apso. Rielly prefers lying on tabletops to sitting
at command, but today he's all attention.

Part of this is Lukacs' approach and demeanor; part of it is the bits of hot dog she's using as incentive.

She does a lot of work helping out with animals who have behavior problems at the Oakland County Animal
Shelter.

"Denise has been coming here quite some time and helping us with adoptability," says Larry Obrecht, the
Division Manager of the Oakland County Animal Shelter. "Our objective with Denise is to improve the
adoptability of the animals in the shelter."

A lot of the animals at the shelter are there because of social problems.

"Most animals end up in animal shelters because of some behavioral issue," Lukacs says. "They may have run
away because of people not being able to control them, so consequently they escaped, and the owners say,
'Let them go; I just don't care anymore.' Or out of frustration the owners turn them over to the animal
shelter just because they can't figure out how to teach them."

The Oakland County Animal Shelter handles more than 9,000 animals a year, most of them strays. Lloyd
and Rielly were abandoned, but Obrecht adopted them.

Lukacs see it as her job to instill a set of basic social skills that will make the dogs more likely to have
successful adoptions. It's a classic win-win situation: the dogs win and the new owners win.

"We want to adopt out as many animals as we can," Obrecht says. "Those issues that are relatively easy
for Denise to fix, like sit and stay, we'd like her to. For more complicated issues, like separation anxiety,
we can work with her to help."

Lukacs came to this career in a roundabout way. She spent more than 25 years in the corporate training
world, peddling her skills to companies including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Parke-Davis and
Warner-Lambert.

"I did any number of things," Lukacs says, "from being a project manager to a producer, to a writer and
stand-up trainer and facilitator."

But she always wanted to work with dogs. About 20 years ago, she studied to become a dog trainer.

"But it was in the traditional methods - yanking, spanking, choke chains - and I could not do it," she says.
"So I stopped."

Years later, she came across the world of positive-reinforcement training.

"Positive reinforcement allows you to communicate with the dog by using your body language," Lukacs says,
"combined with simple words, by using, generally, a lure method and a reward."

The lure can be a food treat or a toy, but whatever it is, it's a motivation for the dog.

She's working with Rielly, who really, really wants that bit of hot dog. The dog quivers with excitement,
but remains sitting. Denise stands in front of him, left hand in a signal indicating "sit." Her right hand
hides the bit of hot dog.

Dogs, Lukacs says, "are much more sophisticated in using body language than humans."

By working with what motivates a dog and by rewarding good behavior rather than by negative
reinforcement - punishing misbehavior - Lukacs has had remarkable success training dogs.

"I think they learn much quicker," she says, "and it's happier because they want to repeat it."

Aside from her work with the Oakland County Animal Shelter, Lukacs runs a dog training business. In
addition to group classes, Lukacs provides one-on-one sessions at home with the dog and its owner. Her
goal is, "not just to build a business, but to make home training affordable," she says.

"And what I'm finding is that after doing the first sessions, people re-up for more training. They're
enjoying the training and want to learn more."

"A lot of what she does is pretty amazing, and I'm not easily amazed," says Bob Capudean, who worked with
Lukacs on a number of projects and had her train his dog, Jessie.

"Denise is like a terrier," he adds. "She kind of digs in and doesn't let go."