"I contacted Kim Lutz by email after finding her name through the apdt website. Kim responded to my request for information within 24 hours. Several emails were sent between us, as Kim made certain she understood what I needed and wanted. Once I decided to give private lessons a try, Kim called me and we talked about my dogs and lifestyle in great detail. I was intimidated in trying to communicate what I felt I needed to a professional. However, she was excellent at listening, reassuring, and pinpointing areas that could be worked on within the time frame I had in mind.
    When Kim came to my house, even my most timid rescue immediately responded to her. We worked on the targeted behaviors, exactly as Kim had agreed. It was fun, simple, and easy to continue, for my dogs and me, once Kim left. I was very skeptical as to how training would work without the stereotypical discipline. It worked extremely well. Kim was able to work with my dogs using a strictly positive approach; she did however need to work with me using gentle corrections. I would recommend Kim to someone struggling with unacceptable behaviors in an adult dog, someone who wants to train a puppy, or someone who has forgotten how to have positive, enjoyable, and intellectually stimulating time with their canine companions."
    --- Sheryl D. - Montgomery City

    Just a note to say how very much we appreciate all your help with our Bandit. Since we adopted Bandit, we had never been able to get his attention for commands, without raising voices, which then could scare him. We had been told he had been to obedience classes, but we needed the training as to how to reach out to him. He was a very ‘needy’ dog; he needed constant reassurance that we weren’t going to return him. Since you spent time with us and showed us how to get Bandit to focus on our ‘commands’ he has become a different dog. He stays in the driveway when my husband is working in the garage, and wants to be close to his family. He comes when we call him, the very first time. He responds to all sit, stay, down commands, and is working hard on ‘wait’, but when going in the car is involved that is a very hard one for him. He has become a very loving, gentle dog, and that is saying something for a Husky-Akita mix. He pays special attention to our grandson Troy (age two and a half), and keeps close to him to watch over him when he is outside.
    We would never have returned Bandit to the rescue group, since he had already been returned twice. But he has found his ‘forever home’ and we are so blessed to have your skill in reaching out to him, to make him such a wonderful, loving part of our family. We can’t thank you enough for making this such a positive experience for all of us.
With deep appreciation,
     --- Connie L. - St. Peters

    Two separate canine professionals gave up on our 4 month old Schnoodle; both labeled the dog "overly aggressive" and "dominant." My family and I were very devastated by those statements and almost ready to give the dog away.     When I called Kim, I immediately knew she could help us. Kim is truly a hero to us; she approached our dog with kindness, commitment and sensitivity and our dog loves her very much. We are so glad we called her; all the training has really paid off.
    Thanks to Kim and her knowledge and philosophy to train a dog by positive reinforcement, we now have a well behaved dog."
--- Claudia K. - St. Charles