2026-06-06T17:16:21.571Z

I would give a Million stars if I could! Hannah with Love In The Lead did an absolutely Fantastic job with our Golden Retriever. We tried another company before trying this one. We will just call the other company D.W. And after the 3 weeks there I actually think she regressed. After countless hours of research I decided to read out to Love In the Lead and was followed up by a phone call back from the Owner who said she could totally board and train our Golden. On a leap of faith we jumped and it was one of the best decisions I could have ever made! Our trainer was Hannah and she was so courteous, professional and sent me weekly updates with photos and videos hour out Miss Charlotte was going weekly. We are 100% pleased with the results. Our golden had done a complete 180 from drop off to coming home 3 weeks later. Our golden now can sit, heel, place on command as well as other commands. It’s honestly like we have a brand new dog lol. I want to thank Hannah and Tessa and and LITL staff for all of their hard work! Thanks a million and Miss Charlotte says woof woof 🐶 guessing that means thanks as well ❤️

2026-06-06T14:46:15.563Z

We can not say enough positive things about Love in the Lead! From their experienced & loving training staff, dedication to each dog, and excellent service. We started our journey with them 5 years ago and still board with them today!

2026-04-27T21:45:17.954Z

I would highly recommend the training at Love in the Lead for both new pups as well as mature dogs (ours are 3.) The training staff cared very much for Joey and Ginger and offered numerous outings to teach the dogs to remain calm and neutral across the board. The follow up sessions at home were also very helpful. Tessa was the personal trainer for our sister pups and did a fantastic job. Thank you to the staff at Love in the Lead.

2026-04-21T19:47:25.475Z

The three weeks my baby spent training with Samantha have been absolutely life-changing. I have yet to have any of my puppies chilling on the couch while I work at a different location in the room with CONFIDENCE at such a young age. But, after just three weeks with Samantha, my baby Chowder is a rockstar. Can't wait for his future training with Love in the Lead

2026-04-03T19:44:50.241Z

Love in the Lead was the best decision we’ve made for our family. Not only did our dogs build confidence and structure through the training program, they found a home away from home. The perks of being a graduate allows us to attend pack walks and trainings to continue good habits and address concerns as they arise. The ability to board our dogs with their trainers was a game changer and we always feel confident leaving them with people they trust who also uphold good behavior. We feel incredibly lucky to have found Love in the Lead and will always recommend them.

2026-03-21T15:42:19.144Z

We had a great experience with Love in the Lead. Our Bernedoodle was experiencing a few challenges with settling in the crate, calming down, and walking without pulling. These were relatively minor issues, but we found that using the Day camp program for about 2 weeks made a huge difference. We would drop him off in the morning and pick him up in the evening. They would put him through a very structured day of forced rest, play time, and training sessions. We noticed a huge difference in just those two weeks. We were scheduled to be out of town for a vacation and then shortly thereafter a work trip. Typically, we would have a pet sitter come and stay with him for the entire time. However, for the same cost we were able to do a 3 week board and train (we affectionately call it military school). We just picked him up a few days ago after his graduation. What a difference! He is so much calmer and more well behaved. He is just as sweet as ever, but now listens and follows directions much better. His ability to walk on a loose leash is much improved. This morning we took him to his first restaurant for brunch. He was so well behaved he remained on his place for the entire time with no problems and only periodic rewards. He has improved so much that we are thinking that we might be interested in trying to see if he could be a therapy dog.We will definitely continue to use Love in the Lead for additional training and / or refresher courses whenever is needed and we will utilize them for more board and trains when we need to be out of town and cannot take him with us.We have had a great experience and excellent communication from everyone involved. They have all been super helpful - in particular, Samantha and Rebecca. They all seem to really love the dogs. Our dog really enjoyed going.I would highly recommend their services.

2026-03-18T10:29:01.448Z

Love in the Lead Boarding is the only boarding facility I trust for my dog. He has anxiety which they helped with during their training program. They understand his quirks and I know he is safe which gives me peace of mind while I travel.

2026-03-06T16:20:32.919Z

I highly recommend Love in the Lead Canine Training. I reached out to Rebecca when I was feeling overwhelmed with my dog Steeler’s behavior. At home he is a sweet, loving boy, but outside he barked nonstop at dogs and people and seemed to forget every command. His behavior even started influencing my other dog, Myles.Living in an apartment building, walks had become stressful and embarrassing. As a veteran with PTSD and anxiety, it was starting to feel unbearable, and I sadly began considering rehoming Steeler.Rebecca paired Steeler and Myles with Tessa for a three-week training program, and the results have been amazing and have truly changed our lives. Both dogs are calm, well behaved, and enjoyable to walk again. Steeler now approaches neighbors he once barked at, and residents in my building constantly comment on how much the boys have improved.I’m incredibly grateful to Tessa for her dedication and care during training. The results speak for themselves. Highly recommend!

2026-02-27T18:07:05.090Z

Love In The Lead helped us immensely with both our dogs’ challenging reactivity. They tailored their training program to their needs and have continued to be a great resource for us since they graduated! We also love being able to board them there when we’re out of town because we know they’re in great hands.

2026-02-23T23:04:38.164Z

I adopted a 6 month old hound mix from a hoarder situation and he had some very terrible habits. He was awful on a leash and would pull constantly and ever worse when he saw a person or another animal. I sent him to Love in the Lead for 3 weeks and he came back a new dog! Gabbie was his trainer and she was amazing at the lessons I got when the program ended and I could tell she treated my pup with patience and kindness. He also had a problem with “biting” when getting excited and didn’t understand the meaning of “no”. In addition he had an issue with mounting when anyone would come over to the point it was not enjoyable to have company, even family because he got so excited. Love in the Lead changed my life because I was so frustrated with my dog and I felt guilty about it. He is able to walk on a leash, listen to commands, go to his “place” where he will stay and wait patiently including waiting for his food. Since he graduated I’ve also sent him to the boarding program several times. Rebecca is amazing! She is so efficient, answers emails quickly and you get a report card for your baby when you pick them up. I always feel comfortable leaving him for days at Love in the Lead. I could go on because I can’t say enough good things about it. No complaints whatsoever! Thank you Rebecca!

2026-02-19T00:49:57.015Z

This is a review that I was actually excited to do! We have a one year old Frenchie that has been a challenge to say the least. We had never been able to break some of the major behavior issues we were dealing with. My wife had suggested we use Love in the Lead for the puppy training and this is a husband moment where I should have listened to my wife. We had gotten to a point of desperation and were at our wits end when we hired Love in the Lead. This was without a doubt the best decision we have ever made. Emma took our dog and truly was able to modify his behavior. He returned a totally different dog, not in the sense of killing his spirit but simply by training him to be settled and relaxed. Anxiety and destruction have been exchanged for a peaceful sweet dog that’s now a pleasure to have as opposed to a prior burden. I honestly had given up prior to Emma and Love in the lead simply resigning the fact we would just have a difficult dog for his entire life. Upon his return, we have totally fallen back in love with our baby. Plain truthful testimony. This company transformed our dog. We are so incredibly grateful for Emma and Love in the Lead. Incredible miracle workers and accomplished something for us we didn’t see possible.One other piece of information. Their service, communication, check ins, and follow ups sealed the deal as about as close to perfect as one could ask for.Thank you Love in The Lead. We’re so grateful for you and Emma.

2026-02-17T18:04:32.587Z

To be honest, when I first considered professional training for my dog, the cost put me off a bit. But now with two very well trained labs, I consider it money well spent. Every day that I enjoy the company of my dogs and watch them interact with visitors and with other dogs, I know I made the right choice. I've been part of the Love in the Lead family for many years and wouldn't trust my doggies with anyone else.

2026-02-12T19:21:42.267Z

Love in the Lead is my goto for boarding as well as refresh training. Cooper loves going, and hes the best behaved boy whenever he visits!

2026-02-12T01:12:46.645Z

When my lab entered his teenager phase and started getting bigger, stronger, and harder to manage I knew I needed to find a trainer but was overwhelmed with options. I told my cousin about it she recommended Love in the Lead and had nothing but amazing things to say about them. She has a very well behaved golden retriever trained by them so I felt really comfortable choosing them myself. My lab completed their 3 week board and train program when he was 11 months old and it made SUCH a difference! Walks are no longer miserable and we now have the tools to communicate with each other, which has made my our lives so much easier. It was hard not getting to see him for 3 weeks, but they posted daily videos of the dogs on their Instagram stories which made it easier. My dog’s trainer also sent me weekly updates on his progress. The training sessions that I attended at the end of the 3 week program were especially helpful because they taught me how to give commands, corrections, and overall how to effectively interact with my dog now that he has all of these new skills. The final thing that sold me on Love in the Lead is that they allow dogs who’ve been through their training program to be boarded there when you go on vacation or are out of town. I love this because I know my dog is only going to interact with other dogs who have the same knowledge base as him and it’s a facility that my dog is already comfortable in and familiar with. Overall, I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Love In The Lead and will certainly take any of my future dogs here for training as well.

2026-02-09T14:14:38.034Z

Our pup came home knowing basic commands. So worth it to have him get off to a great start. Will will continue to use Love in the Lead for training and boarding. Highly recommend.

2026-02-08T15:20:52.960Z

We found out about Love in the Lead through word of mouth and have been thoroughly impressed. We enrolled in the puppy 2-week training and feel that it was well worth the investment. We've continued to use Love in the Lead's services with boarding when we travel and cannot bring our dog. We feel completely at-ease knowing our dog is being well cared for in a facility the provides both enrichment and a safe space. Highly recommend!

2026-02-08T13:15:57.214Z

I just completed a 4 week "shadow" program with Love in the Lead and it was a great learning experience. I will definitely be incorporating several new things I learned from them into my own training programs. The trainers were super welcoming of me following them around for a month and they were always happy to answer any questions I had along the way. They were open and transparent when discussing training, always friendly and of course professional the entire time. While my main goal for the shadow program was from a training perspective, there is no doubt that the owner, Rebecca Golian, is also a WEALTH of KNOWLEDGE when it comes to running a business successfully. She is an absolute expert at understanding how to grow a business from the ground up. So whether one is looking for their own professional development as a dog trainer (like I was) or one is interested in learning how to grow a business from the ground up (and expanding that business along the way) then I would highly recommend a Shadow Experience with Love in the Lead. Thanks Rebecca and team for being so welcoming and willing to share. Great experience!

2026-02-06T20:49:17.226Z

Our puppy attended the 10 day puppy training and I was so happy with the growth that happened during his training! We then chose to enroll our dog in the advanced training where he mastered new skills and reinforced skills learned in the puppy training. Rebecca and her team are super knowledgeable and friendly. Not only was my dog trained but I was taught how to maintain these skills for a lifetime. Our dog learned basic commands, good walking skills, how to control himself around distractions better than he was and how to hold his position at his “place”. I highly recommend any new (or old) dog owner to entrust their dog with this team to enhance the families/dog’s quality of life together!

2026-02-06T20:31:45.765Z

Our Penny attended Love in the Lead's 3 week training program back in January 2021. The change in her behavior was unbelievable. They are truly puppy/dog whisperers! Penny continued with her training journey by attending many of the Pack Walks over the years as well as boarding at their facility several times while we have been out of town. Love in the Lead team members are loving, caring individuals who truly help your pup be the best version of their self. You won't be sorry if you choose Love in the Lead.

2026-01-25T17:41:34.476Z

Samantha and the love in the lead team were tremendous! Wally learned the foundation of really important training basics and he had a blast. My whole family has used love in the lead and they continue to deliver wonderful service!

2025-12-26T17:36:21.705Z

Beyond thankful & so very pleased with everyone we have gotten to work with through Love In The Lead in Charlotte! This was our first experience with using a trainer, but it's the best money ever spent and I am grateful that our breeder, Harmony Doodles recommended contacting Rebecca. LITL picked up our new miniature Goldendoodle, Remy straight from the breeder when she was 9 wks old for her 6 week Puppy Training. They took her for her vet appointment to ensure all was well and to get needed vaccinations. They communicated immediately afterward with a summary of the visit and sent all of the necessary records and paperwork. Remy lived with her trainer, Meagan for 6 weeks and throughout that time I received communications twice a week one with photos and a brief update and then another at the end of the week with more details on how she was progressing with crate-training, potty-training, socialization in a variety of settings and different environments and with appropriate interactions with other dogs. Meagan gave great detailed summaries each week of how she reacted in every situation, how she was motivated to learn and the rare times that she got scared i.e. July 4th fireworks caused her to have a setback in her potty training. Meagan and Rebecca were both very helpful in ensuring I had all the necessary records that Remy needed for her first vet appointment after I brought her home. Also LITL gives you a wonderful schedule that they had Remy on so it makes the transition back home so smooth. The very first night that Remy came home we had absolutely no whining and the only issues we had with wetting were her "excitement" tinkle when we would come let her out of her crate. As Meagan advised, Remy quickly got over that as she got acclimated to her new home with us. LITL also shares a great list of supplies that are helpful to have in advance of bringing your puppy home. Since Meagan had been with Remy for 6 weeks, she knew what she liked and so I only bought what I needed not what Remy showed no interest in. My husband, daughter and I all enjoyed the training session that Meagan gave us on Remy's "pick-up" day. It was great to spend time with the trainer and Remy ensuring we knew how to properly continue reinforce all the positive behavior's that Remy had learned and how to make a good correction when needed. After we brought Remy home, Meagan followed up both the day after and a week later to see how she was doing and to answer any questions. I can't begin to express how much the training made a difference in the stress and enjoyment of bringing a new puppy home. We didn't do anything close to this with our first puppy and it has made all the difference in the world. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND LOVE IN THE LEAD!! Remy has done so well that my friends question why I have her signed up for her 3 week Advanced Puppy training when she is 7 months old but I know the trainers at LITL will only reinforce all of her positive behaviors and continue to encourage new growth and learning to make Remy the most pleasant & loving dog for our family.Update 12/26/25:Realized now that my precious Doodle is 2 1/2 yrs old, I never added to my review after Remy completed her 2nd training session with LITL. Although Remy was perfect after her puppy training, we were very happy we completed the 2nd session for her. She was trained on an e-collar and they reinforced all of her other puppy training. I will never ever have a puppy / dog again that I don’t send to LITL as they do an EXCELLENT JOB loving your furry family, teaching them to be obedient and getting them into a consistent routine that makes their addition to your family beyond pleasant. I have referred many to LITL since our experience and each family has shared that they agree, LITL goes beyond their expectations and they have so enjoyed their puppy and it was life changing to what can be a very hard adjustment bringing a puppy into your family. They have moved to a new and bigger facility since Remy completed her training so can only imagine how their service continues to amaze.

2025-11-14T17:34:59.334Z

I recommend them wholeheartedly. Love in the Lead is one of the few places where I immediately felt, “Oh… they really care here!” Not surface-level care.. real, intentional, thoughtful care.Nothing is rushed. Nothing is one-size-fits-all. You see staff stopping to give a nervous dog a moment to breathe, or celebrating tiny wins with the same excitement you’d give your own pet. There’s this calmness and respect woven into everything they do. It feels safe for the dogs and honestly for the people, too.Rebecca's work is rare. She doesn’t just run a business; she genuinely builds people. She takes the time to teach, explain, and make sure her team understands not just the “how” but the “why” I’ve seen her guide employees with so much patience and wisdom, always bringing it back to what’s best for the dogs. Her dedication shows up in the confidence and compassion you see from the team.Being here, you can tell the bar is high — but it’s high in the right ways. The dogs thrive because the people caring for them are knowledgeable, supported, and reminded constantly of the intention behind the work.As a dog lover, that matters to me. I notice the details. I feel the energy. And Love in the Lead is one of the few places where you never worry about whether the dogs are being treated with kindness, structure, and genuine understanding. They are.If you’re looking for a place where your dog will be cared for the way you would care for them & maybe even better ...this is the place!

2025-10-25T14:02:56.844Z

Finn learned sooo much in his 3 weeks with Love in the Lead. I loved the updates I got from them throughout the process and the lessons at the end of his training made us feel ready to continue his training at home. Tessa was so awesome with Finn and the whole team was so great when picking him up or dropping him off. We can’t wait for future pack walks!!

2025-10-24T02:15:32.840Z

We had a great experience with our Golden puppy, Daisy. She was well-taken care of during her stay at LITL and she came home a much more manageable girl. We are enjoying her puppyhood now, and we have LITL to thank. 10/10 experience!

2025-09-19T14:35:35.131Z

We just graduated from the board and train program. I cannot begin to explain how wonderful the experience has been from start to finish. Rebecca and her team have been so wonderful to work with throughout the process. I interviewed a number of training programs in the Charlotte area and once I spoke with Rebecca I knew she would take wonderful care of our Buckley and address our concerns. I knew that the training would be successful but but I didn’t realize how much of a change Buckley would go through as well as our family. As a result of their training methods Buckley now knows where he fits into our household, can calm down, execute on commands, and not be the crazy boy he was before training. Beyond just training Buckley Rebecca and Emma provided wonderful training for myself and our family allowing us to continue developing Buckley and continuously improving his obedience skills. I now feel like I can communicate effectively with Buckley and that is worthy cost of training in itself. Thank you so much Emma and Rebecca for your expertise and the community you have shown our family!!

2025-09-16T13:21:17.124Z

I was so nervous about sending our almost 2 year old cavapoo, Doobie, away for 3 weeks. I had my eye on Love in the Lead way back when I initially thought I wanted to send him to training right away as a puppy, but held off because overall he is such a good, easygoing dog. As he grew older, his biggest “challenge” is that he LOVES people (total social butterfly with major FOMO) and shortly after he turned 1, he started to having a minor issue with resource guarding sticks and napkins 🙃. To be honest, our work/life schedules are SO busy that I knew investing in a professional, who is able to dedicate 100% of their time, would be extremely helpful for us. We are getting married in April 2026 and would love for Doobie to be there, so we ended up pulling the trigger on Love in the Lead. I was even hesitant after signing him up, wondering if I even really needed to send him...but I'm SO glad we did!!From the very first call, the Rebecca put me at ease. She even hopped on a last-minute call right before drop-off to calm my nerves, which I appreciated more than I can say. Throughout training they were responsive and easy to reach, and I received daily photos and videos so I could watch Doobie learn and have fun. Every evening we would check the portal and their IG for new updates 🤣 we even found ourselves attached to the dogs in his training group, rooting for them as we watching their training videos too.The internet has plenty of mixed opinions about board-and-train programs, per usual with any topic, but I never doubted for a second Doobie would be safe and comfortable with the Love in the Lead team.Doobie's trainer was Emma, who he absolutely loved (duh), and so did we! Doobie came home with better leash manners, improved patience, and the same happy/hilarious personality (this was my biggest concern!!). We can’t wait to join future pack walks—and hopefully reunite with some of the best friends he made during his "summer camp", as we called it!I've attached his graduation photo and some cutie photos we received while he was there :) THANK YOU Rebecca, Emma, and the rest of the Love in the Lead team!!

2025-08-12T23:17:30.173Z

Excellent training facility. From the first call to the last email everyone has been amazing. Our trainer Emma is a 12 out of 10!! Highly recommend.

2025-07-14T01:40:31.540Z

We’ve had an absolutely incredible experience with Love in the Lead Canine Training. From the very beginning, the process was thoughtful, professional, and full of heart. We purchased our Goldendoodle, Lady, through the company and enrolled her in the Prodigy Program starting in January.Now that we’ve brought her home, we couldn’t be more thrilled. Lady is not only incredibly smart and well-trained, but also so affectionate and well-adjusted—a true testament to the dedication and expertise of the team at Love in the Lead. Her discipline and obedience are already making a huge difference in our home, and it’s clear she received the very best foundation during her training.We’re so grateful to have found a program that cares so deeply about both dogs and their future families. It’s been a seamless, rewarding journey, and we would highly recommend Love in the Lead to anyone looking for a well-rounded, professionally trained companion. Thank you for helping us welcome such a special dog into our lives!

2025-07-11T13:41:48.034Z

New puppy mom here! Choosing Love in the Lead Training was one of the best decisions I could’ve made for our pup. She came home with impressive command skills and perfect crate manners, and most importantly, she’s happy! I was initially nervous about how she’d adjust, but the daily photo and video updates quickly put my mind at ease. It was clear she was having fun, building confidence, and genuinely loving the trainers she worked with.The training itself was incredible, but what’s been even more valuable is the ongoing support. Rebecca and her team have gone above and beyond since graduation/pick-up day. Rebecca is always quick to respond to my (many) questions and has been so kind and patient as I navigate first-time dog mom life.I couldn’t recommend a better puppy training program!

2025-07-09T19:24:47.266Z

The 3 week board and train was amazing for our dog Duke. It exceeded our expectations. The communication was fantastic!! Duke has become such an amazing calm dog. Gabby was amazing