About

Our Story

With over 75 years of combined experience, our team of expert dog trainers and dog care staff have the skills and knowledge to work with dogs of all breeds and behavioral issues. Whether you have a young puppy that needs foundational training and socialization, or whether your dog needs advanced obedience training, behavior modification, therapy dog training, or service dog training, we have a proven track record of success.

At Love in the Lead, our trainers undergo extensive hands-on training with our founder and owner, Rebecca Golian, who has over two decades of experience in the dog training industry. The guidance of Rebecca and the training program Directors, ensures consistency, effectiveness, and the highest level of humane training and care possible.

We don’t just train dogs – we also educate owners, providing exceptional client support and comprehensive graduate follow-up services.

A Love in the Lead trainer hugging a golden retriever puppy outdoors, wearing a Love in the Lead Canine Training hoodie
A Love in the Lead trainer in a blue shirt sitting on a bench outdoors, petting a golden retriever

Your dog’s safety and well-being are our top priorities. We treat every dog like family, with daily grooming, health checks, and compassionate handling.

Plus, all our trainers and dog care staff are CPR and Pet First Aid certified, so you can have peace of mind knowing your dog is in expert hands.

Let Love in the Lead help you and your dog build a stronger bond through expert training, care, and support.

Join the Love in the Lead family, schedule a call today!

Leadership Team

Rebecca Golian

Rebecca Golian

Owner & CEO

Rebecca Golian

Rebecca Golian

Owner & CEO


Rebecca began professionally training dogs while attending college, initially working with rescue dogs, family pets, therapy dogs, and dogs with significant behavioral challenges. Her early career centered on behavior modification and working with dogs experiencing some of the most complex and extreme behavioral issues. She also developed experience in working-dog disciplines, including Schutzhund/IGP.

While attending the University of Maryland, Rebecca provided professional dog-training services throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and raised and trained German Shepherds for The Seeing Eye, one of the country’s leading guide dog organizations. In 2010, she graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Animal Science.

In 2012, Rebecca made the decision to pursue dog training full time and moved to New York City, where she established her own professional training company. Her career took a significant step forward in 2015 when she was selected for the highly competitive opportunity to apprentice as a Licensed Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) at Guide Dogs for the Blind.

As a GDMI, Rebecca trained guide dogs for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, evaluated and matched dogs with clients, conducted intensive client training and orientation and mobility support, and provided follow-up services to guide dog teams throughout the United States and Canada. During the five years she spent living in the West, she also developed a private service dog program and personally trained and placed more than 100 service and guide dog teams. Rebecca continues to train and place Guide Dogs for private individuals as well as accredited non-profit guide dog organizations.

In late 2019, Rebecca returned to the East Coast and founded Love in the Lead Canine Training in Charlotte, North Carolina. What began as a professional dog-training company has grown into one of the Charlotte metropolitan area’s most respected and highly regarded training organizations. Love in the Lead provides comprehensive puppy and adult dog training, behavior modification, therapy dog training, and an international private service dog program.

Rebecca also offers advisory services to other professional trainers, training businesses, and non-profit service dog organizations. She is currently a Senior level advisor for Project 2 Heal, and works closely with their organization to help provide fully trained service dogs to local residents in need.

Outside of running her business, Rebecca enjoys traveling, training and developing young horses, and spending time with her friends, family, and personal dogs.

Emma Taitano

Emma Taitano

Title

Emma Taitano

Emma Taitano

Title


Bio coming soon. This is placeholder copy for Emma Taitano; replace it with the final biography.

Jessi L. Russell

Jessi L. Russell

Manager of Executive Affairs

Jessi L. Russell

Jessi L. Russell

Manager of Executive Affairs


Bio coming soon. This is placeholder copy for Jessi L. Russell; replace it with the final biography.

Emma Italiano

Emma Italiano

Director of Training

Emma Italiano

Emma Italiano

Director of Training


Bio coming soon. This is placeholder copy for Emma Italiano; replace it with the final biography.

Samantha Pressley

Samantha Pressley

Director of Service &
Puppy Programs

Samantha Pressley

Samantha Pressley

Director of Service & Puppy Programs


Bio coming soon. This is placeholder copy for Samantha Pressley; replace it with the final biography.

Clinton Valentine

Clinton Valentine

Dog Care & Facility Manager

Clinton Valentine

Clinton Valentine

Dog Care & Facility Manager


Bio coming soon. This is placeholder copy for Clinton Valentine; replace it with the final biography.

Morgan Lopez

Morgan Lopez

Director of Marketing

Morgan Lopez

Morgan Lopez

Director of Marketing


Bio coming soon. This is placeholder copy for Morgan Lopez; replace it with the final biography.

Staff

Hear Rebecca’s Story

Rebecca Golian, our founder and CEO, was invited as a guest on [podcast name] to talk about her background and experience in dog training. In this episode, she shares her path to becoming a trainer and how she built Love in the Lead.

Play video