The Leading Dog Trainer in Raleigh, NC

Welcome to the end of your search for an actual dog behavior expert here in Raleigh, not just another drone trainer telling you to walk around with a bag of treats. My name is Ryan Douglas. I'm a husband, father, proud pit bull owner and advocate, certified Master Dog Trainer, behaviorist and the sole trainer here at Born to Lead Dog Training.

My Journey 

My fascination with dog behavior began in the mid-1990s after being bitten several times as a child during encounters with neighborhood dogs and strays. Rather than becoming afraid of dogs, I became fascinated by one question: Why do dogs behave the way they do?

That curiosity turned into an obsession with understanding canine behavior. I spent years reading everything I could find about aggression, fear, dominance, communication and learning. By 1996 I was helping friends, family and local shelters work through serious behavior problems free of charge. As word spread, people began asking for my help and what started as a passion eventually became a profession.

In 2004 I founded Born to Lead Dog Training in Raleigh with one goal: to help owners understand their dogs, not just control them.

Education and Experience

After years of independent study and hands-on experience, I chose to further my education by attending Tarheel Canine in Sanford, North Carolina. There I completed months of intensive hands-on training while running their board-and-train kennel and learning from experienced professionals.

From 2006 through 2009 I also volunteered my time teaching free dog training classes at local dog parks, helping owners better understand dog behavior and dog park safety.

Formal education gave me an excellent foundation, but three decades of working with thousands of dogs and their owners has taught me the lessons that only real-world experience can provide.