Instinctive Obedience(TM)

Owner/Operator Dog Training Camps USA, NC K9 Training, Inc, and Hadnot Creek Kennel 

Developer of Instinctive Obedience Training Systems, Founder NIODTA

In 1966 when Donnie Hult was 5 years old, his father, Donald F Hult, Sr, Washington D.C.  Metro PD officer, brought home Satan, America’s first Explosive Detection Dog.  Donnie grew up with Satan and began training with Satan at age 12.  After serving in the USN from 1980-84 (Lead Petty Officer, Navigation Division, USS Andrew Jackson 619 ballistic missile submarine 1982-84), Donnie came home to help his father establish Canine Training, Inc. Canine Training, Inc. including Hadnot Creek Kennel.  Today the company is incorporated as NC K9 Training, Inc. in Swansboro, NC. 

During the 1980’s and 1990’s, Donnie served as a Carteret County Deputy Sheriff K9 Handler (1984-2008).  He also served with the Search & Rescue & Dive detail (1988-2008), the Presidential Detail Explosive Detection K9 Team (1988), and as a Civilian Consultant to the United States Marine Corps for working dog units (1984-1994). Additionally, from 1984-1998, Donnie trained K9 Units for multiple police and sheriff departments across 16 states.  

With an increasing number of families obtaining a family dog that would be an indoor pet, Donnie saw a need for the basic, down-to earth training of the average family pet. In 2001 he began spending his weekends in the Raleigh/Durham area helping families with difficult dogs that other area trainers could not handle. That same year, Donnie also began training other dog trainers.

The dog training market is flooded with trick/treat trainers, shock collar training, clicker training, complicated language, even medicine for behavior modification. Donnie’s Instinctive Obedience methods have raised the bar in the North Carolina dog training world. His techniques include positive reinforcement and praise, as well as treating dogs like dogs; Donnie does not use tricks or treats, etc. Donnie loves both people and dogs. He is passionate about sharing the simple techniques he has learned over the years. What Donnie does is simple to him and he has the gift of effectively conveying that simplicity. 

In 2007 Donnie founded K9 Solutions in the greater Raleigh area and served as both Co-Owner and Master Trainer, and was responsible for training all other trainers. Partnering with 13 former students 2012, Dog Training Camp, USA was established. DTC, USA was created with the mission to create a “cottage industry” in order to provide opportunities for entrepreneurial people, including the stay-at-home-mom or Wounded Warrior, to earn an income by training dogs in their own homes.   

From 2004 to the present-day, Donnie has trained thousands of personal pets and hundreds of people including Search and Rescue Teams, Service Dogs, and Veterinarian office staffs. Additionally, dozens of dog rescue organizations across North Carolina ask for Donnie’s assistance with difficult dogs and to assist in training foster handlers with basic dog handling skills. Donnie Hult has saved the lives of literally hundreds of dogs that would have been euthanized for behavior problems through  NC K9 Training, Inc and Hadnot Creek Kennel training services. 

Boy Scouts of America has played an integral part in Donnie’s life.  From Tiger Cub Scout to Boy Scout, and BSA’s National Leadership Training, Donnie has embraced the ideals of the organization as the guiding principles and themes of his life. In 2007 Donnie became his son’s Cub Scout Leader and he served as BSA Scoutmaster for 4 years.  The twelve points of Scouting—trustworthy, loyal, helpful friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent—are simply a way of life for Donnie. Donnie is always prepared and he does his Good Turn Daily.

Additionally, Donnie has been elected and continues to serve as the first Vice President (2012-present) of the White Oak River Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, the only IWLA Chapter in NC.  Serving with both IWLA and Scouts has given Donnie the privilege of mentoring several Eagle Scouts. As an avid -Outdoorsman, when Donnie isn’t training dogs and/or people, he is out in the woods training Boy Scouts or he is training pro-bono several service dogs each year.

Donnie’s experience over the years has allowed him to develop training techniques that give people the ability to utilize their dogs' instinctual behavior in an uncomplicated way using simple-to-follow methods. Donnie teaches people this through simple communication techniques that dogs understand. His combined experiences enable him to explain and demonstrate these techniques to large groups of people in any setting in an easy, relatable manner. Donnie loves what he does and you’ll always see him with a smile on his face. Donnie’s greatest satisfaction in life is making a difference. Give any dog, any person, or any group 30 minutes with Donnie and they will come away enriched, empowered, and maybe even inspired.