Certified Dog Behaviorist Los Angeles, California
Fun Paw Care Dog Training was founded by renowned Certified Los Angeles Dog Trainer, Behaviorist & Nutritionist, Russell Hartstein. A Los Angeles-based pet expert, ethologist, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), and Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) with over 30 years of applied behavior analysis (ABA), dog behavior, training, and pet care experience. When veterinarians, CEOs, and celebrities from entertainment, business, and politics think of dog training and behavior modification, they call expert dog trainer and behaviorist Russell Hartstein.
Russell’s work with the distinguished Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist, anthropologist, and United Nations Messenger of Peace to help homeless dogs with their training and behavior received accolades. Russell is the recipient of prestigious honors from Dr. Jane Goodall the city, mayor, and commissioners where he received a key to the city for his career in animal behavior and tireless help training, rescuing and advocating for pets.
Russell has been a proponent of not only fear/force-free positive reinforcement dog training for over 30 years but has successfully lobbied the unregulated dog training industry to rid dog “trainers” from using any punitive devices (vibration collars, choke chains, and prong collars) and as a former Board of Director for the city, Russell has been part of advocacy groups that have successfully made those archaic, aversive and punitive devices banned in jurisdictions.
As a vegan, Russell has not only pledged an ethical and moral oath, to the certification bodies he’s a Certified Member of but more importantly as a cornerstone of his life. Russell is a longtime vegan, animal advocate, environmentalist, and Buddhist who believes in compassion for all sentient beings and non-harm as a guiding principle.
Russell’s methodologies (like any competent Certified Dog Behaviorist and Trainer) use positive reinforcement dog training, combined with science/evidence-based learning for both the pet and parents.
Russell is a world-renowned authority on dog and cat behavior. His deep understanding of animal behavior has him featured in magazines, television, and newspapers from around the world. Russell is certified through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), Utah State University, Certified in Applied Behavior Analysis, Living & Learning With Animals, The Science & Technology of Behavior Change ~ Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, and was a Board Member of the Disability Access Committee (D.A.C.) for approximately 10 years! Appointed by two consecutive Mayors for his service dog training and community leadership expertise.
Russell is also a Certified Fear Free Professional Trainer, a Professional Member of the Pet Professionals Guild (PPG), a Member of the Animal Behavior Society (ABS), has been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Recognition, by former Mayor Philip Levine, the Commissioners & the City of Miami Beach, a Certified Member of the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals (AABP), and has been awarded Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator and STAR Puppy Evaluator by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Russell is an author for many dog, cat, and nonhuman animal publications such as PetMD, Chewy, etc. and regularly cited/interviewed/featured in and recognized as an industry leader by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Seattle Times, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, WebMD, LiveScience, WikiHow, Wikipedia, Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Business Insider, MarketWatch, Wired, LIVESTRONG, Daily Star, Business News Daily, Popsugar, Elite Daily, Martha Stewart, NYmag The Strategist, How Stuff Works, Slate, Parade, Discover, PetMD, Chewy, PetSmart, VetStreet, American Kennel Club (AKC), Animal Wellness Magazine, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, Realtor.com, Travel & Leisure, Apartment Therapy, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Lifewire, Mel, The Spruce, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Dogster, Catster, and countless other independent press, television, publications, journals, and countless other media outlets.
Russell was the general partner and founding principal of a Hedge Fund, who traded in his many financial accreditations, accolades, and licenses (Series 7, 55, & 63) to help families, dogs, and cats flourish together.
Getting back to his roots and passion for psychology, animal behavior, training, ethology, cognitive ethology, and optimal pet care where he finds an abundance of satisfaction and fulfillment in helping families, and their pets, and contributing to all sentient beings’ happiness.
Russ’s Dog Training Certifications, Professional Affiliations, And Achievements
- Binghamton University, B.A. With Honors
- Utah State University, Certified in Applied Behavior Analysis, Living & Learning With Animals, The Science & Technology of Behavior Change ~ Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
- Certified Dog Behavior Consultants (CDBC) – one of fewer than 200 worldwide – certified by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Fun Paw Care has established Los Angeles’s only exclusive members-only luxury dog boarding and dog daycare operated and run one-on-one by a CDBC.
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).
- Dr. Jane Goodall (renowned primatologist, anthropologist, and United Nations Messenger of Peace) chose to work with Russell to help with homeless dogs training, and behavior.
- Awarded prestigious honors from Dr. Jane Goodall and a Certificate of Recognition and key to the city, by the Mayor and Commissioners of Miami Beach.
- Board member of the Disability Access Committee (D.A.C.) appointed by two consecutive Mayors for dog and puppy training, behavior, service dog training and animal behavior leadership and expertise for approximately 10 years.
- Nationally recognized dog bite and aggression expert witness
- Certified Fear-Free Professional Trainer
- Professional member of the force-free, Pet Professional Guild (PPG)
- Professional member of the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals (AABP)
- Member of the Animal Behavior Society (ABS)
- Awarded Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Russ is an MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) practitioner and meditator studying with the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Preventative and Behavioral Medicine with Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., founder of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, & Society
- Certified in CPR & First Aid for dogs and cats
- Accredited A+ Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Giving Back
Russell is a proponent of animal rescue, defending the voiceless, and volunteers his time training, fostering, and mentoring disenfranchised people. Russell supports responsible animal rescue groups/shelters by fostering homeless pets and offering dog training in Los Angeles California to pets in need and donating a percentage of our sales back to the responsible shelters/rescue organization where a pet came from.
Russell is proud to lead a vegan, environmentally friendly, and conscious business. Russell was educated and received his B.A. from Binghamton University, graduated with honors and de-educated through intensive Buddhist Vipassana meditation practice and Bhakti Yoga. He has been honored to be the guardian of dozens of dogs, cats, and numerous other sentient beings in his life.
Russell is an experienced Vipassana Insight meditator and an MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) practitioner.
