Russell is amazing! His advice and the way he connected with our dog were both incredible. Looking forward to having him help with our new puppy in a few months! Russ makes all the difference and truly makes having a pet something wonderful. read more

Fun Paw Care - Pet Training Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I worked with Fun Paw Care to assist with training our new Labradoodle pup Kona, and Russ's help was invaluable. With Fun Paw Care's training advice and experience, we were able to quicky (relatively :)) get our pup housebroken, sleeping happily in his crate and keeping his paws on the ground (most of the time :)) . I highly recommend Fun Paw Care for all of your puppy training and related needs! read more

Fun Paw Care - Our Pup Kona - Pet Training Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We adopted our German Shepherd, Coco at just one year old from Best Friends Rescue in LA. She had been in shelters her entire life except once, where she was adopted and returned the next day. She is the sweetest dog, but has high anxiety and was constantly in flight mode. It is hard to get her to train as she is constantly observing her surroundings and is hard to calm her down. We rescued another German Shepherd from Russ that he had been training that needed a home and we immediately fell in love with Buddha and he has been a huge part of our family. Coco needed some help that I knew I could not recognize exactly how to deal with and knew Russ would be the answer. She did boot camp with Russ and she loved him from the moment she met him. Russ is very communicative during the entire process, makes videos and sends daily progress updates. He helped us understand the issues Coco had and how to help her grow into a confident, secure pup. If I ever need any help or have questions Russ is there immediately there to answer. Its been a bit over a month and I see a big change in Coco and know as long as we keep up with the knowledge and training Russ gave us, she will continue to grow in a positive manner. 10/10 read more

Amazing turn around time with answering questions and communicating! Very open with budget and this is so important because dog training can get expensive and many dogs need the opportunity to be trained well Can't wait to continue my dogs training journey. read more

Russ is always amazing - after working with our family's GSD, Russ is a part of the family. He helped our dog with so many behaviors and for giving us a great foundation for helping us give the best and well-trained life our pup deserves. Even if we had any minor questions come up, he always is available and gives us great advice. Thank you Russ!! read more

We have always struggled with managing separation anxiety, and anxiety in general with our dog Kronk. After a few years, it was time for us to seek professional help. Russ was terrific to work with, very responsive, and very detailed in his guidance and help. He genuinely cares about your dog and their wellbeing, and it shows because Kronk felt at ease going with Russ for a week long stay. He was able to work with Kronk to be better and less reactive while on walks, and less afraid when left alone. He also patiently worked with us afterwards to ensure we were able to put in place the training he started with Kronk. So far, we've noticed a material difference in Kronk's behavior, and we are feeling optimistic for the first time in a long time about our ability to help our dog thrive, thanks to Russ. read more

We adopted Max, who was a rescue, three months ago. While he was clearly a great dog, he had anxiety, which demonstrated itself in a crippling fear of the central air. He would shake and pant uncontrollably and would take water, treats or food. We also had some issues with his reactions to other dogs and people when on walks. We did one session with Russ, who is worth EVERY PENNY, and Max made massive strives within just a few days of applying Russ's instructions. Now, three weeks out, Max has no response to the central air, is getting soooo good on his walks, with little issues with other dogs -- even when they bark first -- and people. It would take too long to go into all the specifics, but Russ taught us better ways to communicate to Max and ways to address and relieve his anxiety. We changed everything from the treats, the harness, the leash and more. The results were immediate and amazing. We still have a lot more training to do, but could not be happier because Max is happier. Bottom line: Russ is the best and, I can't emphasize this enough: he loves what he does and is excellent at it. Our dog trusted him immediately and so did we. Russ also excels at customer service - he responds quickly, is incredibly thoughtful in his follow ups, and is, quite simply, a pure delight to do business with. He was a bit of a stretch for our budget, but we have absolutely no regrets going with him. Again: he's the best! read more

Fun Paw Care - Max being happy after meeting Russ. - Pet Training Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I can't speak enough of how happy I am about the results of using Fun Paw Care. From beginning to end Russ was great in setting up expectations and explaining all the processes that he undertakes in training a pup. Please be aware that it's not a fix it all thing, that's unrealistic. But he's amazing in assessing each pup by breed, personality, traits and working with those specifics to each dog. Training a dog is a life long task, and he was also amazing in setting me up for success once the training was done. During the training process I received daily emails with progress and report on status along with photos and videos. I never felt detached from my pup cause it was obvious that he was in great hands. Wish I would have gone to him sooner. read more

Fun Paw Care - Out training - Pet Training Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I am so lucky to have found the clarity and the perspective that Russ (the work, the references, the gear and the writing) has brought to the human/dog relationship. I know it's just the tip of the iceberg and there will be up's and downs, but the dog and I have had such a magical week with the new collar and starting to put small pieces of the practice into action. I already feel the energy shift from the pup -- a 6-year old reactive dog who has previously had lots of "training". And now every time I put the collar on, I'm full of joy and the pup is too. And I wish the pup could talk to me so I could hear what he thinks. I will be forever grateful to Russ for this really powerful work. read more

Fun Paw Care - happy camper - Pet Training Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Puppy Boot Camp with Russ was the way to go for me and Beau. I got a new family member on January 11, 2021, an 8 week old puppy. He was a 4# bundle of joy, excitement, and surprises. I read a bit about having a puppy but nothing I read prepared me to be good at training my new little guy. After a week or two of Beau training me on whatever behavior he fancied I decided I needed a professional to get us started on the right paw. I found Russ Hartstein and Fun Paw Care, from the Los Angeles area. His credentials are stellar, and so are his reviews. Russ first came to my place to meet Beau and me. Within that first session he had Beau responding to his hand commands. I saw that I had a great deal to learn. I enrolled Beau in the Fun Paw Care puppy boot camp immersion program. Daily behavior reports, wonderful photographs, and video training sessions were delivered to me so I could watch and learn from Beau's camp life experience. Beau was very happy with his time at camp, the field trips, playing in the snow, snuggled in by the fireplace and learning to be secure and well behaved. A great and enriching experience. Beau came home yesterday. Did he get taller while he was away? He and I are practicing the lessons Russ taught us. Basically, I am the one who learned a lot and Beau appreciates that!! As Beau gets older we will seek a follow-up fun and enriching boot camp to round out his behavior and development. read more

Fun Paw Care - Beau on a field trip with Russ @funpawcare - Pet Training Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Russ built an incredible foundation in my puppy's training in just one week! We will be attending another Boot Camp in the future. Thanks, Russ! read more

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Russ is the real deal. He exudes a calm compassionate energy. I'm grateful we found him in Los Angeles and you will be too. He has extensive knowledge in service dog training and is an expert behaviorist. He really understands animal body language and the cues we give them - how to positively reinforce good behaviors and diffuse unwanted reactive ones. During our online session, he really spends time to connect and teach both human and dog. I learned that our last trainer had us in a less than optimal environment for training. (Light bulb moment) Russ truly cares and is very communicative. He has a vast knowledge of canine wellness and understands the importance of nutraceuticals, gut health, food quality. Russ is a holistic trainer and am grateful he is with us on this journey. Gratitude & Hugs _/|\_ read more

I adopted 1.5 yr old Kirby, who was rescue, a few months ago. Being a farm boy rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri, he was having a tough time adjusting to city living. He had great anxiety especially to outside stimuli such as: cars, sirens, horns, helicopters, alarms. All the gems of city life! He would shake, whine and tug to go home once he's outside of his comfort zone - which was basically 10 steps outside the front door. No amount of treats could distract him. This obviously made potty training extra hard. In need of help, I reached out to Russ at FunPawCare. Russ is an amazing trainer. He's calm, compassionate and highly knowledgable in animal behavior. Kirby spent two weeks with Russ alone at his training camp. Russ worked with Kirby to desensitize/counter condition his fear of the great outdoors as well as potty training. From the daily reports and videos I received, it was evident how much Kirby was learning and enjoying his time with Russ. During the two weeks, Russ used a positive reinforcement approach to gradually expose Kirby to outdoor stimuli, going potty and even taught him a few basic commands (sit, recall etc.). More importantly, Russ provided me with a wealth of information including nutrients/supplements, vet behaviorists, equipment and strategies that could help relieve Kirby of his anxiety. He was always available to answer my questions and to give advice. When Kirby returned from camp, Russ toured my home and offered suggestions to how I could setup an environment that would set up Kirby for success. Talk about client service! Bottom line: Russ gave me the confidence that I can manage Kirby's anxiety and that he will overcome his fear and ultimately thrive and enjoy city living. Thank you Russ. read more

I was at the breaking point with my "disobedient" black lab puppy until I had the good fortune of meeting Russell during a morning jog. I had tried, unsuccessfully, a number of techniques suggested via an exhaustive Google dog training search to stop Jackson from nipping (albeit, playfully), jumping on people, and getting overly stimulated, but none had worked. I had worked with two trainers, but their efforts were fruitless. For starters, Russell pointed out a number of flaws related to my body language, gait, and technique as it related to my handling of Jackson. I made changes as per his advice, and the impact was immediately noticeable. I also realized that I was letting my dog walk me, rather than vice versa. Russell was able to swiftly help with that as well. His understanding and practice of dog training and behavioral therapy are extremely impressive, and his genuine love of animals is reflected in his approach to training. Although we still have work to do, the difference in Jackson's behavior since Russell started working with him has exceeded all expectations. He also helped me integrate my new adopted cat into my home with Jackson as well. I am truly grateful!! read more

Fun Paw Care - My cat watching his new bff, Jackson! - Pet Training Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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When Copley, our 15 month old Boston Terrier started showing increased anxiety and aggression to strangers we knew it had to be dealt with, but the question was how.  There are so many "experts" out there and picking someone to help us was as worrisome as Copley's behavior issues themselves.  At best we would be throwing away money and at worst we could be hurting our pup if we chose the wrong one.  After much deliberation and research we chose to send Copley to bootcamp with Russ and we couldn't be happier. Russ is an incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and gifted dog trainer and behaviorist.  When Copley first met Russ he was growling, by the end of our walk together Copley was happily taking treats from Russ,  and by that night we received photos of Copley resting on Russ's lap.  Russ gave us daily reports with text, photos, and videos while Copley was with him. Although we missed him during his week away we felt reassured knowing that he was in the best hands. Since Copley's been home he is less stressed and generally happier.  Russ works entirely with positive reinforcement so this isn't the kind of thing where Copley has been broken down and is now a perfectly robotic dog. He is still the same loving goof-ball...and he still has his triggers but we are more aware of them now and have the tools to help him overcome them. If you are looking and are in the Los Angeles area (or beyond) I recommend Russ and Fun Paw Care 1000%. He truly is the BEST! read more

Russell is an amazing, caring, thoughtful, and vital resource for all of your pet training needs. He has helped my wife and I become confident in our adventure of being first-time puppy owners. He has been patient with us through the entire process and we are very grateful for his wealth of knowledge that he seamlessly integrated into our puppies specific needs. Not only has he been wonderful in person but he is also extremely thorough with following up and reviewing important key concepts and notes through email. He responds very promptly and has a wonderful approach with all of his techniques. Russell has also been extremely helpful in helping our 3 year old cat become accustomed to our new puppy. With a detailed plan beginning from before their introduction all the way through being present for their first interaction, we are more confident that not only will our pets become comfortable with each other but also have a healthy relationship with each other and us. Thank you to Russell and the Fun Paw Care team! We can't wait to continue working with you! read more

More than just doggie day care in LA- Russell came to see me every day while my parents were out of town. My best friend just passed and I was sad- but Russell played ball with me, took me on walks to the park and gave me lots of love- by the time my parents got home, I was a happy and playful boy again. The combination of love and training helped us all get over an otherwise difficult time. My mom says she recommends fun paw care for all your dog training, pet sitting and any other pet related issues you want to discuss- you'll never find a more caring or helpful trainer in all of Los Angeles! read more

Fun Paw Care - Pet Training Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I reached out to Russ to get more information on his training and support of dogs and their families. He is so quick to respond and so gracious in his communication. Thank you, Russ, for all the conversations as I explore my options with my new puppy. I am so grateful! read more

Russell has been an AWESOME trainer for my puppy! He's thorough, he has genuine love for the pets he works with and most importantly he knows his stuff! He was so easy to work with, super informative, and really made a difference in my pup's behavior. It's by no means a magic fix, but he gives you the tools to help you understand your dog's behavior and how to modify it. He's just an all around great guy, excellent trainer, and I would recommend him to anyone who's looking for personal one-on-one help with their dog. And not only did I love him, but so did my pup. Russell and Fun Paw Care are top-notch. read more

Russ is a wonderful trainer and so knowledgeable about a holistic approach to dog behavior and well being. He helped our dog Stevie so much and she loveddddd her training camps with him. read more

Ultimately, all you need to know, Russell is the real deal. Our 11 month old Mini Australian Shephard puppy, Ollie, has exhibited fear and anxiety since the moment we got him, and over time these problems developed into aggressive behaviors. He constantly exhibits fear of men, uncontrollable barking indoors & outdoors, leash aggression, random aggression towards dogs, and separation anxiety. We tried our best to seek out the best positive reinforcement training programs with reputable companies & certified trainers, but nothing seemed to really stick or work in the long term. We came to the realization that we were wasting money on training sessions, and we needed a professional behaviorist to help us. Luckily, we came across Russell Hartstein at Fun Paw Care, and we were so excited & impressed to see all of his qualifications and success stories. We are so happy to report that we are now on the path towards becoming another one of Russell's success stories! During our 2 hour session, Russ provided an incredible amount of useful information in such a short amount of time. He even followed up with a detailed 14 page report with helpful tips and resources geared specifically towards Ollie. He is very responsive, truly cares, and wants to help you create a happier, healthier dog. There is so much convoluted information out there from other trainers & on Google, YouTube, etc, but Russell goes straight to the root of the issues and helped us clearly understand what, why, & how we can do better. There is such a massive difference between Russell & the other trainers we've come across - he really understands everything there is to know about dogs, their behavior, and why/how they react to certain stimulating environments. The details we learned from him are truly unmatched! Russell has techniques and exercises that we haven't found anywhere else, and because of him, we are now better equipped to battle Ollie's fears & anxiety. We now have the tools to be better dog parents, and we feel tremendously more confident in managing Ollie's behavior & identifying things that may trigger him before he's triggered. It's only been a week since we've incorporated our newfound knowledge and we've already noticed improvements with our little Ollie. His barking has subsided tremendously, he walks much better on a leash, and he's focusing more on us when he's faced with something that makes him uncomfortable. We still have a lot of work to do, but we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel thanks to Russ! Don't waste your time or money on other resources like we did - go straight to Russell! read more

Working with Russell has been an absolute pleasure! Not only has he helped with my 8 month old boxer pup Dobby with his dog training and behavioral issue (specifically separation anxiety), but his expertise has allowed me to grow as a dog trainer. While I had worked with Dobby myself on his separation anxiety as a young pup, we recently had a change of residence that triggered severe separation anxiety. Given my time constraints, urgency of the situation, and need for expert advice, I decided to work with Russell and was not disappointed. Russell was able to quickly recognize Dobby's signs of anxiety and effectively implement a behavior modification plan. Dobby took to his sessions well especially because of Russell's calm and gentle energy. It is easily recognized that this is his passion. Within just a few weeks of behavior modification, I noticed a drastic difference in Dobby's behavior and his overall confidence level. I am happy to say Dobby and I are living harmoniously together without the disruptions of separation anxiety. Above all, he is no longer afraid of being alone and loves his new neighborhood! What I've learned from Russell has been invaluable and I can't wait to help other dogs myself. Thank you! read more

I'm so grateful to have found Fun Paw Care in Los Angeles. I was looking for a behaviorist to work with my dog who has leash reactivity and separation anxiety. I was fortunate to find Fun Paw Care and expert trainer and behaviorist Russ. Russ is a joy to work with because he's kind, communicative, and put both me and my dog at ease immediately. Russ showed me what is possible for my dog, namely to be out in the world and feel calm, confident, and secure. I cannot recommend Fun Paw Care and Russ highly enough! Thank you. read more

We've only done one session so far but I can tell already that Russell is a terrific dog trainer. His dog skills are extensive. He treated our dog with affection, kindness, and respect. He also treated *us* with respect for our intelligence and our prior dog experience. His positive reinforcement and behavior modification approach makes perfect sense and we saw its impact on our dog right away. He also knows how to use positive reinforcement with people, something many dog trainers lack. This latter is super important because a good dog trainer trains guardians as much as if not more than training dogs. We've been through a lot of dog trainers over our years of dog guardianship and he's the best we've come across yet. Look no further and seek out his services for your pet. read more

Russ is the man! Wonderful ability to explain perfectly what we as dog parents need to understand to raise our puppy. Isla our 4 month old instantly connected with him and Russ showed us how a clam and understanding temperament was vital to Islas learning. I can't recommend Russ enough if you are looking for help with a new pet addition. THANKS AGAIN RUSS. read more

Russ was incredible with our very sweet, but insecure, Komondor. We kept our sweet six-year-old large breed with Russ for just over a week, for a boarding "boot-camp" training type of situation. I was surprised (pleasantly) to receive weekly reports and photos of our dog from Russ, who shared his thoughts and training tips, which all were clearly specific to our dog. Russ, in one week, was able to identify our dog's good and bad habits - it was remarkable because Russ clearly engaged with our dog enough to get to the core of his issues and explain to us potential causes and suggested tips for coping with certain less-wanted behaviors. Russ is a wonderful behaviorist in Los Angeles - we are so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with him, and our dog is very lucky to have had the chance to stay at Russ's five-star resort-ranch for dogs. read more

What a joy. My mini Aussie and I fell for Russ from minute one. He came to us with his heart and arms wide open, and his head full of knowledge. He is gentle with his approach and made the daunting process of service training feel manageable and fun. He clearly understands the relationship between a human and their dog and wants training to serve that relationship so that it can grow and flourish. I am very excited to keep working with Russ, and know that the future with my dog will be brighter as a direct result of his help. Five stars, highly recommend! read more

If you have a behavioral issue with your dog that just isn't getting better, don't hesitate to call Russell! I wish we found him years ago. He is by far the most experienced and knowledgeable trainer we have found, and we have tried many different trainers, behaviorists, medications and boarding options over the last 6 years of owning our energetic lab pitt bull mix to help with his reactivity problems (mainly lunging and snapping at people who get too close to his face/space uninvited). This naturally had become a problem at traditional boarding places where they have rotating staff with little training knowledge, or random people who perform skin checks daily, etc, as well as a problem around our house. We were at the point where we didn't think any stranger would be able to safely walk Pepper and control him around other people, let alone look at his teeth, skin and touch his paws. These especially had become intense triggers from the repeated vet visits due to his problematic dental condition and skin allergies when we rescued him. Russ was able to have him unmuzzled, getting kisses from him, and even gently massaging his gums and paws on the first day with him! (Of course after he built up some trust and performed conditioning and desensitizing exercises throughout the day, which he taught us the process as well.) We boarded Pepper for 7 days with Russ and he sent us daily pictures, videos and reports of how he built up trust, created a comfortable environment, slowly desensitized him, and provided us with a lot of documentation for us to learn why and how the techniques work. Overall we are so encouraged that Pepper was able to bond with Russ so quickly and I would trust him 100% in any situation, with any dog. When he came back to the house for a follow up session, Pepper jumped up and licked his face (which is rare), he was so excited to see Russell again. To have safe and effective training, feel more in control of our dog, and to see him HAPPY throughout the process is priceless to us! Thank you Russ! read more

Our experience working with Russ had been great so far! He really knowledgeable and is very up to date with his training methods. We have been getting to the root of our issues with our puppy Demi right from the start. Russ focuses on positive reinforcement which is the only way for us. read more

Russell is amazing. I wish I found him earlier but I will never go to any other dog trainer in Los Angeles. He really took the time to learn about my dog, Lucy, and his philosophy on how to treat dogs is eye opening and very effective. His holistic approach is refreshing and it is how all dog training should be done. My dog's issues were psychological and were missed by my vet who prescribed her with pain medicine. Russell is an excellent dog behavioralist and I look forward to learning more from him! read more

Working with Russel was an absolute pleasure! My boyfriend and I began to train our dog as my service dog a few months ago with the intention of working with a trainer when we had exhausted most of the internet resources . So we first met Russel with quite a few specific questions that we couldn't find reliable answers to. Russel answered all of our questions and since we have began to implement his suggestions, training has become so much fun and Frida is already making much more progress. Working with Russel helped us get un-stuck in our training process and has taken away a ton of the stress. It was very clear that Russel is not only quite talented as a trainer, but truly cares about the well-being of the animals he is working with. Additionally, Russel was incredibly kind and Frida immediately loved him and responded eagerly to him. We only had one session but are looking forward to continuing to work with Russel in the months to come! read more

Russell is the best! I met him a few months ago and have seen how much of an impact his techniques have made on my friend's dog, Dog - its incredible! During training sessions, he shows us how to encourage good behavior from Dog such as not pulling on the leash, looking for permission before crossing a street or moving ahead, and slowing/speeding up his pace to match ours. Also, Dog used to get really excited when we would come home and he taught us techniques to calm him down, including modifying our own behavior and tone to reward calmness and not jumping. It's been great and has made the time we spend with Dog even more enjoyable (which I didn't even think would be possible! :)) If you are looking to get your dog trained, I highly recommend Russell. He's a wonderful pet behaviorist and his love and compassion for your dog will inspire you to be the best dog parent you can be! read more

We sent our 2 year old rescue dog, Maia, to Russell Harstein's "Fun Paw Care Boot Camp" for two weeks due to her fear-aggression towards strangers and heightened sense of fear/anxiety in general. Russ' approach and training methods were based on fear/force-free positive reinforcement, which was perfect for our fearful pup. While Maia typically demonstrates extreme fear aggression towards men in particular, Russell's caring and gentle demeanor put her at ease and allowed her to open up rather quickly. Russ sent us many adorable pictures and videos of her every day as well as detailed daily reports about her training and progress. In these reports and videos, we learned different techniques to help lessen her anxiety/fear around certain triggers. Russ made it very easy for us to understand her mindset and why she exhibits the behaviors she does, and how to correct/prevent certain behaviors. Maia really seemed to enjoy learning these new skills and always looked like she was having fun at the beautiful ranch! It was a pleasure working with such an experienced, knowledgeable, caring and exceptional dog trainer/behaviorist. Russ, we deeply appreciate everything you have done for Maia and for us!!! read more

I don't post reviews often but I'm a crazy dog mom so I couldn't resist talking about my experience with Fun Paw Care. I had a problem with something I was working on with my Great Dane Stella and their knowledge of dog training coupled with their patience and professionalism compelled me to let everyone know. I recommend them 100%. read more

We called Russ when our sweet and enormous German Shepherd puppy was destroying our home, growing physical with our family, and starting to show signs of fear when he encountered other people and dogs. We didn't want to go the traditional path of German style obedience training with spiked or choke collars. We did our research and were lucky to find Russ, who from our first meeting showed such caring and compassion for our pup, Koa, as well as for our family. Russ recommended one on one training. Koa lived and trained one on one with Russ for over four weeks while we were on vacation. During that time, Russ gave us incredibly in depth written, photo, and video reports updating Koa's progress and provided advice for ongoing training issues. By the time our Koa returned, he was responding immediately to commands. His demeanor had changed in that he was eager to continue to work on his training daily with us. With time and some tweaks, and patience, our growing 9.5 month pup is now settled into a healthy routine that works for everyone. Russ has also worked with our six year old son and Koa to help build trust and set limits. Altogether, we feel so lucky to have found Russ when Koa and our family needed help. Russ helped us integrate a willful and loving giant into our home and we are forever grateful for his help. read more