Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT

Certified Dog & Cat Trainer

Russell Hartstein is a Certified Dog & Cat Trainer and CEO of Fun Paw Care in Los Angeles, California. With over 25 years of training, nutrition, boarding, and daycare experience, Russell and the Fun Paw Care team provide the most current, humane, and science-based methods utilizing force-free positive reinforcement to train and care for pets. Russell is an author for PetMD, Chewy, and Dogster. He is also regularly cited in publications from various organizations, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). He is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and a Certified Pet Dog Trainer. He received his bachelor’s degree in History and Economics from Binghamton University.

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Forum Comments (2)

Puppy Potty Training

If you want to help train your puppy to go potty on walks, take him outside then set him down on the surface where you want him to pee or poo. Say the command you want associated with the behavior when he goes in your yard. Keep a treat in your pocket that you can give him when he actually goes potty.

When you take him on walks, try using the cue that you've trained your dog with to encourage him to go potty while he has his leash and harness on. Immediately reward the behavior with a treat to encourage your dog even more.

Why does my cat rub against me then become hyper/mad?

Cats are unique individuals and can be hyper-stimulated by petting, rubbing on you or other stimuli. Many times a cat is overstimulated or conflicted when petting/rubbing continues for a certain duration/frequency and/or with a certain pressure, or when petting on a sensitive part of their body.

Sometimes a cat also has trouble modulating how much stimulus they prefer and will rub against their person, overdo it, and become overstimulated. Then, they might offer a behavior to help them cope with that overstimulation (hence they can start biting, become overly energetic, etc.)

Q&A Comments (23)

How do I stop my cat from drinking my Christmas tree water?

Put some netting or mesh over it! It also helps to provide them with different types of devices that provide water in different ways. Sometimes, the noise coming out of these devices can be aversive to cats, but just keeping still water around your home should hopefully deter them from drinking the Christmas tree water.

How do you give an unwilling cat medicine?

There are different tricks you can use to get a cat to ingest a pill, like using a syringe that goes to the back of their throat or washing the medication down with someone of their favorite treats (like a soft or liquid food). If your cat is very food-motivated, take the liquid form of the medication and mix it together with some liquid treats. You can also use oyster oil, fish oil, or sardine paste. There are a host of different high-value foods out there—it just depends on what your cat loves the most.

Is it hard to teach a cat fetch?

It depends on the cat, as not every cat is going to want to fetch. Ultimately, focus on training and rewarding the cat in gradual steps. For instance, you could tell them to "fetch" after they drop the toy into your hand and then reward them with a high-value treat. Then, you could eventually toss the toy; as soon as they pick it up, mark their progress and give them a treat. Continue to reward your cat as they come closer and closer to you with the item in their mouth. Of course, when they come back to you, the dropping into your hand was already put on cue at the very beginning.

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Co-authored Articles (15)

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Understanding Whale Eye in Dogs: What It Means & What To Do

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Does Catnip Work on Dogs? Learn Its Effects on Canines

Plus, how to safely give catnip to your pup for the most benefitsCats have a great time going slightly bonkers when they’re given catnip, but if you have a dog, you might be wondering if they can also enjoy catnip (and...

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Stop a Cat from Urinating in the House

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Many cats get excited at feeding time and can end up overeating or eating too fast. Your cat may vomit after eating too fast, develop digestion issues, or become overweight due to eating too fast and overeating. Cat owne...

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Get Your Cat to Tolerate a Bath

Cats aren't big fans of getting wet, and giving a cat a bath can result in an angry feline and lots of cat scratches. In fact, cats can groom themselves continuously throughout the day and don't need to be bathed every w...

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Teach Your Dog to Herd

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Deter Coyotes

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