Warren Eckstein is a Jewish-American "pet psychologist", animal trainer, animal rights activist, humorist, author, director of the Hugs & Kisses Animal Fund, and broadcaster in the United States who hosts The Pet Show, a syndicated radio talk show.
Born and raised in The Bronx, Eckstein claims to have been around animals almost his entire life. He has said on multiple occasions that his first pet was a German Shepherd Dog, which is a breed Eckstein describes as being incredibly bright. Some time after serving in the United States Air Force Eckstein began a career in pet training, an education he mostly acquired by traveling throughout Europe and Asia. His profession quickly gave him international fame, and, eventually, an interrnational radio show, which he broadcasts out of both California & New York every Saturday. According to his website www.thepetshow.com he has trained and worked with more than 40,000 pets, including those of celebrities such as Rodney Dangerfield, David Letterman and former Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro, among others.
Eckstein created the Hugs & Kisses Animal Fund, a foundation which he dedicated to the memory of his first wife Fay, who succumbed to melanoma in 1990 at the age of 36. The foundation's mission, as his website describes, "is to fund hundreds of small animal organizations across the United States, and to be a resource where other help is unavailable."
Eckstein currently lives in Santa Monica CA with his wife Denise and his two dogs: Cisko Kidd (Chihuahua) and Skylar Blue (German Shepherd).
Eckstein is an animal rights activist. On his show he argues vehemently against physical violence on pets, especially as a means of correcting behavior. For unacceptable pet behavior he advocates what he calls "Hugs & Kisses," positive reinforcement; for dogs there are many situations where he advocates the use of an air horn, which is a device that emits a galling, but harmless sound that canines will want to avoid hearing. The device is used in certain situation when the dog(s) are exhibiting a behavior that their owner(s) deem unacceptable. He has lobbied on his show (and through other mediums) that those found guilty of extreme animal cruelty, such as slowly killing a pet, or pet mutilation, should serve time in a correctional facility. Typically, his radio show consists of him answering caller questions on correcting their pet's behavior. Eckstein endearingly tells his listeners about a reverse animal training of sorts, meaning, as his show's second's hour opening states in his theme song: "Maybe it's YOU who needs to be trained instead."
Eckstein is usually critical of humans who practice dominance with their dogs. He argues that the practice is usually taught incorrectly, and as a result a dog will interpret dominance as an acceptable behavior and will therefore try to dominate other humans and animals. Also, Eckstein is vehemently against onychectomy, arguing that it is animal abuse.
As mentioned above, Eckstein believes that all pet behavioral problems can be corrected with a positive and healthy approach (with the exception of problems that are the causation of a serious/terminal illness). He also uses his show to voice his criticisms and praises of laws that relate to animals and pets. An example of this would be when California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (in early November 2008) announced that he would like a state tax to be applied to veterinary services; this triggered Eckstein's activism immensely. He has since then used much of his radio time voicing his criticism and asking his audience for their opinions on the issue. He does not advocate letting cats be outdoors unless they are wearing a harness and leash, for he believes the outdoors are dangerous for certain domestic animals. The humorist aspects of his shows are usually in the form of him mulling over issues such as what the political affiliation of a pet might be, and almost all things associated with pet love.
Eckstein believes that pets go to Heaven and will eventually reunite with their owners. When discussing the death of a pet he appears to be fond of the term "Rainbow Bridge," which is a poetic term for animal Heaven.
1984: Pet Aerobics: How to Solve Your Pets Behavior Problems, Improve Their Health, Lengthen Their Lives and Have Fun Doing It (with Fay Eckstein) Holt, Rinehart and Winston (ASIN: B001I4QRZO)
1985: Understanding Your Pet: The Eckstein Method of Pet Therapy and Behavior Training (with Fay Eckstein) Henry Holt & Company (ISBN 978-0030006999)
1990: How to Get Your Cat to Do What You Want (With Fay Eckstein) Villard (ISBN 978-0394579078)
1990: The Illustrated Cat's Life Fawcett Publications (ISBN 978-0449904664)
1992: How to Get Your Dog to Do What You Want Ballantine Books (ISBN 978-0449909560)
1996: Understanding Your Pet Random House (ASIN: B001LNK0A0)
1995: The Illustrated Dog's Life Fawcett Publications (ISBN 978-0449906699)
1998: Memoirs of a Pet Therapist: A Tail All Book (with Denise Madden), Fawcett Publications (ISBN 978-0449911235)
