Christina Rustenhaven: Champ Assistance Dog Trainer
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
In the midst of puppy chaos, working with intention, respect, leadership, and trust Christina Rustenhaven remains calm. Because of Christina’s patience and kindness, clients, family, co-workers, and volunteers respond to her work in a positive way. Including the puppies and dogs she’s responsible for training.
She is a puppy whisperer changing lives one paw print at a time.
Listen to our StoryCorps interview here: Champ Assistance Dog Trainer: Christina Rustenhaven – StoryCorps Archive
Christina understands at a deep level that patience is key when working with animals. “We don’t speak the same language. We can communicate if we listen, watch and take cues from animals and yes, people, too.”
I met Christina when I attended a puppy raiser training class last December. I was in awe of how she managed and handled the puppies and the humans. The puppies adore her and so do the people. With that beautiful smile, she is kind while businesslike imparting the message, “we have work to do.”
At the next puppy raiser training, she asked me if I’d like puppy time. She didn’t have to ask twice, and I found myself on the floor with her and Zion, learning how to best rub those soft, silky ears. She kindly shows me how to interact with Zion emphasizing that a calm voice will help Zion remain calm, too. Christina has a great sense of humor as well. During training she suggests a strategy and I ask if that might work on people, too. She laughs and confirms it will!
Read more about one of Champ Assistance Dog trainings here: https://www.stlouisgirlstorytelling.com/post/the-puppy-project-a-morning-with-zion
As I observe Christina, I notice how she uses her voice and her body. She is receptive to questions as she encourages learning in all capacity. She is patient when I ask about using her voice and body language offering examples.
Over the course of years, Christina has made an impact on hundreds of dogs and puppies, people, and the community through her work as an Assistance Dog Trainer. She’s had a bumpy journey to her best life, open about how she began working with puppies and dogs in a Federal Prison Camp.
Christina began her work with puppies and dogs in the PAWS program at a Federal Prison Camp. “I got there and when we pulled up, I saw there were inmates with dogs walking around. I knew I had to have my GED to get into the dog program and I knew I could also earn college credit. Originally, I was working with a husbandry program that was working with the PAWS program. I worked hard and earned my GED and got into the puppy program.”
Offered a position when she was released in 2012, she then joined Champ in 2021 and continues to pay it forward. She volunteers at halfway houses and prisons, speaking about being proactive and making better choices, showing through her own life that there is a better way to live. She knows it took a solid support system for her to be successful which includes her mom and a close friend. She is very proud of the life she has built and wants to encourage others on their journey.
As an Assistance Dog Trainer, she wears many hats. She leads obedience classes, facilitates a twelve-week therapy dog class which allows teams of dogs and humans to visit hospice, nursing homes, schools, and adult day care programs. Once a month she visits the prison program as an instructor. Christina also oversees service and facility dog placements. This she knows is the goal for each puppy. To find his or her forever person and continue the work of assisting in many capacities. She says, “Placement is where my heart is.”
Christina feels she is here for a reason. And knows that magic works when puppies, dogs and humans are treated with respect and kindness. As well as puppy time!
“You never know what you are going to get when you come here-play sessions, work sessions…. it’s an amazing job!”
Her hard work is paying off as she continues to make the world a better place. As she says: It was totally the dogs.
Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! More puppies please!
Thank you to Christina Rustenhaven for her patience, her smiles and her encouraging my million questions.
For more St. Louis Girl Storytelling blogs and St. Louis Girl Podcasts and Interviews and to find out how I empower people to discover and use their voice through storytelling:
For more information: https://www.champdogs.org/
Photos by Jill Gray of Higher Focus Photography https://www.higherfocus.net/
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