Sergey Astafyev shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Sergey , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt true joy was when I was working with a very young French Bulldog puppy, just about three months old. For me, joy comes in those moments when I see a puppy experiencing the world in the right way for the very first time — discovering a toy, learning how to engage without becoming possessive, or calmly meeting another dog.
As the owner of Lone Star Dog Training and Care LLC, I’ve seen over and over that the foundation you give a dog in the first months of life shapes everything that follows. Watching a young puppy gain confidence, socialize properly, and learn how to share is not only a happy moment for the family — it’s also a moment that prevents future behavioral problems like food guarding, toy aggression, or anxiety.
That’s where my true joy lies: knowing that with the right guidance at two or three months of age, that puppy will grow into a balanced, happy dog, and the family will enjoy years of harmony. For me, it’s not just training — it’s building a relationship between humans and dogs that will last a lifetime.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sergey Astafyev, and I am the founder of Lone Star Dog Training and Care LLC in Austin, Texas. I specialize in professional dog training with a focus on French Bulldogs, but I also work with all breeds, ages, and temperaments.
What makes my brand unique is my philosophy: training is not just about obedience, it’s about building a strong foundation for a healthy relationship between people and their dogs. I don’t use e-collars or harsh methods. Instead, I focus on positive reinforcement, early socialization, and clear communication that helps owners truly connect with their dogs.
At Lone Star Dog Training and Care, i believe the best investment you can make for your dog — and your family — is to start training early, ideally from two to three months of age. This is when proper socialization, correct play with toys, and balanced routines create confident dogs and prevent future issues like anxiety, aggression, or resource guarding.
My mission is simple: to help families raise dogs that are not only well-behaved but also happy, balanced, and deeply connected to their humans.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
it happened years ago when I was working with a young puppy that was terrified of the simplest things — the sound of keys dropping, a car door closing, even a toy rolling across the floor. Instead of pushing him, I sat on the ground and just waited. I let him take his time, come closer, sniff, retreat, and try again. Slowly, I watched his fear turn into curiosity.
That experience changed me. It taught me that progress isn’t about force, but about patience, timing, and creating the right environment for growth. I began to see that the smallest, early experiences can completely change the way an animal — or a person — views the world. From that day on, I understood that my role wasn’t to control, but to guide, and that lesson has shaped not just my approach to dogs, but my approach to life and business.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When I first came to the United States, starting a business felt like stepping into the unknown. I had no network, no connections, and my English at that time was far from fluent. For someone building a business that depends on direct communication with clients, that was intimidating. Every meeting, every phone call felt like a test I wasn’t sure I could pass.
But I discovered something powerful: dogs became my bridge. They didn’t care about my accent or how I pronounced a word — they cared about my energy, my consistency, and the respect I showed them. The trust I built with dogs led to trust from their owners. Slowly, my fear turned into fuel. What once felt like a weakness became my strength, because I could show people that their dogs are capable of amazing things, that they are intelligent, and that they deserve the best guidance.
That journey shaped me. It taught me that pain or fear is not something to hide from, but something you can transform into purpose. Today, that experience is the backbone of my company, Lone Star Dog Training and Care LLC — showing families that with the right approach, their dogs can become the greatest companions and guides to happiness
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the dog training industry is that you can achieve lasting results instantly. Some people believe that with the right tool — for example, an electronic collar — they can transform a dog in a matter of days. The truth is more complicated.
I want to be clear: there are professional trainers who use e-collars responsibly and with deep knowledge of dog psychology. In certain situations, they can be a tool, and I respect that. But the problem is that many people, including inexperienced trainers, reach for quick solutions without truly understanding what they’re doing. They may suppress a behavior for the moment, but they don’t address the root cause. What looks like “success” can actually create deeper problems that resurface later.
The reality is that real training is a long-term process. It doesn’t end when the dog leaves the trainer — in fact, that’s when the most important part begins. Owners need to continue the daily structure, follow the professional’s recommendations, and commit to consistent work. That’s what creates lasting change.
Another illusion is the marketing side of the industry. You’ll often see promises of “miracle transformations” in two weeks, or videos where every dog looks like a genius. But training is not about showmanship — it’s about giving families tools they can use every single day.
And here is the truth that many don’t want to hear: professional training is always a serious investment. It takes time, and it takes money. If someone offers to “fix everything” in a week for a few hundred dollars, that’s not reality. Real results require patience, expertise, and commitment — from both the trainer and the family. That’s the honest foundation I stand by with Lone Star Dog Training and Care LLC.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Every time I work with a puppy that’s just two or three months old, I know the real results won’t be visible for years. In the moment, it looks small — teaching the puppy how to take a toy without becoming possessive, guiding their first interactions with other dogs, or helping them learn patience when food is around. But what I’m really doing is shaping the foundation of who that dog will be for the next decade.
I remember one French Bulldog puppy I trained who, at first, grabbed every toy like it was his last and growled if someone came near. His family was worried this would grow into aggression. We worked step by step: teaching him calm exchanges, rewarding him for sharing, showing him that letting go didn’t mean losing. Within a few weeks, the behavior looked better. But the real payoff won’t be today or tomorrow. It will be when that dog is five years old and can live peacefully in a family with children, or when he’s eight and still trusts his people around food or toys.
That’s the nature of my work. The payoff isn’t quick likes on a video or a perfect sit command in two sessions. It’s knowing that years from now, these dogs will still be balanced, confident, and loved — and their families will have a much easier, happier life together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lonestardog.club/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaej3mjkzqbog4bOgOU9v54jIMm73YssakbnNwzRfxzaklcAUkWq3yujAMOU4Q_aem_4IgOx7yy-nk3YNp3bUXWOg
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dog_training_austin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dogs.Care.Austin/?ref=_xav_ig_profile_page_web
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dog_training_atx
- Other: https://share.google/scjTzU4U908E5YnDq
