Meet Our Staff
Behavior and Training
Amanda E. Florsheim,
DVM, Fear Free Certified
Dallas native Dr. Amanda Florsheim is a veterinarian whose practice is limited to behavior and acupuncture. She is the only veterinarian in the Dallas-Forth Worth area whose practice focuses exclusively on behavior medicine. Dr. Florsheim is the founder and owner of Veterinary Behavior Solutions and The Training Studio in Carrollton.
Dr. Florsheim was born and raised in Dallas. After graduating with honors from Trinity University and receiving a fellowship to attend Emory University for a Ph.D. in history, she decided instead to pursue her true passion – working with animals and their people. She returned to Texas where she attended Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine. While at A&M, she was selected as a Geraldine R. Dodge Frontiers of Veterinary Medicine Fellow, a national fellowship awarded to select students from across the country pursuing research while in school. In 2002 she was awarded the Skipper Stephens Award for her work to promote a better understanding of the human-animal bond.
She graduated in 2002 and returned to Dallas, seeing both behavior and general medicine cases. In 2008, she incorporated acupuncture into her practice after attending the intensive International Veterinary Acupuncture Society training program. In 2010, she left general practice to open Veterinary Behavior Solutions and The Training Studio, seeing behavior and acupuncture cases full time.
In her spare time, Dr. Florsheim is an avid reader, loves to cook, swim , kayak and kickbox. She also loves to spend time with her dogs Sebastian (pictured) and Cubby, and a gaggle of cats including Hobbes, a sizable orange tabby who is clicker trained and often featured in the clinic's training videos.
Jess Jones, LVT, Fear Free Certified
After a consultation with Dr. Florsheim, Jess is the primary resource for clients to relay questions, updates, and concerns about their pets. She reaches out to provide post-appointment follow-up then will remain as an ally through the journey of resolving behavior issues. Jessica lives for the breakthrough moments when people rebuild and strengthen the connection with their pets to realize their dream of a healthy, happy relationship with their animals.
Jess was born and raised in Garland,Tx. She graduated with honors from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences. After working with a variety of animal species, Jess developed an interest in animal behavior. She hopes to become a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Behavior and is currently in school in a Veterinary Technology licensing program.
In her free time, Jess enjoys practicing martial arts, watching movies, sports, and lounging around with her Lab-Whippet mix Esmeralda (“Ezzy”).
Cathy Painter-Rigdon,
LVT, CBCC-KA, Fear Free Certified
The Training Studio Director, Cathy Painter, is a licensed veterinary technician, a certified behavior consultant (CBCC-KA) and Fear Free Elite Certified. She is an APDT Professional Member and APDT Education Committee Volunteer.
Cathy started her career as a veterinary technician for the Dallas Zoo in 1996. In 2009, she was promoted to hospital manager. Working at the zoo channeled Cathy’s interest in animal behavior: While collecting a blood sample from a rhinoceros that stood calmly along a fence, Cathy had an “a-ha” moment. Why are dogs, cats and horses so commonly terrified during veterinary exams, when rhinos, tigers and elephants are routinely examined voluntarily? The answer, of course, is that the zoo uses positive reinforcement. By contrast, too often “force” is an accepted practice with our domestic friends.
At Veterinary Behavior Solutions and The Training Studio, Cathy is helping to close this gap and improve life for our furred, feathered and scaly pets.
Sarah Owen, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA
Sarah Owen is a certified canine behavior consultant and trainer (CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA). She began her professional career in dog training as a service dog trainer before moving to Seattle, where she taught at the training school founded by the creator of Behavior Adjustment Training (B.A.T.) for fearful, frustrated and aggressive dogs. She also honed her puppy play and socialization skills in Seattle. Her passion is helping people identify the motivating and maintaining contingencies in their dogs’ behavior and working together to implement compassionate, effective behavior-change plans. Sarah is an enthusiastic lifelong learner and is committed to continuing education. In 2021, she was accepted into the master of science program in behavior analysis at the University of North Texas. She hopes to complete her thesis research on resource guarding in dogs.
Susan Geib, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified Trainer
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Susan started her dog training career conducting group classes and private lessons through a major pet care chain for three years. In 1999, she ventured out on her own to open Dog’s Play and Training Center. For seventeen years, she cared for thousands of dogs at her facility which offered training, daycare, boarding and grooming. In 2016, she sold Dog’s Play and opened Just Rewards Dog Training, allowing her the opportunity to concentrate solely on helping dogs and their owners with their training needs.
Susan is a certified professional dog trainer and a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. She continues to update her education by attending training seminars by leaders in the industry.
Cheryl Woolnough, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified Trainer
Cheryl Woolnough CPDT-KSA, Certified Fear Free Trainer, is a certified professional dog trainer with fifteen years of experience. She is a force free, positive trainer and believes that training is about communication and respect. She teaches a variety of group classes as well as in home consultations and private lessons. She presents webinars highlighting some of her favorite subjects such as enrichment and nutrition. Cheryl spent seven years training service dogs for disabled veterans and other individuals with special needs. She comes from a teaching background; having taught both elementary and high school for twenty years. She has a passion for education; attending numerous seminars, conferences and workshops each year to keep abreast of current, science-based training methods and behavior modification techniques. Cheryl lives on two acres in the country with her husband, two greyhounds, a Berger Picard and two service dogs in training.
Jenelle Bell, CTC, CPDT-KA, Fear Free Certified Trainer
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Jenelle started her career in behavior modification over 20 years ago when she began working with children with autism. After retiring from the field, she focused her skills on dog behavior and training. Upon graduating with honors from the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers, Jenelle started Your Dog’s Champion which is dedicated to serving fearful and aggressive dogs in the Dallas area. Her commitment to continuing education led Jenelle to complete the Aggression in Dogs Master Course and Fear-Free Professional Certification.
When at Veterinary Behavior Solutions and The Training Studio, she enjoys teaching reactive dog classes and consulting with clients one-on-one.
Jenelle shares her home with her husband, Mike, and two English bulldogs, Lizzie and Winston.
Beth Berkobien, MS (Animal Behavior), SAPro Trainer
Beth began her dog training career in Milwaukee, WI over 20 years ago after graduating with an MS in animal behavior. She is also certified in separation anxiety. She started her dog training career working for a dog training school in Wisconsin teaching manners, puppy classes and competition obedience. Beth titled her Rotweiler, Elmo, to Utility Dog and her English Setter Schmog to Master Hunter using only positive reinforcement. Beth is passionate about continuing education and using modern science based methods. She owns Rehab Your Rescue behavior services where she sees clients virtually and in home. Beth concentrates in cases that use aggression, reactivity and separation-related disorders. While Beth has a passion for rescue dogs (having four of her own) she also works with dogs from many breeders.
Customer Service
Cindy Hayward, LVT, CVTA, Customer Service
Cindy Hayward is from Lancaster, TX and prides herself on her DFW roots. Straight out of high school, Cindy made the decision to serve her country and enlisted in the United States Army Reserves for a total of 8 years. Cindy has 15 years of pet industry experience and began her career with pets working in animal shelter medicine and was directly affiliated with helping pets find their new forever homes. Shortly after leaving shelter medicine, Cindy began her career in management of pet retail stores. She recently finished coursework at Dallas College in Veterinary Technology and is well on her way to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician. At home she has a 4 year old Great Dane by the name of Dory and a 6 year old Australian Shepherd/ Blue Heeler by the name of Coraline.
Emily Adams, Customer Service
Coming Soon!