About Us

Top Notch Dog enhances human-dog relationships through fun, state-of-the-art training. We apply the science of learning for fast, reliable results. Read about our training in the Herald-Sun and at the Top Notch Dog Blog. To set up an appointment, contact us.

Barbara Shumannfang is the founder of Top Notch Dog, LLC and
author of Happy Kids, Happy Dogs: Building a Friendship Right from the Start, which was honored with a nomination for Best Dog Training and Behavior Book by the Dog Writers Association of America. Her book and family dog bite prevention class have been featured by The Bark magazine, Dogs for Kids magazine, and radio and tv.

Barbara has worked with animals all her life including as a horse and dog trainer, veterinary assistant, and behavior consultant to animal shelters. She has over ten years experience in research and university teaching (she holds a Ph.D. from Duke University in a non-doggie field). She has taught a prenatal seminar at local hospitals on reducing stress and injury in child-dog interactions, called “Baby Meets Bowser,” and workshops for veterinarians and dog trainers on dog behavior and learning.

Barbara is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She shares partial royalties from Happy Kids, Happy Dogs with Project Pooch, a non-profit organization that teams at-risk youth with shelter dogs.