Our Services
Behavioral Consultations
Training with Care
Individual training will provide you with tools and support to help teach your pet how to be a well-mannered companion. We will come to you to discuss: behavioral issues and goals, training methods, and develop a personalized lesson plan. Contact us to see if we can help with your training needs, whatever they may be. Consultations are required before training can begin at any level.
Basic Obedience & Manners Training
Ready. Set. Train.
These training sessions are aimed at setting the groundwork for your dog's success in your world. Intro level obedience strengthens your and your dog's skills and confidence by working on effective two-way communication while focusing on calm behaviors, neutrality, impulse control, and self-regulation. Each lesson is custom tailored to suit each dog's/household's needs utilizing LIMA methods. Typical cues/addressed behaviors include, but are not limited to: Sit, Down, Stay, Take It, Leave It, Drop It, Come when Called, Loose-Leash/ Attentive Walking, Proper Greetings with dogs and people, Door Etiquette, Handling and Cooperative Care, understanding dog body language, boundary setting, and addressing unwanted behaviors.
Intermediate & Advanced Level Obedience
Ready. Set. Train... a little harder.
These training sessions are designed to challenge and strengthen those basic level cues while also asking for more complex cues. Can your dog focus and respond outside, on a walk, or in a store? Are you gearing up for C.L.A.S.S or CGC evaluations? Let's take what you've learned, add some difficulty, and learn some more! The focus on these sessions is proofing wanted behaviors with increasing exposure to distractions and adding physical distance. Each session is custom tailored to meet your and your dog's individual needs utilizing LIMA methods. The goal is to help your dog figure out how to make good choices and develop positive default behaviors. Typical cues/addressed behaviors include, but are not limited to: Proofing come-when-called, auto-sit after recall and at stops during walks, behavioral downs, co-regulating, proofing stay, heel, come through, hurricanes and tornadoes, touch (nose and all 4 paws), handling and cooperative care, bring me items, and more.
Behavior Adjustment Training
Taking the Time to get it Right
Behavior adjustment training, more commonly referred to as reactivity training, identifies, addresses, and changes problem behaviors. Does your dog have neurotic, destructive, or aggressive-like behaviors? Do they seem overly fearful or anxious in sitatuations? Does your dog get over-excited or overstimulated to the point of being unmanageable? Contact us to schedule a consultation.
Walk and Train
A Little Goes a Long Way
After the completion of at least 4 training sessions, we offer one-on-one walks with training. Does your pup need a little extra help with their loose leash walking or heel around the neighborhood or on the trail? Maybe a little more exercise with added difficulty? This is a great option!
Stay and Play
Sit, Down, Play!
After the completion of at least 4 training sessions, we offer the opportunity to drop off your dog for 1/2 or whole days to stay and play with us at our house. Field trips available to the park, trails, and stores as well. Limited slots available.
Coming Soon!
Hunting for Fun
Did you say SHED-ding?
Segen's Way
Segen's Way Dog Training came about after the loss of my soul-mate dog, Segen. He didn't fit the "perfect dog" mold, but he was perfect for me. He loved to learn, loved to work, and we worked wonderfully together, but he was reactive to dogs when over his threshold. We were able to take and teach group classes together, learning and growing every day. There are so many dogs out there like Segen, who don't always fit the mold... Dog and/or people selective, unsure of themselves at times, and reactive to a degree. The last few years I've been focusing on helping those with reactive dogs, whether it be emotional reactivity to stimuli, dogs or people.I take a lot of inspiration and techniques from other trainers such as Grisha Stewart MA, CPDT-KA and Patricia McConnell Ph.D. but I've also developed my own techniques as well. There is no "one size fits all" in dog training, and that is the approach I take with each client.
Back Story:
My name is Sarah Shumway. I had just turned 19 years old when I found him, and our training journey began immediately. I/we began training at and working for PetSmart (circa 2009). I became their second trainer while also working in the salon handling dogs as a bather. I eventually became the only trainer, teaching puppy to advanced level classes, trick classes, and private lessons. I worked with thousands of dogs/people, with a variety of breeds, temperaments, and learning styles. When I left, I continued working and walking dogs in my own time. I eventually worked for Blue Buffalo, learning more about dog nutrition and food sales. After a move to Florida and back, I began working at Camo Cross Dog Training here in Topeka. This continued until I had our first child in 2016. I learned so much there and found I had a lot of interest in the reactive classes offered. After our 3rd child was born, in 2019, I began training on my own again, focusing on behavior adjustment training with reactive dogs. Which brings us to where we are now.
Our family consists of my husband, Brandon, myself, our four children, and five, yes FIVE, dogs.
Baros "Bear-Bear"- we adopted Bear from Jefferson County Humane Society back in 2015. They guessed he is a German Shepherd/pit mix (?)and was between 18-24 months old. He is used a lot as a consultation dog to judge reactivity. He is great with building confidence with children and unfamiliar dogs. He is also used during training sessions with puppies, as he has the patience for their shenanigans!
Marcaida- we got 'Caida in the summer of 2021 as a pup. He is a German Shepherd/Australian Shepherd mix. He is wonderful with children and unfamiliar people. He is very dog selective.
Honeycomb- we got him in the spring of 2022. He is a lab, pit, ? Mix. He was born under a house. He is our butter dog... if you pet him he just melts. He is very dog and people friendly and is involved more for playdates.
Nugget- we got him in the summer of 2022. He's a pitbull that was being fostered by the Street Dog Coalition. He is so sweet and a big love-bug- he loves his family and is accepting of new people. He is very dog selective.
Oginalii- we got Ogi in the summer of 2023. He's a long haired German Shepherd Dog we got from a preservation breeder. He has an amazing disposition, and he helps frequently in training and consultations due to his neutrality with dogs and people.
Segen's Way Dog Training believes it’s never too late to teach an old pet (and its owner) new behaviors. Our tailor-made services are designed with you and your pet in mind to ensure results. We believe in working as much with you as with your pet. Our goal is to provide long-lasting impact through training.Segen's Way Dog Training has many years of experience in supporting pet owners to make the needed changes in their pet’s habits.
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We are excited to offer in-home dog training lessons to Topeka! Fill out our form below.
