Van Buren, AR
Mary A. Gilbreth, Ph.D., CPDT is a professional dog trainer and life coach. She is the owner of SMART DOGS, a dog training center located in Van Buren, Arkansas. Mary was the first trainer in the state of Arkansas to earn a CPDT and has continued to bring numerous other firsts to the people & dogs of AR. She has hosted several internationally known trainers, including Kathy Cascade (TTouch), Theresa McKeon (TAGteach International), and Kay Laurence (Learning About Dogs).
Training Philosophy
Mary is an avid clicker and positive reinforcement trainer. She is committed to education & excellence and uses force-free, fear-free, science-based reinforcement training methods. She believes in building strong, desired behavior, balanced & confident dogs, and healthy trust-based relationships.
Services
SMART DOGS offers a wide range of services, including:
- Life With Dogs: A comprehensive small group class that teaches crucial Life Skills to both ends of the leash. This class meets once a week for 1 hour and runs 8 weeks. Current Tuition $450 includes weekly in-person sessions as well as 24/7 access to student only content in SD's Online Classroom & Private Blog (i.e, video tutorials, articles). Tuition also includes access to Mary by phone, text & email for additional coaching between our weekly in-person sessions.
- Therapy Dog Training & Testing: SMART DOGS offers training and testing for Therapy Dog Certification.
- Dog Sports: SMART DOGS offers training in a variety of dog sports, including Agility, Dance, Freestyle, Obedience, Parkour, Rally, Treibball, and more.
- Behavior Modification: SMART DOGS offers behavior modification services for dogs with aggressive, anxious, fearful, or other stress-induced behavior.
- Online Learning: SMART DOGS offers online learning resources, including reading, video tutorials, discussions, workshops, and learning groups.
- Additional Topics & Events: SMART DOGS offers a variety of additional topics and events, including Conditioning, Body Awareness, Nutrition & Wellness, Trick Training, Seminars, Movie Nights, Field Trips, and more.
Certifications
Mary A. Gilbreth, Ph.D., CPDT is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), Certified Holistic Life & Stress Management Coach (CHLC), Fear Free Certified Professional, Dog Sport Judge, Canine Hoopers World Instructor, Level 2 TAGteach Certified, CAP-1, Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and Therapy Dog Evaluator.
Specializations
Mary specializes in preventing & modifying aggressive and fearful behavior. She is well-versed in canine and human behavior, relationships, training, wellness & nutrition.
Training Methods
Mary uses force-free, fear-free, science-based reinforcement training methods. She is an avid clicker trainer.
Customer Reviews
Deborah Grodecka CPDT CDBC: As a dog training professional myself, I have first-hand experience with training centers and trainers throughout the country. Unequivocally, SMART DOGS is one of the best…Mary adds her deep appreciation and understanding of a dog's heart and soul…and I also travel a long distance myself to bring my own dogs there to train. It is worth every mile driven and dollar spent. Mary has helped me sharpen my own training skills and to “see” my dogs more clearly as the amazing individuals they are. I am extremely grateful for everything Mary has taught me, and my dogs Hannah and Jackson are equally grateful!
Kelly Kastel: Outside of the many classes and skills Mary has taught us, I am more so appreciative for the sense of community and connection provided at SMART DOGS. Mary herself has always gone above and beyond to provide information and resources that have advanced my understanding and overall care of my pets. When one of our pets was diagnosed with bone cancer, Mary was at the ready no matter what questions I had and connected us with the best lifeline we had during the process. I really cannot express how grateful I am for the life lessons and resources provided by Mary and the SMART DOGS family. She has welcomed us since day one – always making me and my pets feel confident in all she teaches us – and we are a forever loyal SMART Dog family!
Celeste Wheeler: I appreciate Mary’s instruction. Always the right mix of compassion and no nonsense. I have had dogs my entire life (almost 60 years) and was surprised to discover how little I actually understood about them before coming to SMART DOGS. I originally had two goals in mind – getting Angus to come when called and to help him build some confidence in new situations. We accomplished these goals, but more importantly the training helped us develop a stronger and happier relationship. The connection is better, the understanding is better and we all – dog and humans are having more fun!
Margaret Thiele: Working with Mary and our two 6 year old miniature schnauzers has been an unbelievable, eye opening experience. A few months ago we could not even take a walk without generalized chaos every time our girls encountered any people, or worse yet, another dog. Two days ago, 8 construction workers gathered in the street didn’t even earn a second look! We now have one very confident learner who was once a timid little thing who didn’t like to eat, until Mary, in her very subtle way, suggested a new raw diet. And her big sister, who was scared of her own shadow, is working on being a champion on the agility course. Our thanks and gratitude to Mary for making the humans realize we had so much to learn.
Meagan Price: We LOVE SMART DOGS and Mary! She is one amazing woman! I’m so thankful for her guidance and patience with me. Working with my dogs has been such an eye opening experience for me, not just in training, but in self awareness. I don’t think I ever would have learned so much about my personality, behavior and habits if it weren’t for the last few years at SMART DOGS.
I’m also most grateful for the bond she taught me to nurture with my first sweet fur baby and now, another one! I would recommend her to anyone with a dog! I think we all can learn from her program and take something special away from it. I’m looking forward to many more classes at SMART DOGS and watching my dogs excel in all that we do!!
Social Media Links
SMART DOGS has a Facebook page, YouTube channel, Vimeo channel, and WordPress blog.
We've got the answers for your questions
Seriously, if you have any questions about training your dog, we have the answers.
We have created a directory of licensed dog trainers specializing in positive reinforcement methods. These trainers are not affiliated with Dogo, and all information is gathered from publicly available sources. Each profile provides a brief overview of the trainer's experience and expertise.
Start by evaluating your dog's needs and identifying your training objectives. Each trainer's profile provides insights into their areas of expertise. Match these with your dog's character and your goals to find the ideal fit.
All trainers listed here are certified professionals with extensive knowledge of positive reinforcement techniques.
Positive reinforcement centers on rewarding preferred behaviors, ensuring a pleasant learning journey for your dog. This humane approach is scientifically proven to be the most effective long-term training method, strengthening the bond between you and your pet. By consistently rewarding good behavior, your dog learns to associate actions with positive outcomes, leading to lasting improvements and a happier companion.
Yes, they are. Our trainers are adept in basic obedience or intricate behavioral challenges. Browse their profiles to identify a trainer who specializes in the particular issues you wish to address.
Simply click on the preferred trainer's profile to access their contact details. From there, you can get in touch to discuss your requirements and set up training appointments.
Group sessions offer a communal setting where your dog learns general obedience alongside other dogs. In contrast, private sessions grant focused attention, making them perfect for targeted behavior modifications or individualized training agendas.
All our trainers are committed to positive reinforcement techniques and steer clear of any harsh or punitive methods. Their primary goal is to make training a joyous journey for you and your dog.
Results depend on factors like your dog's nature, the specific behaviors in question, and your training consistency. While many clients observe improvements in just a few sessions, it's crucial to be patient and persistent.
Reach out to the trainer you're interested in to discuss possibly attending a session. It's a great way to get a feel for their approach and see if it aligns with your expectations.
