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I’m Mary van Kriedt, CCPDT, a Certified Positive Reinforcement Dog Trainer, agility instructor, and lifelong trainer of both dogs and horses. As a Marin County native and graduate of the CATCH Canine Trainers Academy, I’ve always been passionate about helping dogs and their people build clear communication, confidence, and lasting trust through thoughtful, reward-based training. I believe training should strengthen the relationship between dog and handler while creating a positive and enjoyable experience for both.
These days, I spend the majority of my time running FreeRun Leashes™, while also continuing to teach and train dogs, compete in agility, and hike the trails of Marin with my Australian Shepherd, Quinn.
The idea for FreeRun Leashes™ began on one of our favorite Marin trails after I realized I had forgotten a leash. I grabbed one of my son’s curly shoelaces from the car and tied it to Quinn’s harness, and what started as a quick solution unexpectedly revealed something that felt natural and intuitive: hands-free freedom paired with immediate control when needed. That simple moment became the spark behind FreeRun Leashes™, the original patented all-in-one harness with a built-in retractable leash system.
Over the next several years, I personally designed, engineered, and tested the system, drawing on my experience as both a trainer and lifelong outdoor enthusiast. From the trails of Marin to real-world testing with dogs of all shapes and sizes, every detail was shaped with safety, function, and the everyday dog owner in mind.
At its core, FreeRun reflects what I’ve always believed: dogs thrive when training is built on trust, communication, and the freedom to simply be dogs.
