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The Honest Paw

Review

Brain Training for Dogs review: worth it in 2026?

A reward-based course from a certified trainer, built around games that teach focus and self-control. Our top pick for most dogs, with a few caveats.

The short verdict

Brain Training for Dogs is the program we recommend first to most owners. It is made by a certified trainer, uses the reward-based methods that veterinary behavior experts endorse, and covers both obedience and the everyday problems that come from a bored dog. It is not the right tool on its own for serious aggression or severe separation anxiety.

Brain Training for Dogs

$67, one payment. 60-day money-back guarantee through ClickBank.

What Brain Training for Dogs is

Brain Training for Dogs is an online course created by Adrienne Farricelli, a professional dog trainer certified as a CPDT-KA by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Her work has appeared in outlets such as USA Today.

The idea behind the course is simple and well supported: many problem behaviors, from chewing to nuisance barking, come from a dog that has energy and intelligence with nowhere to put them. Instead of only drilling commands, the course uses a sequence of training games that make a dog think. Along the way the dog learns focus, impulse control and the basic obedience cues that make daily life easier.

What's inside

Based on the official course outline, members get:

  • 21 brain training games designed to improve a dog's focus, self-control and behavior.
  • Obedience training lessons with step-by-step instructions for the everyday cues.
  • A puppy section for owners starting from the first weeks at home.
  • A library of more than 100 articles on specific behavior problems and on how dogs learn.
  • A members' forum where Adrienne answers questions.

Everything is delivered online, so you can work through it on a phone in the yard as easily as on a laptop.

The training method

The course is built on force-free training and positive reinforcement: you mark and reward the behavior you want, and you manage the situation so the dog is not practicing the behavior you don't want. There are no shock collars, no leash corrections and no intimidation.

This matters more than it might seem. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends reward-based training as the standard of care, and warns that aversive methods can increase fear and aggression. Of the three programs we compared, this is the one most closely aligned with that guidance.

Pros and cons

What we like

  • Created by an independently certified trainer
  • Humane, reward-based methods that follow veterinary guidance
  • Games keep sessions short and fun, which helps owners stay consistent
  • Covers puppies, obedience and common problems in one place
  • One payment, with a 60-day guarantee

What to know

  • The games-first approach can feel indirect if you want a quick fix for one problem
  • Self-paced, with no one-to-one coaching
  • Not enough on its own for serious aggression or severe anxiety
  • The sales page is long and enthusiastic; the course itself is more measured

Who it's best for

  • Owners of a young or high-energy dog that chews, digs, jumps or barks out of boredom.
  • New puppy owners who want a structured plan from day one.
  • Anyone who wants to train with rewards rather than corrections.
  • Owners with 10 to 15 minutes a day to practice.

Who should look elsewhere

  • If your dog has bitten someone or shows escalating aggression, work with a veterinary behaviorist or a certified behavior consultant in person.
  • If your dog panics when left alone (destroying exits, injuring itself), start with your veterinarian. Our anxiety guide explains why.
  • If your one problem is lunging at other dogs on walks, a focused program such as Solve Dog Reactivity may be a more direct route.

Price and refund policy

Price$67, one payment (listed down from $127)
AccessOnline member area
Guarantee60 days, unconditional, per the sales page
Sold throughClickBank, which processes payment and refunds

Price checked on the official sales page in November 2026. It may change.

How it compares

Against Secrets to Dog Training, Brain Training for Dogs costs more but uses more current methods and is easier to follow day to day. Against Solve Dog Reactivity, it is broader and cheaper, but less specialized for dogs that explode at triggers on walks. See the full comparison.

How we reviewed it

This review is based on the official course outline and sales materials, the creator's published credentials, and the training method measured against current veterinary behavior guidance, all checked in November 2026. We update it when the course, price or terms change.

Ready to start?

Our top pick for most dogs. Try it for up to 60 days and ask for a refund if it isn't for you.