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Brain Training for Dogs review: does it work?
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Brain Training for Dogs
A 21-game, reward-based course by a certified trainer, according to the vendor. Best for bored, busy or young dogs.
What is Brain Training for Dogs?
Brain Training for Dogs is a digital dog-training course sold through ClickBank. It was created by Adrienne Farricelli, a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), and is built around one idea: many “problem” behaviours, such as chewing, barking and digging, come from a bored dog with nothing to do, so give the dog’s brain a job.
The course uses short games that teach focus, impulse control and problem-solving, with obedience skills built in along the way. You get written instructions and videos in a members’ area. We haven’t worked through the course with our own dogs. This review is based on the vendor’s sales page, the published module list and established welfare guidance.
What’s inside the seven modules?
| Module | Focus | Example games (vendor’s names) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preschool | Attention and eye contact | Target training, eye contact, the airplane game |
| 2. Elementary School | Using the senses, burning energy | Treasure hunt, the muffin game, the ball pit |
| 3. High School | Patience and impulse control | Jazz up and settle down, the bottle game, bobbing for treats |
| 4. College | Concentration and motor skills | The shell game, open sesame, the magic carpet |
| 5. University | Confidence and calm | Hide and seek, “look at that”, hot and cold |
| 6. Graduation | Advanced handling | Leg weaving, serpentines and spirals, name recognition |
| 7. Einstein | Showpiece tricks | Tidy up your toys, ring stacking, play the piano |
That’s 21 games in all, rising in difficulty. Most need only treats, a few household items (muffin tins, bottles, towels) and ten minutes a day. You can skip levels your dog has already mastered.
Brain Training for Dogs
A 21-game, reward-based course by a certified trainer, according to the vendor. Best for bored, busy or young dogs.
Does brain training for dogs actually work?
The broad approach is well supported. UK welfare organisations, including the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust, recommend mental enrichment such as sniffing, puzzle feeding and training games as part of meeting a dog’s needs, and recommend reward-based training over punishment. Research on training methods has linked aversive techniques with more stress-related behaviour, which is why force-free methods are now standard advice.
What a course can’t do is guarantee a particular result for your dog. Progress depends on your dog’s age, health, breed and history, and above all on how consistently you practise. Any claim that games alone will “fix” behaviour should be read as marketing. In our view, the course is best seen as a structured, enjoyable enrichment and training plan, not a cure.
Brain games also help with tiring a dog out when walks are short. See our guide to tiring out a dog indoors and our free list of mental stimulation games for dogs to try a few before you buy anything.
Who is it good for, and who should skip it?
A good fit for:
- Owners of bright, busy breeds (collies, spaniels, poodles, terriers) who get into trouble when bored.
- Puppies and adolescent dogs who need short, fun sessions (our puppy training schedule by age shows where games fit in).
- Older or less mobile dogs who can’t walk far but still need mental exercise.
- Owners who like learning at their own pace from video and written steps.
Skip it, or get professional help first, if:
- Your dog shows aggression, bites, or guards food or toys.
- Your dog panics when left alone. True separation distress needs a tailored plan; see dog barking when left alone and talk to your vet.
- Behaviour has changed suddenly, which can be a sign of pain or illness.
How does it compare with Secrets to Dog Training?
Brain Training for Dogs is game-led: it builds good behaviour by giving the dog mental work. Secrets to Dog Training is problem-led: a broad reference organised around everyday issues like jumping up, chewing and pulling. Some owners use one for enrichment and the other as a problem-solving manual. We compare them side by side in Brain Training for Dogs vs Secrets to Dog Training, and you can read our Brain Training for Dogs notes for the short version.
Our verdict and a quick-start checklist
We think Brain Training for Dogs is one of the more credible dog-training products on ClickBank: a named, certified trainer, a reward-based method that matches welfare guidance, and a clear structure. It isn’t a substitute for a vet or a qualified behaviourist, and the sales page is more excitable than the course needs to be.
If you buy it, start like this:
- Do a vet check if behaviour has changed recently.
- Pick small, soft treats your dog loves, and cut down meals a little to compensate.
- Keep sessions to five to ten minutes and end on a win.
- Work through Preschool even if your dog “knows sit”: focus is the foundation.
- Log one line a day: game, minutes, what went well.
- Move up a level only when the current games are easy.
Common questions
Who created Brain Training for Dogs?
Adrienne Farricelli, a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA), according to the vendor.
How many games are in Brain Training for Dogs?
21 games across seven modules, from Preschool to Einstein.
Is Brain Training for Dogs good for puppies?
The early modules suit puppies in short sessions. Check that games are appropriate for your puppy’s age and joints.
Can brain games stop a dog barking?
Enrichment can reduce boredom barking, and one game targets barking at people through the window. Fear or separation-related barking needs a tailored plan.
Does Brain Training for Dogs use punishment?
No. The course is built on positive reinforcement, which UK welfare organisations recommend.
What we’d look at next
Brain Training for Dogs
A 21-game, reward-based course by a certified trainer, according to the vendor. Best for bored, busy or young dogs.
Secrets to Dog Training
A broader reference for everyday problems such as jumping up, chewing and pulling, if you want a problem-by-problem manual too.
Not sure which fits? Take the 30-second quiz or see our comparisons.
Related comparisons: Brain Training for Dogs vs Secrets to Dog Training · Best online guides for pet behaviour problems
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- 10 mental stimulation games for dogs you can play at home
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- Crate training schedule: a day-by-day plan
- Why does my dog bark when left alone?
- How to teach your dog to come when called
- How to stop a dog jumping up
- How to tire out a dog indoors
- Puppy training schedule by age
- Cat spraying indoors: what to do
- Chameleon care for beginners
- What is the best age to start training a puppy?
Get the free PDF
A short PDF: seven short, reward-based training sessions to build focus, a reliable sit, settling on a mat and loose-lead basics, plus a cat litter-tray checklist.