Lucid FindsGames that work the brain
Short training games build focus, patience and impulse control while giving your dog mental exercise.
Brain Training for Dogs review · Updated Nov 2026
A calmer, better-behaved dog, trained with games, not force.
Brain Training for Dogs is an online course by certified trainer Adrienne Farricelli that uses short, reward-based games to build focus, impulse control and everyday obedience. Here's an honest look at who it suits and who should skip it.
Opens the official Brain Training for Dogs site via my affiliate link. Listed at US$67 on the sales page; confirm the price at checkout.
- By a CPDT-KA certified trainer
- Force-free methods
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Force-free trainingper the official site
US$67 listed priceconfirm at checkout
BEST FOR: owners who can do short daily sessions at home
The verdict: a low-cost, kind way to structure training at home
A certified trainer, a force-free approach, and a clear path of games that double as mental exercise, for a fraction of what private sessions usually cost. The trade-off: nobody sees your dog in person, so serious aggression or fear needs a professional.
Key strengthsCertified, force-free trainer · step-by-step game levels · big archive for specific problems · 60-day guarantee
Key weaknessNo in-person coaching: it can't assess your dog or replace a behavior professional
Check the course
US$67 listed price. Confirm at checkout.
Verdict based on the official sales and author pages, not on hands-on completion of the course.
Why owners like this approach
A busy brain is a calmer dog.
Everyday problems like chewing, digging or constant barking can be linked to boredom. This course leans on mental exercise and rewards instead of corrections.
Force-free, reward-based
The vendor says every technique uses positive reinforcement: no punishment, no dominance methods.
Clear levels to follow
Games are grouped from "Preschool" foundations up to advanced "Einstein" tricks, so you always know what's next.
Help for specific problems
An archive of 100+ articles covers behavior issues, plus a puppy section on potty and crate training.
Videos and pictures
Step-by-step instructions with photos, video demonstrations of the games, and troubleshooting tips.
Ask questions, join the forum
Members can submit questions through a support system and talk with other owners in a private forum.
Features as described on the official Brain Training for Dogs site (checked 9 Nov 2026).
What's included
Seven game levels, plus obedience basics and a big archive
The game levels build on each other, from attention and focus to advanced tricks.
- 1Preschool: focus & targeting
- 2Elementary: scent & play games
- 3High School: impulse control
- 4College: patience & motor skills
- 5University: calm & confidence
- 6Graduation: advanced skills
- 7Einstein: "genius" tricks
- +Obedience 101 & 7 trick videos
- +Archive & bonus behavior course
Module names and contents as listed on the official sales page.
Honest fit check
Is Brain Training for Dogs right for you?
Great fit if you…
- Have a new puppy or a young, energetic dog
- Deal with everyday issues: pulling, jumping, chewing, barking, ignoring cues
- Want kind, reward-based methods, not punishment
- Need indoor ideas to tire out your dog's brain on busy or rainy days
- Can commit to a few short sessions most days
Probably skip it if you…
- Are dealing with biting, serious aggression or severe anxiety (see a vet and a qualified behavior professional first)
- Want someone to train the dog for you
- Need hands-on, in-person feedback on your timing and technique
- Don't enjoy self-paced, read-and-watch learning
- Expect fixed results in a set number of days
How it works
From sign-up to your first game in four steps
Buy on the official site
Checkout is on the vendor's site. Review the price and refund terms there.
Open the member's area
Everything is online, so you can follow along on your phone in the living room or yard.
Start with the foundations
Begin with the attention and targeting games, in short, upbeat sessions.
Level up, or fix a problem
Move up the levels, and use the archive when a specific behavior needs attention.
No hype
Pros and cons
What we like
- Created by a trainer who lists her CPDT-KA certification on the official site
- Force-free, reward-based approach
- Games double as mental exercise, which many dogs need
- Broad coverage: games, obedience basics, puppy topics and 100+ articles
- Listed price is far below what in-person sessions usually cost, with a stated 60-day guarantee
What to watch for
- The sales page uses big promises; no course can guarantee to fix every behavior
- No in-person assessment of your dog
- Not a substitute for a vet or behavior professional for aggression or severe fear
- A lot of the material is reading, not only video
- Self-paced: results depend on you practicing consistently
Check the current price
Affiliate link · US$67 listed price · confirm at checkout
Why this over a trainer?
Brain Training for Dogs vs. other ways to train
Every option has a place. Here's how they compare for everyday manners.
| Option | How you pay | Feedback | Structure | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brain Training for Dogs Our pick | US$67 listed price (confirm at checkout) | Questions via support system and forum | Game levels + obedience lessons + archive | Everyday manners, puppies, bored dogs |
| Private trainer | Per-session fees (varies by area) | Live, hands-on, tailored | Plan built for your dog | Aggression, fear, complex cases |
| Group classes | Per-course fee (varies by area) | Live, shared with the class | Fixed weekly schedule | Socialization and basic cues with distractions |
| Free YouTube videos | Free | None | Scattered, no path | Learning one specific trick |
Low-risk way to try it
US$67 listed price, backed by a 60-day guarantee
- Listed at US$67 on the official sales page, with no subscription mentioned
- Includes the bonus Behavior Training for Dogs course, per the sales page
- 60-day money-back guarantee, as stated on the official site
Terms checked on braintraining4dogs.com on 9 Nov 2026. They can change, so read the terms at checkout.
Get Brain Training for Dogs
Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you. Lucid Finds is independent and is not the official Brain Training for Dogs site.
Free bonus · works with any method
A simple 14-day starter routine
General reward-based training tips you can use whether or not you buy anything. Keep sessions to 3–5 minutes and stop while your dog is still having fun.
- Days 1–2Pick small, soft treats your dog loves. Say a marker word like "Yes!" and give a treat, 10 times a session, so the word means "reward coming".
- Days 3–4Name game: say your dog's name once; when they look at you, mark and reward. Practice in a quiet room first.
- Days 5–7Teach "sit" and "down" with a treat lure, then start hiding the treat in your other hand so the hand signal does the work.
- Days 8–10Practice "settle" on a mat: reward any calm moment on the mat, building from a few seconds to a minute.
- Days 11–12Loose-leash practice indoors or in the yard: reward your dog for being next to you, then add a few steps at a time.
- Days 13–14Add an easy brain game: hide a treat under one of two cups and let your dog sniff it out. Review earlier skills in a new room.
These are general tips, not the course content. If your dog shows aggression or fear, talk to your vet or a certified behavior professional.
FAQ
Questions before you start
Who created Brain Training for Dogs?
Adrienne Farricelli. The official site describes her as a CPDT-KA certified dog trainer who uses force-free, reward-based methods. Her bio on the site says she is based in Arizona and has written for outlets including USA Today.
Does it use punishment or dominance techniques?
No, according to the vendor. The official sales page says the course uses gentle, force-free techniques only, based on positive reinforcement.
How much does it cost? Is it a subscription?
The official sales page lists it at US$67 and does not mention a subscription. Prices can change, so confirm the amount and billing terms at checkout.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
The official sales page states a 60-day money-back guarantee. Read the refund terms shown at checkout before you buy.
What's included?
Per the official site: seven levels of brain-training games (Preschool to Einstein), trick videos, Obedience 101 lessons, a section on polishing your training, an archive of 100+ articles on behavior problems with a puppy section, a bonus Behavior Training for Dogs course, a support system for questions, and a private members' forum.
Is it suitable for a new puppy?
The archive includes a puppy section covering potty training, crate training, socialization and bite inhibition, according to the vendor. Keep sessions very short for young puppies, and follow your vet's advice on vaccinations before group socialization.
My dog is aggressive or very fearful. Is this enough?
Probably not on its own. For biting, serious aggression or severe anxiety, start with your veterinarian and a qualified in-person behavior professional. An online course can be a useful extra, but it can't assess your dog in person.
Is this the official Brain Training for Dogs website?
No. Lucid Finds is an independent review site. The buttons on this page take you to the official site through an affiliate link.
Five minutes a day is a great start
Ready to train with games instead of force?
See the full Brain Training for Dogs course, the current price and the guarantee on the official site.
Opens the official Brain Training for Dogs site via my affiliate link. Listed at US$67 on the sales page; confirm the price at checkout.
Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you. Lucid Finds is independent and is not the official Brain Training for Dogs site.
Independent review by Lucid Finds, based on the vendor's public materials. The author has not personally completed the full course. Results depend on your dog, consistency and practice time.