Is Brain Training for Dogs Legit? What to Check First

"Is Brain Training for Dogs legit?" is one of the top searches for this course, usually from owners who have seen the ads and want a straight answer before paying. This post gives you what can be checked from the outside: who is behind it, what it costs, how refunds work and which claims to take with a pinch of salt. It is based on the vendor's own pages and ClickBank's published policies, read on October 19, 2026. I have not taken the course, and I am an affiliate.

For the general version of this checklist, see how to tell if an online course or ebook is legit.

What "legit" means here

For a dog training course, "legit" covers three things:

1. A real course from a real, qualified person. Someone you can identify, with credentials you can check.
2. Clear price and refund terms.
3. Methods that are humane and fit your dog. This is the one that matters most, and it depends on your dog.

Who is behind it

The course is by Adrienne Farricelli. The vendor's about page says she has worked professionally with dogs since 2006, taught obedience classes, and is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) as a CPDT-KA. The vendor also says her writing has appeared in publications including USA Today.

You do not have to take that on trust. The CCPDT has a public directory of certified trainers on its website, and you can search it yourself. I have not looked her up, so treat the credential as the vendor's statement until you have.

The vendor says the course uses force-free, reward-based methods only. That matters, because the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward-based training and advises against aversive methods such as shock or prong collars. My guide to common dog training mistakes explains why.

How you pay and what it costs

The vendor's sales page says ClickBank is the retailer for the course. ClickBank's support pages say the charge shows on your statement as "CLKBANK*" and that you can look up your order at clkbank.com.

On the sales page I read, the price was $67, presented as a "special launch price" next to a higher $127 figure, and compared with what an in-person trainer might charge. Comparisons like that are a normal sales technique. Judge the purchase on the $67 you would actually pay, and check the order page in case it has changed.

What the vendor says you get

• Access to an online members' area, which the vendor says you can use on the go.
• Brain games and obedience exercises. The vendor's site mentions 21 games.
• Obedience training and seven trick-training videos, according to the sales page.
• Articles on common behavior problems, with troubleshooting sections.
• A private members' forum and a way to send questions to the trainer.

The vendor also offers a free sample game called The Airplane Game on its home page. That is the best way to judge the teaching style before you pay.

The claims to read carefully

The sales page uses strong language, for example that the methods can turn around bad behavior quickly. No course can promise that for every dog. Behavior depends on the dog's age, history, health and how consistently you practice. The page also includes testimonials, which are chosen by the seller and describe individual dogs. They are not typical results.

There is also one area where no online course is the right first step: aggression, sudden behavior changes, or fear that makes your dog panic. In those cases, see a vet first, then a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviorist who can watch your dog in person.

The refund route, checked at the source

The vendor's sales page describes a 60-day money-back guarantee and says you can email the trainer for a refund. ClickBank's own return policy says it will, at its discretion, allow the return or replacement of any product within 60 days of purchase. Its refund help page says most products have a 60-day refund period and that you request one through clkbank.com.

So you can ask either the seller or ClickBank. Using ClickBank's order lookup creates a record, which is why I would start there. The steps are in how to get a refund on a ClickBank purchase.

What to check before you pay

1. The sample game. Try The Airplane Game for a few days. If you and your dog enjoy the style, the course is more likely to suit you.
2. The credential. Search the CCPDT directory yourself.
3. Your dog's main problems. Write down the two or three behaviors you most want to change, and check them against the course outline on the sales page.
4. Whether you need in-person help instead. See the warning signs above.
5. The order page total, and every screen after checkout.
6. Your paperwork. Save the receipt and order number, and set a reminder before day 60.

If you have a new puppy, the first-month puppy guide covers the basics you can start today, with or without a course.

My take

Based on what can be checked, Brain Training for Dogs is a real online course from a named trainer who says she holds a recognized certification, sold through a large retailer with a published 60-day refund route, and built on reward-based methods. The sales page oversells, as many do, so go by the sample game and your own goals. If you want to see the current details, here is the vendor's page (affiliate link). My fuller notes on the contents are in Brain Training for Dogs: what to check first.

Disclosure again: I earn a commission if you buy through that link, at no extra cost to you.