Brain Training for Dogs vs Secrets to Dog Training: Which Is Better?

I’ve owned working dogs my whole adult life. Out on the homestead, a dog that can’t focus, stay calm under pressure, or respond reliably to commands isn’t just inconvenient — it can create real safety problems. Over the years I’ve put a lot of time into figuring out what actually works when it comes to dog training, and these days I get a steady stream of messages from readers asking which online training program is worth spending money on.

Two names come up together constantly right now: Brain Training for Dogs and Secrets to Dog Training. Both are digital programs sold through ClickBank. Both promise to help you fix behavior problems and build a well-trained, responsive dog. Both have substantial buyer bases and the kind of longevity that usually signals a genuinely useful product.

But they are not the same program. They take different approaches to what training a dog actually means, they are structured differently, and they suit different owners and dogs in different situations.

This article is for people who have already narrowed their choice to these two and want a clear, direct answer on which one to buy. I’m going to work through the methodology, the content structure, who each program serves best, the value at the price points they charge, and where the honest limitations of each lie.

Quick verdict: For most dog owners — especially those dealing with behavioral issues like destructive chewing, excessive barking, reactivity, or hyperactivity — Brain Training for Dogs is the stronger purchase. Adrienne Farricelli’s exclusive focus on force-free, science-backed positive reinforcement and the progressive brain-games structure give it a clarity of purpose and quality of instruction that puts it ahead of the competition for this specific problem profile. That said, Secrets to Dog Training has real strengths for owners who want broad obedience coverage from a resource-dense reference. Both carry 60-day money-back guarantees, so neither is a financial gamble.

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At-a-Glance Comparison Table

Feature	Brain Training for Dogs	Secrets to Dog Training
Creator	Adrienne Farricelli — CPDT-KA certified professional dog trainer	Daniel Stevens — experienced dog trainer and behaviorist
Methodology	100% force-free positive reinforcement; intelligence-based training through progressive brain games	Broader approach; covers multiple obedience training methods and behavior correction techniques
Core concept	Unlock your dog’s intelligence through 21 progressive mental exercises across 7 levels	Comprehensive obedience and behavior guide covering a wide range of commands, issues, and solutions
Brain games included	Yes — 21 specific structured games, each with step-by-step instructions	No dedicated brain game system; problem-solving is embedded within broader obedience chapters
Behavior training	Addressed as a result of intelligence development; behavior improves as dogs become mentally engaged	Direct, dedicated sections on specific behavior problems with targeted correction strategies
Format	PDF/video members’ area with structured leveled curriculum	Large PDF manual plus extensive supplementary material sections
Community / support	Private members-only community forum, direct trainer access	Members’ area and support resources
Price range	Typically $47 (check official site for current pricing)	Typically $37–$67 (check official site for current pricing)
Guarantee	60-day ClickBank money-back guarantee	60-day ClickBank money-back guarantee
Best for	Owners of dogs with behavioral issues linked to boredom, under-stimulation, or anxiety; owners committed to force-free methods	Owners wanting a comprehensive obedience reference covering many topics; those who want a broad toolkit of training techniques

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TL;DR

• Our pick: Brain Training for Dogs wins for owners dealing with behavioral problems rooted in boredom, mental under-stimulation, or anxiety — which accounts for the majority of common dog behavior complaints.
• Choose Brain Training for Dogs if: you want a structured, progressive program built on proven positive reinforcement science, you are committed to a force-free approach, or your dog’s behavior problems stem from excess energy and lack of mental engagement.
• Choose Secrets to Dog Training if: you want a comprehensive obedience reference covering many commands and issues in one document, or you prefer having a wide toolkit of approaches to reference situationally.
• Both carry 60-day money-back guarantees. You are not locked into either purchase.

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Brain Training for Dogs — What You Get

Brain Training for Dogs was created by Adrienne Farricelli, a CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer — Knowledge Assessed) certified trainer with years of professional experience. That credential matters: it is not self-appointed. The CPDT-KA requires demonstrated knowledge of learning theory, instruction skills, and ethology — and it is maintained through continuing education. When you purchase Brain Training for Dogs, you are following a structured curriculum designed by someone whose training methodology has been independently evaluated against professional standards.

The program’s central premise is that most common dog behavior problems — excessive barking, destructive chewing, hyperactivity, pulling on the leash, difficulty with commands — are not primarily obedience failures. They are symptoms of a dog whose cognitive needs are not being met. Dogs are intelligent animals. When they do not have appropriate mental challenges and engagement, they generate their own stimulation in ways owners find problematic. Brain Training for Dogs addresses behavior by addressing this root cause: it makes the dog mentally tired, focused, and genuinely engaged in cooperative activity with the owner.

The 7 Levels and 21 Brain Games

The program’s curriculum is organized into seven progressive levels, each building on the last. You do not jump to advanced exercises before your dog is ready — the structure is deliberate, and it mirrors how professional trainers scaffold instruction for dogs at different developmental stages.

The seven levels progress from foundational engagement and focus exercises all the way to complex problem-solving and creative thinking tasks. Within these levels, there are 21 distinct brain games, each with its own step-by-step instructions, a list of what you need, and an explanation of what the game is developing in your dog’s behavior and cognition.

Examples of the types of games covered across the levels include:

• Foundational games that teach your dog to make eye contact on cue, focus on you in distracting environments, and build the attention span needed for more complex training
• Intermediate games that develop problem-solving skills, impulse control, and the ability to follow multi-step instructions
• Advanced games that challenge your dog’s working memory, pattern recognition, and capacity for independent problem-solving

Each game session is relatively short — most run 5 to 15 minutes — which is appropriate for canine learning. Dogs learn best in short, high-engagement sessions, not hour-long marathons. The brevity of each game makes the program genuinely doable for owners with real schedules.

Force-Free Only — No Exceptions

This is a meaningful design decision that distinguishes Brain Training for Dogs from most other training programs on the market. Adrienne Farricelli does not include aversive methods — no corrections, no choke chains, no intimidation techniques, no dominance theory. The entire curriculum is built on operant and classical conditioning using positive reinforcement: behavior that produces good outcomes for the dog gets repeated and strengthened. Behavior that does not get reinforced naturally diminishes.

For owners of dogs that have been damaged by previous punitive training, or for owners who have reactive or anxious dogs where aversive corrections would compound the problem, this commitment to force-free methodology is not just a philosophical preference — it is the right tool for the job.

Behavior Problem Coverage

The program addresses common behavior problems not by cataloguing them problem by problem, but by fixing the underlying causes. Owners of dogs with destructive behaviors, excessive vocalization, hyperactivity, leash reactivity, and other engagement-linked problems typically report that the behavior issues reduce substantially as the dog progresses through the brain game curriculum. The mechanism makes sense: a dog that is mentally engaged, appropriately tired, and rewarded frequently for cooperative behavior has less motivation and energy for problematic outlets.

For dogs whose behavior problems are specifically linked to boredom, under-stimulation, or anxiety, this root-cause approach often achieves results that targeted “fix this one behavior” protocols don’t — because those protocols treat symptoms without addressing the underlying state the dog is in.

Members’ Community and Trainer Access

Brain Training for Dogs includes access to a private members’ community where you can post questions, share progress, and get feedback from other owners working through the same curriculum. Adrienne Farricelli is reportedly active in the community and responds to member questions. For owners who are new to positive reinforcement training and want guidance as they implement the program, this support layer is genuinely valuable.

Pros of Brain Training for Dogs

• Created by a legitimately credentialed trainer (CPDT-KA certified)
• Clear, progressive curriculum structure with 21 specific games across 7 levels
• 100% force-free — no aversive methods, no dominance theory
• Addresses behavior problems at the root level through mental engagement rather than symptomatic correction
• Appropriate session lengths (5–15 minutes) that fit real owner schedules
• Active members’ community with trainer participation
• Works across breeds and ages — the brain game approach is not breed-specific
• Backed by modern learning science and ethology

Cons of Brain Training for Dogs

• The structured, sequential approach means progress depends on consistent daily or near-daily practice — owners who engage sporadically will see slower results
• The exclusive positive reinforcement methodology, while scientifically sound, requires patience and precision in reward timing — owners accustomed to quick correction-based results may find the pace of change slower initially
• The curriculum is primarily digital — buyers who prefer printed reference materials will need to print the PDFs themselves
• Less useful as a pure obedience training reference if what you need is a quick lookup for a specific command — the program is designed as a progression, not an encyclopedia

For an in-depth look at the full program, see my full Brain Training for Dogs review. If you have seen concerns about the program’s legitimacy, I addressed those directly in is Brain Training for Dogs legit. For a breakdown of what you’ll pay and any current promotions, see the Brain Training for Dogs pricing article.

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Secrets to Dog Training — What You Get

Secrets to Dog Training is a long-running digital dog training program created by Daniel Stevens and distributed through ClickBank. It has been on the market for years and has accumulated a substantial buyer base — longevity at this price point in the ClickBank marketplace is usually a signal that buyers find real value in what the program delivers.

The program’s approach is different from Brain Training for Dogs in a fundamental way. Where Brain Training for Dogs is organized around a single, specific methodology applied progressively, Secrets to Dog Training is designed as a comprehensive reference — a resource that covers a wide range of obedience commands, behavior problems, and training situations in one large document. The intent is breadth: Daniel Stevens wants you to be able to look up almost any dog training challenge and find practical guidance for it within the program.

What the Program Covers

Secrets to Dog Training is structured as a comprehensive training manual covering:

• Foundation obedience commands — sit, stay, down, come, heel, leave it, and variations — with step-by-step training instructions for each
• Specific behavior problem chapters — dedicated sections addressing problems like jumping on people, excessive barking, destructive chewing, separation anxiety, leash pulling, aggression toward other dogs, and food guarding, among others
• Puppy training guidance — specific sections for owners working with young dogs, covering housetraining, socialization, and age-appropriate expectations
• Dog psychology overview — background material on how dogs think, learn, and communicate, intended to give owners context for why certain training approaches work
• Advanced training topics — sections on trick training, agility basics, and more complex obedience work for owners who want to take their dog’s training further than basic compliance

The manual is lengthy and information-dense. Owners who work through it systematically will come away with a genuinely broad education in dog training principles and techniques. Owners who use it as a reference — dipping in when a specific problem arises — also report finding it useful as a lookup tool.

Methodology

This is the key point of contrast with Brain Training for Dogs, and it requires honest treatment.

Secrets to Dog Training covers multiple training methods. The program includes positive reinforcement techniques, but it also covers correction-based approaches that Brain Training for Dogs categorically excludes. Whether this is a strength or a weakness depends on your perspective and your dog’s situation.

For owners who want a force-free-only program, this broader methodology is a genuine limitation — not because correction-based methods never produce results, but because they require precise timing and application to avoid creating fear, anxiety, or owner-directed reactivity. For inexperienced trainers, aversive methods applied imprecisely can make behavior problems significantly worse. If you are committed to force-free training or if your dog has any anxiety or reactivity, this methodological breadth is a reason to look more carefully at Brain Training for Dogs instead.

For owners who want access to a full toolkit of approaches, or who are training a confident, robust dog without anxiety or reactivity, the broader methodology in Secrets to Dog Training offers more options.

Pros of Secrets to Dog Training

• Broad coverage — one resource addressing a wide range of obedience commands and behavior problems
• Useful as a reference document — can look up a specific problem without working through the whole program
• Covers puppy training explicitly, which Brain Training for Dogs handles less specifically
• The comprehensive scope makes it useful for owners managing multiple dogs with different issues
• Lower entry price point in some promotional periods
• Long market history with a substantial buyer base — the program has staying power
• 60-day ClickBank money-back guarantee

Cons of Secrets to Dog Training

• The breadth of coverage means less depth on any individual topic — owners looking for detailed, step-by-step guidance on a specific methodology may find the coverage shallower than they need
• The inclusion of multiple training methods, including correction-based approaches, makes it less suitable for owners committed to force-free training or for dogs with anxiety, fear, or reactivity
• The lack of a structured progressive curriculum means owners need to self-direct more — there is no built-in sequence that takes you from Day 1 to advanced training in a clear progression
• The resource-manual format can feel overwhelming to first-time dog owners who want to know specifically what to do today, tomorrow, and next week
• No dedicated brain game curriculum — if mental stimulation and intelligence development are your goals, the program doesn’t have a structured system for this

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Head-to-Head: Brain Training for Dogs vs Secrets to Dog Training

Now let’s run a direct comparison across the dimensions that matter most when choosing between these two programs.

Methodology and Training Philosophy

Brain Training for Dogs: Exclusively force-free positive reinforcement. Every technique in the program is based on rewarding desirable behavior and allowing undesirable behavior to extinguish naturally through the absence of reward. No corrections, no dominance theory, no intimidation. This approach is grounded in decades of behavioral science and is the methodology recommended by the majority of credentialed animal behavior professionals today.

Secrets to Dog Training: Multi-method. Covers positive reinforcement techniques alongside correction-based approaches. The program gives you a wider toolkit, but the toolkit includes tools that require expertise to use appropriately — and that can cause harm if misapplied with an anxious or sensitive dog.

Assessment: For most owners of dogs with behavioral problems, force-free methodology is both more humane and more effective long-term. Behavior changed through positive reinforcement is stable and generalizes well across environments. Behavior changed through aversives is often context-dependent and can suppress behavior without resolving the underlying emotional state driving it. Brain Training for Dogs wins this comparison for owners who care about evidence-based, humane training.

Content Structure and Progression

Brain Training for Dogs: Structured curriculum with clear progression through 7 levels and 21 games. You know exactly what to do today, what comes next, and why. The progression is deliberate — each level builds skills that the next level requires.

Secrets to Dog Training: Reference manual structure. Comprehensive coverage without a prescribed sequence. You can navigate to what you need, but there is no built-in progression that takes you from beginner to advanced in a structured way.

Assessment: For owners who want to know what to work on today and next week, Brain Training for Dogs’s structured progression is a significant advantage. For owners who want a reference to consult situationally, Secrets to Dog Training’s breadth is more useful. The majority of dog owners — especially those who are newer to training — benefit more from structure than from breadth.

Content Depth per Topic

Brain Training for Dogs: Deep on the specific methodology. Each of the 21 brain games is explained in detail, with step-by-step instructions, equipment lists, and explanations of what the exercise is developing. The curriculum is thorough within its scope.

Secrets to Dog Training: The broad scope necessarily limits depth per topic. A program that covers dozens of behavior problems and commands in one document cannot go as deep on each individual topic as a program focused on one specific methodology. The coverage is useful, but it is survey-level on many topics rather than expert-level.

Assessment: Depth versus breadth. Brain Training for Dogs is deeper within its scope; Secrets to Dog Training is broader but shallower per topic.

Suitability for Common Behavior Problems

This is where the practical comparison matters most. Most owners buying a dog training program are doing so because their dog has a specific behavior problem that is affecting quality of life. Let’s look at how each program handles the most common ones.

Excessive barking: Brain Training for Dogs addresses this through the mental engagement curriculum — dogs that are mentally satisfied bark less. Secrets to Dog Training has a dedicated barking chapter with specific intervention strategies. Both cover this, but through different mechanisms.

Destructive chewing: Brain Training for Dogs addresses this as a boredom and stimulation issue — the right solution. Secrets to Dog Training covers it in a behavior problem chapter. Brain Training for Dogs’s root-cause approach tends to produce more durable results here.

Leash reactivity / pulling: Brain Training for Dogs builds attention, focus, and impulse control through the progressive curriculum — these skills directly transfer to leash behavior. Secrets to Dog Training covers leash training in dedicated chapters. For reactive dogs, the force-free-only approach of Brain Training for Dogs is meaningfully safer than any program that includes correction options.

Separation anxiety: Brain Training for Dogs’s confidence-building through achievable success experiences and positive engagement helps with anxiety states. Secrets to Dog Training covers separation anxiety in a dedicated section. Neither replaces veterinary behavioral consultation for severe cases, but Brain Training for Dogs’s approach is better suited to anxiety-linked behavior generally.

Hyperactivity: This is Brain Training for Dogs’s sweet spot. Mental fatigue from brain game training reliably reduces physical hyperactivity. If your dog’s energy level is the primary problem, structured mental exercise addresses it at the source. A 15-minute brain training session produces more behavioral calm than an hour of physical exercise for many high-drive dogs.

Assessment: Brain Training for Dogs handles the behavioral problems most commonly linked to mental under-stimulation — which is most of them — more effectively and through a more durable mechanism. Secrets to Dog Training covers more problem types, but its treatment of each is less specialized.

Creator Credentials

Brain Training for Dogs: Adrienne Farricelli is a CPDT-KA certified trainer. This is an independently verified professional credential with meaningful requirements. It is not a self-awarded title.

Secrets to Dog Training: Daniel Stevens presents credentials and experience as a dog trainer and behaviorist. The specific professional certifications behind his credentials are less clearly specified than Farricelli’s.

Assessment: Verifiable professional credentials matter when you are choosing whose training methodology to follow. Brain Training for Dogs has the stronger documented credential base.

Value for Money

Both programs are sold through ClickBank in similar price ranges. Brain Training for Dogs typically runs around $47; Secrets to Dog Training varies in promotional pricing. Both carry 60-day guarantees.

On value-per-outcome terms: Brain Training for Dogs offers a structured program you can start implementing immediately with measurable progress checkpoints. The curriculum has a defined arc, and you know when your dog has mastered each level. Secrets to Dog Training offers a reference resource whose value depends heavily on how you use it — owners who engage with it systematically get strong value; owners who pick it up occasionally get less.

Assessment: Brain Training for Dogs offers more predictable, structured value per dollar for the majority of owners. Secrets to Dog Training’s value depends more on owner engagement pattern and self-direction.

Who Each Program Suits

Brain Training for Dogs is the better fit for:

• Owners with dogs that have behavior problems linked to boredom, mental under-stimulation, anxiety, or hyperactivity
• Owners committed to force-free, science-based positive reinforcement methods
• First-time dog owners who need a structured “what to do today” curriculum
• Owners of reactive, anxious, or sensitive dogs where correction methods would be counterproductive
• Owners who want to build a genuinely deep bond with their dog through cooperative, reward-based training
• Owners who value verifiable professional credentials behind the training methodology they’re following

Secrets to Dog Training is the better fit for:

• Owners who want a comprehensive reference covering many commands and behavior problems in one resource
• Owners of confident, stable dogs without anxiety or reactivity, who want a broad training toolkit
• Owners managing multiple dogs with varied issues who want one resource covering different scenarios
• Owners who specifically need puppy training content as a distinct, dedicated section
• Owners who prefer a reference manual format over a structured curriculum

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When to Choose Brain Training for Dogs

Your dog has behavioral problems you’ve been unable to solve with other approaches. If you have tried basic obedience work, redirection, or other intervention strategies and your dog’s barking, destructive behavior, hyperactivity, or reactivity persists, there is a strong chance you have been treating symptoms rather than causes. Brain Training for Dogs is specifically designed to address the root cause — cognitive under-stimulation — that drives the majority of these persistent behavior problems. This is worth a serious try before concluding that your dog is “untrainable.”

You are committed to force-free training. Whether that commitment comes from ethical values, from reading the behavioral science, or from owning a dog that has responded badly to aversive correction in the past, Brain Training for Dogs is the right choice. It is the only program in this comparison built entirely on force-free positive reinforcement without exception. If this methodology matters to you, there is no reason to settle for a program that mixes in correction-based approaches.

Your dog is anxious, reactive, or fearful. For dogs whose behavioral problems are rooted in anxiety or fear states, correction-based training approaches make things worse, not better. Fear-based behavior suppressed by aversives tends to re-emerge under stress, often more intensely. Brain Training for Dogs builds confidence through achievable success experiences and positive engagement — this is the right approach for anxious dogs. For specific guidance on force-free approaches to reactive behavior, my force-free approach to aggressive dog training article covers this in detail.

You want a structured, progressive program. If you respond well to having a clear plan — knowing what you’re doing today, what comes next, and how progress is structured — Brain Training for Dogs’s 7-level, 21-game curriculum gives you that structure. You’re not left wondering what to work on or how to sequence training. The curriculum is designed by a professional trainer who has thought through the learning progression carefully.

Your dog is a high-energy, high-drive breed. Working breeds, sporting breeds, terriers, herding dogs, and similar types were specifically bred for complex cognitive tasks. When these dogs don’t have adequate mental engagement, they generate their own stimulation in ways owners find destructive. Brain training is not just useful for these breeds — for many of them, it is the primary thing missing from their daily life. A 15-minute structured brain game session satisfies something that an hour of fetch often doesn’t.

You want to understand why the training works. Adrienne Farricelli explains the behavioral science behind each game and each level of the curriculum. You’re not just following instructions — you’re learning why each activity produces the behavioral changes it does. That understanding makes you a better trainer, and it helps you adapt when your specific dog responds differently than expected.

You want to see if online dog training can genuinely work before committing to expensive in-person sessions. Brain Training for Dogs at its price point is a fraction of what a single in-person training session typically costs. The 60-day guarantee means you can work through a substantial portion of the curriculum and evaluate real results before deciding whether you need additional professional support. Most owners who work consistently through the program report significant behavioral improvements well within the 60-day window. See how this program stacks up against the full landscape of options in my best online dog training programs ranked roundup.

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When to Choose Secrets to Dog Training

You want a comprehensive training reference that covers many topics. If your primary goal is having a single document you can turn to for a wide range of training situations — different commands, different behavior problems, different dog ages — Secrets to Dog Training’s breadth makes it a useful resource to have. The program functions well as a training encyclopedia that you can consult as different situations arise.

You’re training multiple dogs with different issues simultaneously. Brain Training for Dogs’s curriculum is most effective when applied consistently with one dog at a time. If you are managing a multi-dog household where different dogs have different needs, Secrets to Dog Training’s topic-by-topic reference structure is more flexible.

You specifically need dedicated puppy training content. Secrets to Dog Training has dedicated sections on puppy-specific training, housetraining, and developmental expectations. While Brain Training for Dogs can be adapted for puppies, the age-specific guidance in Secrets to Dog Training is more explicit on the puppy training side.

You want to understand multiple training approaches before settling on one. If you are new to dog training and want to read through various methodologies before deciding how you want to train your dog, Secrets to Dog Training’s multi-method coverage gives you a broader survey. You will need to evaluate the different approaches critically and decide which suit your dog and your values — but if you want that initial broad overview, it is available here.

Your dog is a confident, stable adult dog with basic obedience gaps rather than deep behavioral problems. For a dog that is generally well-adjusted but simply has not had consistent obedience training, Secrets to Dog Training’s command-by-command coverage can be practical and efficient. If you need to quickly work through sit, stay, come, and heel with a stable dog, a reference manual approach may serve you well.

You prefer a lower entry price point. Secrets to Dog Training is sometimes available at a lower promotional price than Brain Training for Dogs. If budget is a primary constraint and you have assessed that the broader reference format suits your needs, the lower price point is a legitimate consideration — especially given the 60-day guarantee on both.

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Our Pick: Which Dog Training Program Wins?

After working through both programs’ structure, methodology, creator credentials, content depth, and practical application to real behavioral problems, my clear recommendation is Brain Training for Dogs for the majority of dog owners.

Here is my core reasoning:

The behavioral problems that bring most owners to dog training programs in the first place — excessive barking, destructive chewing, hyperactivity, leash reactivity, difficulty with basic commands, separation anxiety — are predominantly driven by cognitive under-stimulation and lack of positive behavioral outlets. Brain Training for Dogs is specifically designed to address this root cause. Secrets to Dog Training addresses symptoms. Root-cause solutions tend to produce more durable results.

Adrienne Farricelli’s CPDT-KA certification means you are following a methodology that has been independently evaluated against professional training standards. That credential is not universal in the ClickBank dog training marketplace, and it matters when you are deciding whose approach to your dog’s behavior you are going to trust.

The structured, progressive curriculum with 21 specific brain games across 7 levels means you know exactly what to work on and why. For owners who have struggled with inconsistent or unfocused training in the past, this structure is genuinely valuable. It removes the guesswork.

The force-free-only methodology is not just a philosophical position — for the majority of dogs with behavioral problems, it is the right tool. Aversive methods applied without professional-level timing and precision can suppress behavior while worsening the underlying emotional state driving it. Most dog owners are not professional trainers. Force-free approaches that work through reward and positive engagement are more forgiving of imperfect technique and produce more stable, generalizable behavioral change.

A few things I want to be direct about:

1. Consistent daily practice matters. Brain Training for Dogs works when you work it. The brain game sessions are short — 5 to 15 minutes — but they need to happen regularly for the cumulative effect on your dog’s cognitive engagement and behavioral state to build. Sporadic engagement will produce sporadic results.

2. Give it at least three to four weeks of consistent work before evaluating. Behavioral change through positive reinforcement is progressive. Some owners expect to see immediate transformation in the first few sessions. The more realistic arc is gradual improvement over several weeks as your dog’s mental engagement increases and the new patterns become habitual.

3. The 60-day guarantee is real and usable. If you work consistently through the program for 30 days and do not see meaningful improvement in the specific behaviors you were targeting, you are within your refund window. Use it. ClickBank’s refund process is straightforward.

4. Both programs can co-exist if you have specific reasons for wanting the reference breadth of Secrets to Dog Training. If you purchase Brain Training for Dogs for the core curriculum and find you also want a broader reference for specific situations, Secrets to Dog Training is available at a low enough price point that owning both is a reasonable option — and you have independent 60-day windows on each.

For additional context on how to think about the range of digital dog training options available, my complete dog training guide for beginners and dog training methods explained articles give you broader framework for evaluating what matters in a training program. If you have a specific breed with known training considerations, my English Bull Terrier Guide review covers breed-specific training nuance for that type. For owners dealing with housetraining as a specific priority, my housetraining program review addresses that topic directly.

Bottom line: Brain Training for Dogs wins this comparison for most buyers. The superior credential, the force-free-only methodology, the structured progressive curriculum, and the root-cause approach to behavioral problems combine to make it the stronger choice for the owner who wants real, durable behavioral change with their dog. The 60-day guarantee means you can test this judgment for yourself at low financial risk.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brain Training for Dogs better than Secrets to Dog Training?

Brain Training for Dogs and Secrets to Dog Training serve different training philosophies. Brain Training for Dogs focuses exclusively on force-free positive reinforcement and mental stimulation brain games, making it ideal for dogs with behavioral issues stemming from boredom or under-stimulation. Secrets to Dog Training covers a broader range of obedience techniques across many topics. For owners committed to force-free training and for dogs with behavioral problems linked to mental under-stimulation — which is most of them — Brain Training for Dogs is typically the stronger choice.

What is the difference between Brain Training for Dogs and Secrets to Dog Training?

Brain Training for Dogs by Adrienne Farricelli focuses on developing a dog’s intelligence through 21 progressive brain games and force-free positive reinforcement, organized across 7 curriculum levels. It is a structured program with a clear progression. Secrets to Dog Training takes a broader approach — it is a comprehensive reference manual covering multiple training methods, many obedience commands, and a wide range of behavior problems. The key differences are methodology (force-free only vs. multi-method) and structure (progressive curriculum vs. reference manual).

Which dog training program should I buy?

Choose Brain Training for Dogs if you want a structured, progressive brain-games approach built on force-free positive reinforcement, especially if your dog has behavior problems like excessive barking, destructive behavior, or hyperactivity. Choose Secrets to Dog Training if you want a comprehensive training reference covering many topics, or if you specifically need puppy training guidance as a dedicated section. Both programs include a 60-day money-back guarantee, so the financial risk is low either way.

Do I need any special equipment for Brain Training for Dogs?

No specialized equipment is required. Most of the brain games use items you already have at home — small treats, a leash, basic household objects. Adrienne Farricelli includes a list of what you need for each game before you begin it. The focus is on training engagement and mental challenge, not props.

How quickly will I see results with Brain Training for Dogs?

Most owners working consistently through the curriculum report noticeable behavioral improvements within two to four weeks. Some owners see changes in the first week, particularly in attention and focus. More deeply established behavioral patterns — separation anxiety, chronic leash reactivity — typically take longer. The key variable is consistency: short daily sessions produce faster results than occasional longer sessions.

Can Brain Training for Dogs work for any breed?

Yes. The brain game methodology is based on fundamental canine learning psychology, not breed-specific traits. That said, high-drive working breeds, herding breeds, and sporting breeds often respond particularly well because these dogs were specifically bred for complex cognitive tasks and tend to be most under-stimulated in typical household environments. Toy breeds and companion breeds also respond well — the games are calibrated to the individual dog’s progress, not to a breed template.

Is Secrets to Dog Training still relevant in 2026?

Secrets to Dog Training has been available for many years and continues to sell through ClickBank, which indicates ongoing buyer value. The core principles of obedience training and behavior management it covers are not time-sensitive. That said, the behavioral science understanding of dog cognition has advanced considerably, and programs like Brain Training for Dogs that incorporate current research on canine intelligence and learning have a methodological edge over older reference manuals on the science front.

What if neither program works for my dog?

Both programs carry 60-day ClickBank money-back guarantees. If you work consistently through either program for 30 to 45 days and do not see meaningful behavioral improvement, you are within your refund window to request a full refund. For persistent behavioral problems that do not respond to structured home training programs — particularly aggression toward people, severe separation anxiety, or fear-based reactivity — a consultation with a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB) or veterinary behaviorist is the appropriate next step. Digital programs are not replacements for professional in-person assessment in severe cases.

Can I use Brain Training for Dogs alongside in-person training?

Yes, and many owners do. Brain Training for Dogs functions well as the between-session work that accelerates progress from in-person sessions. Professional trainers who use positive reinforcement methods will find the program consistent with what they teach; it is not going to introduce conflicting approaches that undermine in-person work.

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Informational only. This article is for general informational purposes and is not professional, legal, medical, electrical, or financial advice. Survival, energy, and water-treatment decisions carry real risks — consult a licensed professional for your specific situation. Product claims are the manufacturer’s; verify current details on the official site.

By Megan Forsythe — off-grid homesteader & CERT-certified emergency preparedness instructor.