Adrienne Farricelli: the trainer behind Brain Training for Dogs
If you're weighing up the program, it's reasonable to want to know who wrote it. Here's what is publicly established about Adrienne Farricelli, her credentials and her approach, and just as importantly what we can't verify.
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Quick answer
Adrienne Farricelli is a professional dog trainer who holds the CPDT-KA certification and has written widely about dog training and behaviour for pet publications. She created Brain Training for Dogs and a body of online training articles. Her method is reward-based, which is consistent with mainstream veterinary-behaviour guidance.
Credentials
Farricelli holds the Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) credential. This is issued by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), an independent body. Earning it requires documented training experience, a passing score on a standardised exam covering learning theory, instruction, husbandry and equipment, and ongoing continuing education to keep it current. It is a recognised, assessment-based qualification, not a self-awarded title.
She has also worked as a prolific writer on canine topics, contributing training and behaviour articles to pet-focused publications and websites over many years. Exact titles, dates and any additional qualifications are best confirmed from her own current bio, we don't restate specifics we can't independently check.
Training philosophy
Her stated approach is reward-based and marker-driven:
- Decide the behaviour you want and reinforce it the instant it happens
- Arrange the environment so the dog is likely to succeed
- Build difficulty gradually, distance, duration, distraction, one at a time
- Avoid intimidation, physical correction and aversive tools such as prong or shock collars
This is the same framework we cover in positive reinforcement dog training, and it aligns with position statements from organisations like the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Research comparing training methods generally favours reward-based approaches on both effectiveness and welfare.
What owners using the program say
Since starting Brain Training for Dogs, I’ve noticed a real difference in the way my dogs approach training. They seem more engaged, focused, and excited to participate. What used to feel like repetitive command training now feels more like a fun challenge where they get to think, learn, and figure things out.
I especially love that the approach focuses on making training enjoyable rather than forcing behaviours. It has helped me communicate better with my dogs and has strengthened the bond we share. They are more confident, eager to learn, and always seem ready for the next session. It has completely changed the way I think about training.
Emily R.Dog ownerAfter going through the program, I feel much more confident when training my dog. I have a better understanding of why my puppy behaves the way he does, and that has completely changed how I respond during training.
My puppy is picking things up more quickly, paying closer attention, and responding much better to my cues. The biggest benefit for me has been learning how to stay patient and consistent instead of feeling frustrated when something does not work immediately.
Brain Training for Dogs gave me practical tools and a better understanding of how to work with my dog. It has been a great experience for both of us and has made training something we genuinely enjoy together.
Jennifer M.Dog ownerTestimonials from people who have used Brain Training for Dogs. They describe individual experiences: results vary from dog to dog and from owner to owner, and are not guaranteed. This website is independent and is not run by Adrienne Farricelli or the program’s makers.
What she created
Brain Training for Dogs is her flagship product: a self-paced online course that teaches obedience and manners through a graded series of games, with a section on common behaviour problems. Alongside it she has produced a large volume of free online writing on dog behaviour, body language, health-adjacent behaviour questions and training how-tos. Our full review covers the course in detail.
How to sanity-check any dog trainer
Whether or not you buy this program, these are the checks worth doing on anyone whose training advice you follow:
| Check | Good sign |
|---|---|
| Credential | Assessment-based certification (e.g. CPDT-KA) or membership of a reputable body |
| Method | Reward-based; can explain how they'd handle a problem without aversive tools |
| Scope | Refers aggression, severe anxiety and possible pain to a vet / behaviourist |
| Claims | Talks about skills and probabilities, not "guaranteed" fixes or "genius" dogs |
| Transparency | Clear about what a product is, what it costs, and its limits |
By these measures, the method behind Brain Training for Dogs holds up well. The marketing around it, often written by affiliates rather than the trainer, is where the "genius dog" overreach creeps in. See is it a scam for that distinction.
See the program she created
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FAQ
Related pages
- Brain Training for Dogs review
- Is it legit?
- Positive reinforcement dog training
- Dog behaviour problems
References
- Ziv G (2017). The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs: a review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 19, 50–60.
- Vieira de Castro AC, Fuchs D, Morello GM, Pastur S, de Sousa L, Olsson IAS (2020). Does training method matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. PLOS ONE 15(12), e0225023.
- China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ (2020). Efficacy of dog training with and without remote electronic collars vs. a focus on positive reinforcement. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 508.
- China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ (2023). Reevaluating the effectiveness of electronic shock collars: prevalence of adverse effects and comparison with positive reinforcement. PLOS ONE.
- Herron ME, Shofer FS, Reisner IR (2009). Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 117, 47–54.
- Hiby EF, Rooney NJ, Bradshaw JWS (2004). Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare. Animal Welfare 13, 63–69.
- Blackwell EJ, Twells C, Seawright A, Casey RA (2008). The relationship between training methods and the occurrence of behavior problems, as reported by owners, in a population of domestic dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 3, 207–217.
- Rooney NJ, Cowan S (2011). Training methods and owner–dog interaction: links with dog behaviour and learning ability. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 132, 169–177.
- Deldalle S, Gaunet F (2014). Effects of 2 training methods on stress-related behaviors of the dog and on the dog–owner relationship. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 9, 58–65.
- Arhant C, Bubna-Littitz H, Bartels A, Futschik A, Troxler J (2010). Behaviour of smaller and larger dogs: effects of training methods, inconsistency of owner behaviour and level of engagement in activities with the dog. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 123, 131–142.
- Fernandes JG, Olsson IAS, Vieira de Castro AC (2017). Do aversive-based training methods actually compromise dog welfare?: a literature review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 196, 1–12.
- Casey RA, Loftus B, Bolster C, Richards GJ, Blackwell EJ (2014). Human-directed aggression in domestic dogs: occurrence in different contexts and risk factors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 152, 52–63.
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (2021). Position Statement on Humane Dog Training. View source
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Position Statement on the Use of Punishment for Behavior Modification in Animals. View source
- American Animal Hospital Association (2015). Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines. View source
- WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee (2018). Global Welfare Guidelines for companion animal practitioners. Journal of Small Animal Practice.
These references describe dogs and training in general. They are not evidence about any specific commercial program. This page is general information, not a substitute for individualised veterinary or behaviour advice. Last reviewed: 30 August 2026.