Brain Training for Dogs vs Dunbar Academy: Which Online Course Fits Your Dog?

Brain Training for Dogs and Dunbar Academy are both reward-based online dog training programs, but they are built for different owners. One is a $67 one-time game course with a 60-day refund. The other is a $20-a-month library (or $97 to $200 per course) from one of the best-known names in puppy training, with a 30-day refund. This comparison is research-based: we read both sales pages and checkouts in October 2026 and did not take either course.

The quick verdict

Pick Brain Training for Dogs if you want a single low payment, a clear level-by-level game plan, and the longer refund window. Pick Dunbar Academy if you want deeper behavior science, a detailed puppy program, or courses you can download and keep. Neither gives live one-on-one coaching on your own dog in its basic form.

Head-to-head comparison

	Brain Training for Dogs	Dunbar Academy
Price	$67 one-time (checked Oct 11, 2026)	$20/month membership, or single courses $97 to $200 one-time (vendor site, Oct 12, 2026)
Puppy content	Puppy section inside the course (potty, crate, socialization, bite inhibition, per vendor)	Essential Puppy Training Course, $200; free puppy eBooks
Refund	60 days, requested through the vendor	30-day satisfaction refund (vendor site)
Method	Force-free, reward-based	Reward-based, science-based
Structure	7 levels, 21+ games, beginner to advanced	Separate courses by topic; membership unlocks all
Creator	Adrienne Farricelli, CPDT-KA (per vendor)	Dr. Ian Dunbar, veterinarian and behaviorist, plus guest trainers
Downloads	Browser access; no downloads noted in a 2023 third-party review	Purchased courses downloadable; membership videos usually not
Free option	None (refund window instead)	Free course collection
Best for	Enrichment and everyday manners on a fixed budget	Puppy raising, behavior depth, trainers and keen owners

What Brain Training for Dogs is

A self-paced online course credited to Adrienne Farricelli. The vendor lists 21+ brain games across 7 levels, 7 trick videos, an archive of 100+ articles, a puppy section, a member forum and a bonus behavior course covering chewing, jumping and barking. The focus is short, food-motivated games that build focus and impulse control.

On October 11, 2026 the checkout showed $67.00 as a single item with no rebill. The refund limit at checkout was 60 days.

What Dunbar Academy is

Dunbar Academy is the online school of Dr. Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist widely credited with popularizing off-leash puppy classes. The site, checked October 12, 2026, offers a Top Dog Academy membership at $20 per month covering all courses, or individual courses with lifetime access: $97 for Beyond Treat Training, $100 for Simple Solutions for Common Dog Behavior Problems, and $200 each for courses such as the Essential Puppy Training Course and the Reactive Dog Toolkit.

The site states a 100% satisfaction guarantee with a full refund within 30 days. Memberships can be cancelled any time, but access ends when you cancel. Purchased courses can be downloaded.

Illustrative photos.

Price: one payment vs a monthly fee

Price is the clearest difference. Brain Training for Dogs costs $67 once. Dunbar Academy's membership costs $20 per month, which passes $67 in the fourth month, or $240 over a year if you never cancel. Buying the Essential Puppy Training Course alone costs $200.

That does not make Dunbar Academy poor value. You get a much larger library and courses taught by a veterinarian. But if you only need one structured plan for a family dog, the one-time option costs less.

Refund window

Brain Training for Dogs gives 60 days; Dunbar Academy gives 30 days. With any training course, the first two weeks are often slow while you and the dog learn the routine, so a longer window gives you more time to judge. Keep your receipt and request any refund inside the window.

Content and teaching style

Brain Training for Dogs is built around games: muffin tin puzzles, shell games, hide and seek and similar tasks that grow harder by level. It is practical and easy to follow, but less focused on explaining behavior theory.

Dunbar Academy is more educational. Courses explain why dogs behave as they do, how to socialize puppies, and how to handle common behavior problems, plus a Reactive Dog Toolkit. It suits owners who like to understand the reasoning, and trainers who want continuing education.

Puppies vs adult dogs

For a new puppy, Dunbar Academy's dedicated puppy course and free puppy eBooks are a real strength, especially on socialization timing and bite inhibition. Brain Training for Dogs includes a puppy section, but its core is the 7-level game path, which works for puppies, adults and seniors alike. For bored adult dogs that chew and pull, the game structure is the more direct fit. See why dogs pull, jump and chew.

Getting the most from either course

Whichever you choose, results come from the owner's routine, not the purchase. Three habits make the biggest difference:

• Short, frequent sessions: 5 to 10 minutes, two or three times a day, beats one long weekend session.
• One household plan: everyone uses the same cues and rewards.
• A simple log: note what your dog finds easy or hard so you know when to move on.

Both courses are self-paced, so nobody will remind you to practice. Put sessions next to something you already do, such as before breakfast or after the evening walk. If you have tried a course for three or four weeks with daily practice and see no progress, that is useful information. It may be time for a trainer who can watch your dog.

When to pick Dunbar Academy instead

• You have a young puppy and want a detailed socialization and bite-inhibition program.
• You want downloadable courses to keep offline.
• You value a veterinarian-behaviorist author and like learning the theory.
• Your dog is mildly reactive and you want a toolkit alongside a professional's help.
• You plan to work through many topics and a $20 monthly membership suits you.

When Brain Training for Dogs fits better

• You want one payment and no subscription.
• Your main goal is a calmer, mentally tired dog and better everyday manners.
• You prefer short daily games over lessons on theory.
• You want the longer 60-day refund window to decide.

Neither course replaces a professional for aggression, bites, strong fear or panic when left alone. Start with your veterinarian, then a certified behavior professional.

Try before you buy anything

Dunbar Academy has a free course collection, and our 5 brain games you can play tonight show you the game style free. If your dog loves the games, the structured version is worth a look. For three more options, see our best online dog training courses in 2026, and our full Brain Training for Dogs review.

Sources (checked Oct 2026)

• Brain Training for Dogs sales page and checkout (braintraining4dogs.com, brainydogs.pay.clickbank.net), Oct 11, 2026.
• Dunbar Academy homepage, course list, membership and refund terms (dunbaracademy.com), Oct 12, 2026.
• Canine Journal, "Best Online Dog Training" (caninejournal.com), Feb 13, 2025, for Dunbar Academy course examples.
• Canine Journal Brain Training for Dogs review (2023), for browser-only access.