I’ve spent the better part of two years testing dog training courses on my border collie mix, Milo. Most weren’t worth the money. A few were genuinely useful. This page summarizes what I’ve found , ranked by what actually produced results, not by commission rate.
Quick answer if you don’t want to read the whole thing: Brain Training for Dogs is the best all-around course for most dogs with behavioral issues. If you have a puppy specifically, Puppy In 7 Days is worth a look. For pure obedience without the behavioral angle, SpiritDog Training is solid.
How I Evaluated These Courses
I only include courses I’ve personally gone through with Milo, or that I’ve researched extensively through real owner communities (not review sites that clearly haven’t used the product). My criteria:
- Does it actually change behavior? Not just teach tricks , does the dog become easier to live with?
- Is the method sound? Force-free, science-backed methods only. Anything using prong collars or punishment is automatically out.
- Is it worth the price? Value relative to what a local trainer charges.
- Can a normal person follow it? Not everyone has 2 hours a day. If it requires that, I say so.
#1 Brain Training for Dogs . Best Overall
Price: $67 one-time | Refund: 60-day money-back guarantee | Best for: Dogs with behavioral problems (barking, pulling, destructive behavior, ignoring commands)
Brain Training for Dogs (created by CPDT-KA certified trainer Adrienne Farricelli) takes a different angle than most courses. Instead of drilling commands, it uses 21 structured brain games to reduce boredom-driven misbehavior. The theory: a mentally stimulated dog is a better-behaved dog. In Milo’s case, this was exactly right.
After six weeks, Milo walked on a loose leash, stopped shredding furniture, and started responding to recall reliably. The structured progression (seven modules from Preschool to Einstein level) means you always know what to do next, which removes the guesswork that kills most training attempts.
What I liked: Works for dogs of any age or breed. Video demonstrations make everything clear. Private member forum is actually active and helpful. Lifetime access means you can revisit sections as your dog progresses.
What I didn’t like: Requires 10–20 minutes of consistent daily work, especially in the first few weeks. Won’t help with serious aggression or resource guarding , those need an in-person trainer. Some of the advanced modules are harder than they look.
Bottom line: The best $67 I’ve spent on Milo. For most dog owners dealing with behavioral frustrations, this is where I’d start.
Read my full review: Brain Training for Dogs Review: Does It Actually Work?
#2 SpiritDog Training . Best for Foundational Obedience
Price: $47–$97 depending on course | Refund: 60-day guarantee | Best for: Puppies and dogs that need clean foundational commands (sit, stay, come, heel)
SpiritDog is run by Steffi Trott, a professional dog trainer based in New Mexico. Her courses are more traditionally structured than Brain Training for Dogs , less focus on mental enrichment games, more focus on building reliable obedience from the ground up. If your dog is reasonably well-behaved but inconsistent on commands, SpiritDog’s approach clicks faster than Brain Training’s.
What I liked: Very clear video instruction. Good course on reactivity (dogs that lunge or bark at other dogs). Reasonable price for the depth of content.
What I didn’t like: Less effective for dogs whose problems are rooted in boredom or under-stimulation. The membership model means costs add up if you want multiple courses.
Bottom line: Solid second choice, especially for puppies or reactive dogs. I’d recommend Brain Training first, but SpiritDog is worth it if that doesn’t fit your situation.
Courses I Don’t Recommend
I’m not going to name every course I tried that didn’t work. But I’ll say: be skeptical of anything that promises “train your dog in 5 minutes a day” or relies heavily on dominance theory. Both tend to produce inconsistent results and can damage your relationship with your dog.
What If You Can’t Afford an Online Course?
Group obedience classes at a local pet store (PetSmart, Petco, or an independent training facility) run $100–$150 for 6 weeks and are genuinely effective for basic commands. If money is tight, that’s a better option than a cheap online course that won’t hold your attention. YouTube channels from certified trainers like Kikopup or Zak George also provide solid free content, though they lack the structure of a paid program.
Final Recommendation
For most people reading this: start with Brain Training for Dogs. The 60-day refund means you risk nothing by trying it. If you work through the first three modules consistently and don’t see any change in your dog’s behavior, get your money back. Most people won’t need to.
Affiliate disclosure: Links in this post may earn us a commission at no cost to you. See our full disclosure here.
If you are dealing with specific issues like pulling or recall problems, I also have dedicated guides: how to stop leash pulling and how to teach a reliable recall.