Doggie Defragmentation

[wehkah]

I've got a friend that currently has a unruly german shepherd. She tells me that she found a trainer that is going to send the dog through a defragmentation process. The dog isn't allowed to eat the day that she is to bring him. They told her that the process is going to last about 2hrs.

Now has anyone heard of this before. I tried to look this up on the internet to no avail. The only thing I can think of is that if they starve the poor dog it will be more than willing to do what ever is asked of it for food. In my opinion I think it's cruel to do. They never really explain what it means to defrag the dog. I'm a firm believer that the owner should train their dog so that the dog learns to obey its owner as oppose to the trainer. If the owner of the dog doesn't reinforce the training of the dog and realize what it takes to reinforce the training of the dog it will just end in failure eventually.

ANY how I'm curious to find out if anyone here knows what it means to defrag a dog????

 

[Doberluv]

Why don't you ask your friend what all is entailed in this "defragmentation." I've never heard of it but it sounds scary and probably stressful for the dog if it's only going to take 2 hours. I agree with you that your friend should learn some sound, tried and true training methods, such as are discussed a lot right here and train him himself with the addition of taking him to an obedience class with a reputable, humane trainer who emphisizes positive reinforcement type methods. You're right that it's the relationship between the owner and dog that has everything to do with the training process. He should be VERY careful when sending his dog away for training. Many a dog has been ruined this way when extreme caution and knowledge of what the training plan is and the reputation of the trainer...what the trainer intends to do to impart the knowledge and implimenting of methods to the owner. Anyone who claims to have a quick fix for anything, I am extremely suspicious of.

 

[wehkah]

I'm glad to know that I'm not the crazy person! Whew! I'm going to write my friend back and let her know that I'm not sure that the defragging is the answer. I would want to know more information about the process before I'd drop a dog off there. Not to mention the price of it all! I wish I could make $150 for 2hrs of work! What a racket!

 

[bjdobson]

You defragment a computer hard drive, not a DOG!!! I'd advise against it for sure.

 

[Doberluv]

You defragment a computer hard drive, not a DOG!!! I'd advise against it for sure.

Yeah...probably some over zealous, Cesar Milan type who is planning a lobotomy on the dog....to remove all free will and shut the dog down so it doesn't behave... (AT ALL) I hope your friend will hold off and get some help based on the science of behavior and sensible, proven, gentle training methods.

 

[Dekka]

Now wait.....

Its a weird name.. BUT check the methodologies first. I often tell people not to feed the dog the day I come over. A first visit IS 2 hours. It often less than an hour actually working with the dog. The other our is spent discussing and explaining things like NILF.. debunking pack theory and helping them set up a schedule to start brining some order to the out of control dog.

If it wasn't for the strange name I wouldn't necessarily think anything of it.

 

[DaVinci]

I have never heard of such a thing. I hope you are able to convince your friend to try a different training method.

 

[Dekka]

I have never heard of such a thing. I hope you are able to convince your friend to try a different training method.

But we dont' know the method.. only what the person is calling it.

 

[wehkah]

Now wait.....

Its a weird name.. BUT check the methodologies first. I often tell people not to feed the dog the day I come over. A first visit IS 2 hours. It often less than an hour actually working with the dog. The other our is spent discussing and explaining things like NILF.. debunking pack theory and helping them set up a schedule to start brining some order to the out of control dog.

That's the difference of a good trainer and a bad one in my opinion. She was just asked to drop the dog off for 2hrs while they "defrag" the dog. I don't know what that all entails but I would definitely ask more questions.

 

[Dekka]

Hmm dropping the dog off is kinda scary...

 

[lizzybeth727]

I agree with Dekka, it could just as well be a good method with a funny name. I know of many +R trainers who are coming up with scary names for their classes just to get more "crossover" owners in the class - owners who will be attracted by the scary name just to learn what a different training method can do.

That said, I'd NEVER just drop my dog off with a new trainer and leave him alone with them. Personally I'd probably never drop my dog off with a trainer I DO know, but that's just me.

 

[Doberluv]

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Now wait.....

Its a weird name.. BUT check the methodologies first. I often tell people not to feed the dog the day I come over. A first visit IS 2 hours. It often less than an hour actually working with the dog. The other our is spent discussing and explaining things like NILF.. debunking pack theory and helping them set up a schedule to start brining some order to the out of control dog.

If it wasn't for the strange name I wouldn't necessarily think anything of it.

Oh! Where did you see this? Did you look up defragmenting in regard to dog training? Yes! If that's what it means, sounds fine. "the first visit is 2 hours." Well, this is all information I didn't get from the OP. I'd definitely ask more questions. Hope things work out well.

I also would be petrified to leave my dog anywhere. I think the trainer should work with the owner in most cases. I can understand a few exceptions.