Grounding / Tactile stimulation

About this task

Dog nudges, licks, or paws the handler to interrupt dissociation, flashbacks, or panic attacks and bring them back to the present moment.

How it helps: Physical contact from the dog creates a sensory anchor that interrupts dissociative states and panic cycles.

Required foundation skills

Basic attention. Nose touch.

Training steps

1. Teach a nose touch to hand on cue
2. Transfer to touching handler's leg, arm, or face
3. Add the cue "touch" or "check"
4. Teach dog to repeat the touch if handler does not respond
5. Build a chain: touch, wait, touch again, wait, escalate to paw
6. Practice with handler ignoring the dog initially (simulating dissociation)
7. Reward persistence and appropriate escalation
8. Generalize to different environments

Proofing criteria

Once your dog reliably performs this task at home, proof it in these environments and situations:

1. Touches handler on cue reliably at home
2. Persists if handler does not immediately respond
3. Escalates appropriately if first touch is ignored
4. Grounds handler in multiple environments
5. Responds to cue during simulated handler distress
6. Does not use grounding when not cued