SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS
We train dogs in three main branches of therapy through positive reinforcement
Deep Pressure Therapy, Grounding and Calming
To help handlers reorient during anxiety attacks or episodes of brain fog, both common among people with disordered eating, Project Hortence trains its service dogs in deep pressure therapy and grounding techniques.
Deep pressure therapy involves the dog applying steady, consistent pressure to its handler. Repositioning prompts the handler to move by having the dog place itself in a position that requires adjustment. Tactile grounding helps redirect attention away from anxiety through licking, as well as gentle head and paw placement.
Blood Sugar Detection and Cardiac Alert Training
We train dogs in cardiac and blood sugar alert training using scent detection. Dogs trained in this type of medical alert work detect chemical changes in the body associated with drops or spikes in blood sugar, pressure and heart rate, then alert their handler.
Safety and Navigation
We train dogs in safety and navigation techniques, useful in anxiety attacks and disorientation episodes. Two types of this technique include: guarding, where a dog positions itself in front, to the side, or behind the handler to create a physical buffer in an overwhelming environment, and guiding, where a dog identifies signs of distress or escalating anxiety and leads the handler to an exit