Therapy Dog Thursday - Smart Pups.

Along with all the other amazing groups and organizations who provide dogs around to Australia to those requiring support, the team at Smart Pups offer a life changing addition to any child with special needs. 

Smart Pups provide specially trained service dogs to children with special needs, with the goal to have these amazing dogs assist these children every day to help improve their quality of life.
These incredible Labradors and Golden Retrievers are selected at 8 weeks old and begin training within their foster family. They are exposed to all different daily experiences and household routines.
Between the ages of 6 – 8 months old they enter the Smart Pups program of General Training Modules before entering the Advanced Training Program. At this stage of training they learn task specific modules, this way, when they time comes and they are matched with their child to assist, they will meet the exact needs of that child. How amazing is that?!|

The amazing team at Smart Pups train their dogs in 5 areas of assistance.
- Autism Assistance
- Diabetic and Medical Alert
- Seizure Response
- Mobility Assistance
- Vision Assistance 

Read below, from Cody's Mum, how Smart Pup Lulu changed Cody's life from the day she joined his family! 

So, a little about Miss Lulu and Cody. Before Lulu, Cody was a 14 year old boy who would rarely engage with anyone in or out of the home, he was like a shell of a boy with not many words or emotions. Since Lulu, Cody has changed in so many ways… he laughs, he smiles, he plays, he goes to school, hospital appointments and all his therapies with a smile on his face. He asks every day if Lulu is his best friend and if she loves him. It makes all our hearts smile, everyone who knows Cody comments on the changes in him and that the smile he has on his face each day is because of Lulu. We never knew a dog could love the way Lulu does, unconditionally.
Lulu hasn’t only changed Cody’s life, she has changed all our lives, in more ways than we could ever have imagined! Cody’s two younger brothers suffer from severe anxiety (which has stemmed from seeing Cody in emergency situations and watching paramedics saving him more times than they should have ever seen). When they are worked up or they just need a cuddle and kiss Lulu is more than happy to oblige, she has an endless supply of love to give. As for Scott and I, well she has definitely brightened our lives for different reasons. What she has done for Cody gives us relief, simple things like laying with him on the couch, sleeping on his bed and watching him overnight. Lulu does what we can’t, stays by his side overnight, being near him while he sleeps. Not only does Lulu alert to Cody’s seizures, she is so perfectly in tune with him, she has stepped into action when Cody has been upset, unwell or even just a little bit off, checking him, comforting him and making sure we know exactly what is going on. It’s truly amazing how a dog can make you feel calm, when Scott and I are feeling a little overwhelmed or down she brightens our day too.

We have never seen a dog that loves as much as Lulu does, she has so much love to give! She gets very excited at the simple, “Hi Lulu!” Her whole body wiggles but nothing more than her wiggly bottom and waggly tail (we get a lot comments on her excited tail wag when we are at appointments). Kisses, kisses and more kisses is definitely one of Lulu’s quirks. First thing in the morning Lulu runs out of Cody’s room to our room and runs straight to me and kisses me until I give Lulu her morning back scratch. Then she goes to Scott waiting for him to take her to the toilet and then she comes in and lays with Cody until breakfast, it’s a daily routine and Lulu loves routine (maybe not as much as a back scratch though!)

When Victoria continued to go in and out of lockdown, Cody and Lulu have had PLENTY of time to fall in love!

Again thank you to all for their help and support in training Lulu to be the perfect match for Cody.
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Best friends for life.

Want to help support the amazing work that Smart Pups does?! There are many ways you can help, including tax deductible donations, fundraising, donating your time or even fostering a puppy! Find out more about how you can help support a Smart Pup at their website here! Your help and support will make a huge difference in a child's life!