Daisy writes a book. That’s one smart pup!
Smartpups’ Robi O’Keeffe with her companion, ambassador, author, adoring mum and adventurer Daisy.
by Cameron Outridge
NAMBOUR’S Robi O’Keeffe wanted to write a book. Not just any book. But a book about life through the eyes of a dog. And not just any dog. It had to be her faithful companion Daisy, a six-year-old golden retriever, trained by Smartpups.
Smartpups trains assistance dogs for special needs children and Robi is their Coordinator of Community Fundraising.
The pair are well-known for their work promoting the organisation to clubs and schools.
“Daisy’s job is very important,” said Robi. “As well as being an author she’s Smartpups’ official ambassador. She was also a wonderful mother and she’s my own assistance dog. She’s written three books now through the eye of a four-foot and she gives her perspective on the world.”
Daisy’s first book, Miss Daisy’s Diary, is in its third reprint of 100. The second book is Miss Daisy’s Family.
The latest book, Miss Daisy’s Adventures, tells of her adventures all over Australia, touring with Robi and husband Richard in their 1972 Kombi Campervan.
“From the Gulf of Carpentaria to the very bottom of Tasmania and all points in between,” said Robi.
“As a member of the family I thought Daisy should be able to comment from her perspective of how the family operates. It’s very much Daisy’s book.”
Robi said Smartpups were trained to improve children’s independence and quality of life. Incredibly, they can assist with autism support, seizure response, mobility assistance, medical or diabetic alert.
“They can warn up to 20 minutes before a child is about to have a seizure,” said Robi. “They can smell it on the child’s breath.
“It’s quite incredible. When a child is
getting distressed our dogs can read body language but they can also sense the stress chemicals. We teach our dogs to comfort a distraught child, to interrupt harmful, repet- itive behaviours or meltdowns. The dog will come and touch them as if to say ‘it’s okay, I’m here, calm down’.”
The dogs were also responsible guardians. “It’s hard to ask a little boy to hold mummy’s hand in a public place but they’re quite pleased with the responsibility of having the dog tied to them. What they never figure out is it’s the dog that is keeping an eye on them and not the other way around. And if the child wanders a certain distance away from the carer the dog will just flop down like a bag of wet cement. They can’t do a runner with 30kg of dog dragging behind.
“Even if they do get away our dogs are all taught tracking. But we can teach them anything we need to teach to suit the child. It’s not a one-size fits all. Each is trained task-specific for their child.
“We have one little boy with 11 major medical issues and his dog is so multi-skilled it would just take your breath away.”
The books are $18 each or $50 if you buy all three at once.
Email robi@smartpups. com.au or Smartpups volunteer Terry Clark at tclarkagencies@gmail.com or 0416 150 742 to order the books.
The organisation can always do with help, through fundraising, sponsoring, or foster carers. They have also just been endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs as the training facility to provide service dogs for returned veterans suffering PTSD. Details: www.smartpups.org.au.