https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/working-here/volunteering-us/meet-the-gosh-therapy-dogs/

Meet the GOSH therapy dogs

At Great Ormond Street Hospital we have a team of wonderful canine volunteers who visit patients, visitors, and staff. Find out which furry friends you might meet during your visit...

Why we have therapy dogs

It is well proven that animals can reduce the stress of being in hospital, so at GOSH we also have canine volunteers. They visit GOSH regularly and go to most wards and departments.

The main aim of our therapy dogs is to cheer up children and young people who might be missing their pet at home. They bring a smile to everyone they visit – staff as well as families – and generally make us all feel better.

Our therapy dogs also support our clinical work by:

  • helping patients to carry out their exercise programmes, often by joining in or acting as a reward for getting up and about
  • visiting patients before a test, operation, or procedure to reduce their anxiety and calm them down
  • distract patients from any pain or discomfort by giving them something else to focus on

If you would like a therapy dog to visit for your child, talk to the ward play team.

A photo of a white fluffy small dog looking at the camera. She has floppy ears and a brown around her mouth.

Ada

Age: Seven

Breed: Coton de Tulear

Volunteer day: Wednesday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: September 2023

Favourite pastime: Sleeping! And playing with her friend, Willow.

Favourite toy: Anything that squeaks.

Fun fact: When Ada was little, she found a box of food colouring in the open cupboard. The floor was covered in food dye and there were rainbow paw prints all over the floor. Ada was stained for weeks!

A photo of a medium sized dog sat down. The dog is black with a white front, he has big floppy hairy ears and his tongue is hanging out of his mouth. He is wearing a blue coat that explains he is a GOSH volunteer.

Andy

Age: Three

Breed: Working Cocker Spaniel

Volunteer day: Wednesday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: July 2023

Favourite pastime: Andy's favourites include leisurely walks in the park and a good game of fetch. Come the evening, he enjoys settling onto the sofa, perfectly content to unwind and chill.

Favourite toy: Andy has an insatiable love for playtime, especially when it involves his beloved balls. Whether it's a game of fetch in the park or a spirited round of catch in the garden, his eyes light up with pure joy.

Fun fact: Once when out for dinner, Andy, true to his nature, couldn't resist spreading his cheerful greetings to all the people nearby - he radiated with enthusiasm to engage with the bustling atmosphere.

A small grey and white hairy dog looking at the camera.

Ariel

Age: Six

Breed: Havanese

Volunteer day: Weekends

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: September 2019

Pass time: Sleeping!

Favourite toy: A ball.

Fun fact: Likes to give their human brother a present when he comes home – recently it was a dead mouse!

A photo of a large dog sat down. The dog is black, white and orange coloured, with big floppy ears. It is wearing blue coat, with blue lead attached. The photo is from Christmas time, so Bailey also has fur around her jacket.

Bailey

Age: Seven

Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog

Volunteer day: Thursday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: November 2021

Favourite pastime: Watching Dogs Behaving Badly and The Supervet on television.

Favourite toy: She doesn't like toys.

Fun fact: It once took an hour for Bailey to be caught when she went swimming in the neighbour’s fish pond!

Take a tour of Great Ormond Street Hospital at Christmas through Bailey's eyes.

A small grey hairy dog wearing a red jacket, looking at the camera.

Bella

Age: Two

Breed: Havanese

Volunteer day: Weekends

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: January 2023

Favourite pastime: Sleeping.

Favourite toy: A ball.

Fun fact: She’s a pickpocket – she particularly likes tissues and shreds them everywhere!

Photo of a small fluffy white dog wearing a blue coat explaining that he is a GOSH therapy dog volunteer. He has big floppy ears and his mouth is open.

Billy Fizz

Age: Five

Breed: Cavapoo

Volunteer day: Monday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: July 2023

Favourite pastime: Playing ball.

Favourite toy: The ball!

Fun fact: Whenever her owners leave the house, Billie Fizz runs upstairs and waits at the window for their return - whether it’s five minutes or five hours!

A small white dog, wearing a orange feathery jacket looking at the camera.

Bluebell

Age: One

Breed: Poochon (Poodle and Bichon Fraise)

Volunteer day: Tuesday

Favourite pastime: Bluebell loves to go to the park and get muddy. She enjoys playing ball and enjoys going to cafe for a Pup Cup.

Favourite toy: Squeaky ball and her soft lion toy.

Fun fact: Bluebell has to be put on a lead near the local pond, when she was a puppy she was very cheeky and decided to dive in after a duck, but she was still wearing her coat and got very wet and stinky.

Chase in a field, holding a ball. A cockerpoo.

Chase

Age: Three

Breed: Cockerpoo

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: May 2023

Favourite pastime: Chase is obsessed with playing fetch all day long at home. However, when he’s at the park there are too many things for him to sniff so more often than not Mum is the one fetching the ball! He also loves playing tug of war with his soft toys.

Favourite toy: Any squeaky tennis ball.

Fun fact: Like most dogs, Chase loves chasing his own tail. Except Chase does sometimes catch his own tail – the first time he did that, he wasn’t quite sure what to do and just stood there for a few minutes with his tail in his mouth, looking very confused!

A small white dog, wearing a blue jacket.

Chewie

Age: Four

Breed: Maltipoo

Volunteer day: Weekends

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: May 2023

Favourite pastime: Cuddles on the sofa.

Favourite toy: Christmas dinosaur.

Fun fact: She’s scared when people have hiccups.

Photo of a large brown dog laying down with a red ball between its front paws.

Dexter

Age: 10

Breed: Chocolate Labrador

Volunteer day: Friday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: February 2023

Favourite pastime: He likes to eat more than anything else, and loves to swim in the ponds on Hampstead Heath whilst on long walks.

Favourite toy: Squeaky duck.

Fun fact: Dexter sneaks on to sleep on sofa’s if we stay overnight at other peoples' houses. He is never allowed on sofa at home.

Photo of a tiny grey and beige dog. She has grey eyebrows and floppy, fluffy ears. She is wearing a collar with a name tag hanging from it.

Flo

Age: Nine

Breed: Miniature Wire Haired Dachshund

Volunteer day: Monday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: 2018

Favourite pastime: Playing with large balls and getting them stuck in a corridor and then trying to get them out!

Favourite toy: A soft toy which she takes to bed and has had since a puppy.

Fun fact: Flo is normally not treat-obsessed, however once her owner left some biscuits on the front seat of the car. After a walk in the park, Flo went on to the back seat while her owner stood chatting to her friend. When she got into the car Flo was on the front seat and the biscuits were almost gone.

A very large brown dog. He is running with his big pink tongue hanging out.

Jeffrey

Age: Two

Breed: Leonberger

Volunteer day: Friday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: January 2024

Favourite past time: Playing in the park with his friends then going to the cafe for a sausage.

Favourite toy: Squirrel soft toy

Fun fact: Leonbergers are known as Suckybergers as they suck on soft toys like a dummy, which Jeffrey certainly does with his squirrel.

Jonty wearing his GOSH therapy dog uniform. He is a tiny black dog with pointy ears.

Jonty

Age: 11

Breed: Toy Poodle and Chihuahua (Poohuahua)

Volunteer day: Weekend

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: November 2017

Favourite pastime: Looking out of the window on the bus, riding on the bottom of the buggy, sleeping, and begging for chewy sticks by climbing on the back of the sofa, standing on your shoulder and singing.

Favourite toy: A soft white polar bear that he suckles - otherwise known as ‘Stinker Bear’!

Fun fact: Jonty and his family were walking by the canal one summer's day. His Dad was sitting on the other side of the lock and called to him. The canal was covered in green algae, but Jonty obviously thought it was grass and tried to run to him. He disappeared with a splash into the water! He was totally fine, but slightly shocked.

Photo of a medium sized orange dog wearing a blue coat explaining that he is a GOSH therapy dog volunteer. He has curly hair and big floppy ears.

Levi

Age: Two

Breed: Cavapoochon

Volunteer day: Weekend

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: 2022

Favourite pastime: Playing catch. If you stop playing he does occasionally throw the ball for himself, he’s also very good at heading the ball back to you like he’s playing football.

Favourite toy: His monkey toy.

Fun fact: Levi loves visiting the children at GOSH and showing off his tricks.

Photo of a small white and light brown dog laying down. She has floppy grey ears.

Lola

Age: 10

Breed: Shih Tzu cross

Volunteer day: Friday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: 2018

Favourite pastime: Lola loves her walks and chasing squirrels.

Favourite toy: Her blanket.

Fun fact: Lola loves chasing squirrels in the park, normally thankfully unsuccessfully. However, on one occasion as the squirrel managed to escape Lola’s chase, it slipped as it ran up the tree, fell off and landed on Lola’s head. Lola’s eyes bugged out, and she vertically leaped in horror with no idea what to do next! The squirrel ran one direction and Lola ended up deciding to run the opposite way.

Photo of a small fluffy white dog wearing a blue coat explaining that she is a GOSH therapy dog volunteer.

Lulu

Age: Eight

Breed: Maltese Terrier

Volunteer day: Wednesday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: 2018

Favourite pastime: Going to Starbucks, travelling on London Underground, trains and buses. Also visiting GOSH and walks in the park.

Favourite toy: Stuffed duck.

Fun fact: For her seventh birthday Lulu was gifted a kitten called Bear, as a sibling. Bear has been in charge since they arrived! Lulu and Bear are friends now, but you always know who is the boss. It was probably the most interesting birthday present Lulu's ever had.

Luna the GOSH therapy dog at home, looking up at the camera. She is a black cocker spanial.

Luna

Age: 2

Breed: Working Cocker Spaniel

Volunteer day: TBC
When did they start volunteering at GOSH: 2022
Favourite pastime: agility and running with her friend in the park
Favourite toy: Bunny, who she takes to bed with her every night.
Fun fact: Luna likes to collect and carry around her Nana’s lunch box. Any chance she gets she will steal it and bring it to us.

Photo of a very small brown fluffy dog with orange hair around her nose.

Mabel

Age: One

Breed: Miniature Wire Haired Dachshund

Volunteer day: Monday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: December 2022

Favourite pastime: Going up to every dog in the park and playing with them.

Favourite toy: Any toy her big sister is playing with.

Fun fact: The thing about Mabel is, she likes to chew tissues! She has managed to chew a hole in her owner's zipped up pocket of her favourite jacket and chewed the tissues, treats, and even the black plastic bags in there.

Photo of a large dark brown dog sitting looking at the camera. He is wearing a blue jacket that explains he is GOSH volunteer.

Otis

Age: Three

Breed: Chocolate Labrador

Volunteer day: Tuesday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: 2021

Favourite pastime: Otis lives in West London very close to the River Thames, where he regularly enjoys a spot of open water swimming. When not in the water he loves running with a large stick in his mouth. He has a growing pile just outside the front door, where he is made to leave them when he returns home.

Favourite toy: Otis loves balls and has been known to fall asleep with a deflated football in his mouth. He has also now succeeded in getting two tennis balls in his mouth at once and is currently working on managing a third!

Fun fact: When he was a puppy, Otis learnt all the best Labrador behaviour from his Great Uncle Hoover. This included learning that if he sat on command, with his ‘best ears’ forward, someone would likely give him a treat.

Photo of a small very fluffy light brown dog wearing a blue coat explaining that he is a GOSH therapy dog volunteer. He is stood on his back legs with his front paws rests on a table.

Ozzy

Age: One

Breed: Toy Malipoo - Maltese Terrier, Poodle cross

Volunteer day: Friday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: August 2023

Favourite pastime: Playing with his doggy friends, chasing his ball, and having lots of cuddles.

Favourite toy: Ozzy has a teddy that is twice the size of him and he loves it.

Fun fact: Ozzy's owner keeps a pile of old letters and documents, which Ozzy discovered and enjoys ripping them up into small digestible pieces and distributing them around the garden.

Photo of a large black, white and orange dog wearing a blue coat explaining that she is a GOSH therapy dog volunteer. She has big floppy ears, big paws and his mouth is open.

Poppy

Age: One

Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog

Volunteer day: Tuesday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: February 2023

Favourite pastime: Chasing squirrels, with no success.

Favourite toy: Squeaky unicorn and reindeer.

Fun fact: During Poppy's first trip to the beach she didn’t notice a large wave and got completely soaked, but loved it!

Photo of a medium sized brown dog sitting down. He is wearing a grey jacket and has very hairy ears. His mouth is open and his tongue is hanging out.

Sid

Age: Three

Breed: Working Cocker Spaniel

Volunteer day: Tuesday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: 2022

Favourite pastime: He loves to run on the beach, having cuddles, and chasing tennis balls.

Favourite toy: He loves a tennis ball, like really, really loves it! He also has a giant giraffe with a really long neck that he likes to drag around the garden and play tug of war with his sister Pebbles.

Fun fact: Sid met the love of his life, Meg, who is his neighbour. They go on walks together and fell in love. They had a wedding at the village fete - Sid wore a smart suit, Meg wore a beautiful dress, and Alan (Sid's cousin) was best man.

Photo of a small fluffy white and light brown dog wearing a blue coat explaining that he is a GOSH therapy dog volunteer. He has big floppy, hairy ears.

Teddy

Age: Eight

Breed: Cavachon

Volunteer day: Tuesday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: 2017

Favourite pastime: Sunbathing in the bay window at home.

Favourite toy: A stuffed lion.

Fun fact: When Teddy was a pup, he stole a bone off his brother, buried it in the garden, and then went back to eat his own bone.

Photo of a very small fluffy white, grey and black dog wearing a blue coat explaining that he is a GOSH therapy dog volunteer. He has big floppy ears, hair that covers his eyes and his mouth is open with his tongue hanging out. .

Teddy, also known as Doctor Ted

Age: Six

Breed: Westiepoo - half phantom Poodle (purposely bred multi coloured Poodle) and half West Highland White

Volunteer day: Wednesday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: February 2022

Favourite pastime: Coming to GOSH and seeing all the children. He especially enjoys the physiotherapy classes as he is let off the lead. He also loves going for walks and patrolling his garden with his best friend West, his brother.

Favourite toy: Gruff Gruff, his Gruffalo soft toy, but there is very little left of him now!

Fun fact: When Teddy went out for walks as a puppy, he started laying down on the path when people came towards us because he realised that by doing this people would make a fuss of him. It took ages to get anywhere! This was an early indication of his extraordinary love for children and adults.

A large fluffy grey dog, wearing a blue jacket looking at the camera.

Timmy

Age: Five

Breed: Bedoodle - Bedlington Terrier and Poodle cross

Volunteer day: Friday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: August 2023

Favourite pastime: Chasing and searching for his ball.

Favourite toy: Squeaky owl toy.

Fun fact: He has a white T shape on his chest.

A medium orange hairy dog sitting with a blue jacket on.

Winnie

Age: One

Breed: Cocker Spaniel

Volunteer day: Thursday

When did they start volunteering at GOSH: December 2023

Favourite pastime: Sneaking upstairs for a snooze or playing chase with best friend Wilbur.

Favourite toy: Her human Dad’s favourite socks.

Fun fact: When Winnie was a puppy she spun around with excitement when it was meal time, she now thinks she’ll only get her breakfast and tea if she does a few pirouettes!