A SPOONFUL of sugar might help the medicine go down but hospital can sometimes call for something sweeter.

Enter Rocky, a 12-week-old Papillon, assistance dog-in-training and cuteness to the max in a package of fluff and big ears.

Rocky and other student assistance dogs from Smart Pups have begun visiting Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim once a fortnight.

Smart Pups director Patricia McAllister said the visits helped prepare the pups for their lives as assistance dogs for children.

"They are placed with children who have special needs and a lot of the children spend time in hospital and hospital visits," she said.

"We like to get our dogs familiar with the smells and sights of hospital so they won't be alarmed when one day they visit with a family."

Hospital general manager Wallis Westbrook said the pups and their trainers were welcome.

Sunshine Coast Private Hospital and Smart Pups have organised pups-in-training to visit the hospital fortnightly to benefits patients recovery. Rowene Mattiske with Rocky a 12 week old papillon. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily Patrick Woods

"I am hopeful that during their training here at the hospital, the puppies will bring a smile to the face of our staff and patients," he said.

Mr Westbrook said the hospital was pleased to help.

"It truly is a wonderful opportunity to play a role in helping children gain increased independence, as well as providing much-needed help to their families - this aligns perfectly with our hospital value of understanding and empathy for others by offering holistic care, hope and inspiration."

Smart Pups has so far placed 34 assistance dogs with families and has another 24 in training.

The organisation is raising funds to build an all-weather training facility at its Pomona premises.

Ms McAllister said foster families were also needed for pups.

She said the need for foster homes arose because of the demand for assistance dogs and because some foster families sometimes took the opportunity to reabsorb pups which did not make the grade as assistance dogs.

For more information, go to http://www.smartpups.org.au