Ralf the giant schnauzer has the reputation of being something of a miracle worker, and he lived up to it during his ward rounds at the Royal Children’s Hospital yesterday.

Ralf got two-year-old Claire Couwenberg to walk for the first time in the five days since her surgery to remove a cancerous kidney.

And he brought a smile to 15-month-old Zeke Harrison, who has a rare genetic disorder where his body is unable to break down protein and too much can kill him.

RCH visiting volunteer program co-ordinator Brenda Kittelty said dogs now visited sick children throughout the week instead of on just one day, and they went to five wards instead of just one.

“The dogs bring normality to children in an abnormal, difficult and stressful situation,” she said.

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Words by Marianne Betts.