Coopa is a mind dog, an assistance dog who accompanies Ms McMahon, 28, everywhere she goes to help monitor for epileptic seizures and depressive episodes.

"Coopa and I are really close together," Ms McMahon said.

"I can go out now and know I'm safe and that nothing will happen to me."

Such is Coopa's skills, he's able to pick up signs his owner is about to have a seizure before it even happens.

"He can alert mum or any other friend before my seizures happen by making an unusual noise that isn't a bark, and he'll stay with me the whole time," Ms McMahon said.

"He'll sit with me and bark the whole time and paw somebody to help."

The golden retriever went through about a year of training to prepare for his job as a companion to Ms McMahon.

While mind dogs are normally assistance dogs for people living with depression, Coopa was given extra training to learn how to pick up seizure symptoms.

Before having Coopa in her life, Ms McMahon said she wasn't coping very well.

"I was drinking and going out and partying to try and manage it, and that wasn't good for me," she said.

"Coopa's made a big difference."

The difference has been noticed by Ms McMahon's mum Jenny, who said Coopa has given her daughter a new lease on life.

"It's good because before I couldn't just duck down to the shops in case something happened back at home with Shirley," Mrs McMahon said.

"If she wants to go somewhere, he will take her down to the shops or somewhere else.

"It's given her a real boost."

While Coopa provides support and therapy to Ms McMahon, her mother said he helps other people as well.

"It's quite interesting when you have a bad day, and you go with Coopa down to the shops and there you see someone who's worse off and the change in their face when people spy a dog is incredible," Mrs McMahon said.

"It starts up a conversation. Other people ask about the dog and what it does, and there's a connection. It's given a lot more independence to Shirley."

Ms McMahon said the dog's skills were getting better every day, and the bond between them continued to grow.

"Dog therapy is the best therapy," Ms McMahon said.