‘Puppy yoga’ is on the rise – and as a dog welfare specialist, I’m horrified

A new documentary makes distressing claims about the animals’ welfare. If we really love dogs, let’s start acting like it

Humans owe dogs our eternal gratitude for the contributions they make to society – from saving lives in the military and police, to advancing scientific research through the power of their noses, to providing vital assistance allowing people to live fulfilling, independent lives.

And yet, as a dog welfare specialist, I am increasingly dismayed by the way these unique animals are monetised and commodified. “Puppy yoga” is a new so-called wellness trend. It has been popularised online in part by well-meaning celebrities posting about their own experiences, oblivious to the impact that it has on these incredibly young dogs.

Litters of puppies are drafted in to join classes, roaming freely as attendees move through poses. The classes claim to provide dual benefits – stress-relief for the humans in attendance and socialisation for the dogs. The reality, as reported in a powerful undercover investigation by ITV, may be quite different.

Some of the puppies are only six weeks old. By law, they should be with their mothers for at least the first eight weeks of their lives. Instead, according to the investigation, they are being put to work for hours each day in some places, allegedly deprived of water (to prevent urination), woken from sleep (critically important for puppies) and being passed around the people in attendance. The rooms are often overly warm to suit the needs of humans, which is a health risk to puppies.

Then there’s the overwhelmingly negative experience for the dogs themselves and the impact on their long-term emotional state and behavioural development. When introducing puppies to the world they need to feel safe and secure, with the presence of an attachment figure – someone they know and trust. That is seemingly not happening for these young, vulnerable pups who are being thrown into a room full of strangers in an unfamiliar setting.

The ability of the dog to exercise autonomy is also important; to move away from anything worrying. To strip a puppy of their choice and control at a formative stage of their behavioural and emotional development creates a basis for future behaviour problems, which are a common reason for animals to be given to rehoming centres.

Most of us say we love animals – yet, often unwittingly, our actions don’t match this claim. An RSPCA report into UK attitudes towards animals found inconsistencies between what we feel and what we do. At a behavioural level, we too often view them as humans rather than their own species – the vast array of clothing available for pets reflects this. At a health level, we breed them into forms that can only be described as deformed when compared to their progenitor. And at a training level, all too often owners don’t have the knowledge to help their pets thrive.

Many of the people going to puppy yoga will no doubt love animals, and would surely be horrified to learn the true risks to the puppies involved. But I fear the very existence of these classes tells us a lot about British society’s commodification of animals.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an explosion of hasty pet acquisitions. While many pets found fantastic new homes during this period, others will not have been so lucky. There has also been an increase in people buying cute-looking flat-faced dogs such as French bulldogs, which are often beset by health challenges. Data consistently shows Frenchie dogs and pups are the most advertised breed for sale. Sadly, it is often the RSPCA that has to step in when the inevitable costs and vet bills for these animals mount up, and the novelty wears off. Abandonment incidents reported to the RSPCA in 2022 were up by 24% on the previous year.

Increased legislation has a key role to play in protecting vulnerable animals from exploitation. But this can only be part of the solution. We need to interrogate our own behaviours and attitudes towards dogs, and what we are willing to do to animals in the name of profit and entertainment. Dogs are a man’s best friend, so the saying goes. It is time to question what kind of friendship we offer in return.

• Esme Wheeler is a dog welfare specialist at the RSPCA

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