Coventry dog trainer launches petition to ban puppy cuddle events

A dog trainer has launched a petition calling on the government to ban events where members of the public can cuddle newborn puppies. Nicky Brunt claims the events are not good for the dogs' welfare and causes them distress. "People picking them up and cuddling them, which on paper sounds like a really nice cute thing to do, but it's over exposing them to stimulus, environmental factors, and things that they have never experienced before," the Coventry trainer said. Pooch Therapy, which has organised cuddle events across England, including in Coventry, have rejected allegations about the negative effects on dogs' welfare, saying they operate within EU guidelines. In recent years, there has been an explosion of puppy cuddling and puppy yoga sessions, with claims they help people deal with stress and anxiety, as well as assisting those to deal with their fear of dogs. Some universities have organised them to help students combat exam stress. However, animal welfare organisations like the RSPCA and The Dogs' Trust have said they are concerned there are no specific regulations around these events, with puppy yoga classes being banned in Italy recently, to protect the health of the anim