Animal rights groups had called for a ban after reports in the Italian media revealed alleged mistreatment of the puppies.

Italy’s Ministry of Health has banned the popular wellness trend of “puppy yoga”, saying only adult dogs should take part in order to protect the health of animals as well as the safety of attendees.

The ministry said in a note circulated on Monday, April 29, that it had been made aware of organisations that would “directly contact dog breeders” in order to temporarily use puppies for yoga sessions.

But because puppy yoga “improves wellbeing” it should be considered as a kind of “animal-assisted therapy” – which by law can only be carried out by fully grown animals.

Puppy yoga typically involves puppies roaming freely around a yoga class and sometimes being incorporated into yoga poses, or a yoga class followed by playtime with the puppies.

Giovanni Leonardi, head of the One Health department of Italy’s health ministry, ruled Tuesday that the use of dogs during exercise sessions falls under Italy’s Animal Assisted Interventions Act. This means that only adult dogs can now be used in yoga sessions to “protect the health and well-being of the animals, as well as the safety of users.”

The health ministry asked regional authorities to carry out checks to ensure puppy yoga classes do not take place.

Animal rights groups had called for a ban after reports in the Italian media revealed alleged mistreatment of the puppies.

Piera Rosati, the president of LNDC Animal Protection, said the puppies were exploited for commercial purposes.

“Yoga, at least in theory, should not be just a practice of physical exercise but also a spiritual one, in search of harmony with the universe,” she said. “But this harmony and wellbeing are not granted to puppies who are used as objects to do business.”

Giusy D’Angelo, a dog expert with Italy’s National Board for Animal Protection, said people could become so overwhelmed with emotion after being in such proximity to puppies that they risked making the impulsive decision to adopt one. “This can lead them to make a decision without really considering the implications,” she said.

She warned that the puppies used in the yoga classes are often not transported in a safe manner and also noted that organisers sometimes do not give them enough water to drink.

D’Angelo welcomed the ban, saying puppy yoga was a “physically and mentally stressful experience” for the animals. “This type of activity is detrimental to the dogs’ wellbeing and only brings financial advantages to those who run the classes.”

Puppy yoga, also known as “doga”, has become increasingly popular around the world, with supporters saying the presence of the animals enhances the feeling of calm that comes with the exercise. The puppies are in the class to provide cuddles rather than perform any yoga moves.

While organisers claim the puppies enjoy the socialising involved in the ancient Indian art, “there is nothing in the environment which we would consider to be beneficial to... these animals.”

Puppy yoga classes are popular across Europe and the US. Other variations include kitten yoga, rabbit yoga, or even, in some cases, goat yoga.