'Puppy play is definitely not about sex, it is a form of escapism,' says Kye, a 28-year-old Oxford graduate who looks after some of the pups.

Around 10,000 people follow the pet play craze in the UK, according to Channel 4's Secret Life of the Human Pups, which explores the phenomenon.

Kye says: 'Females who are into pet play are usually into kitten play as they identify more with kittens than pups.'

Woof woof - Left to right: The reigning Mr Puppy UK Spot (otherwise known as Tom) with his playmates Hexy and Tibo. At least their owners don't need to clean up after them

The programme also features the sad story of Tom, 32, a theatre technician from Tring, Hertforshire, who split up with his fiancee Rachel because of his yearning to dress up as a Dalmatian.

He says: 'You disappear and start chasing puppy toys. You go so deep into the head space, you crave it and want it. It's just magic.'

'I didn't understand it. I didn't want to understand it,' says Rachel, who remains friends with Tom.

Rachel split up with Tom because she could not cope with his alter ego, Spot. 'I didn't understand it. I didn't want to understand it,' she says, although remains his friend

Tom has spent more than £4,000 over the past 10 years on his canine habit and he shows off his rubber costume, complete with breathing tube, but admits: 'It is quite awkward to put on, you need a lot of talc.'

So intense is Tom's craving that he has taken to sleeping in a dog training crate, lined with puppy training pads in case he has to answer the call of nature.

Tom - or Spot, as he likes to be known - was crowned Mr Puppy UK in November - pipping Minty and Oakleigh - and is filmed travelling to the finals of Mr Puppy Euro in Belgium.

Tom, who has spent £4,000 in the last decade on his canine hobby, has even taken to sleeping in a dog training crate at night dressed as Spot (pictured)

On his Twitter account Spot says he is owned for by Colin, whose own Twitter profile describes him as being into 'Lycra, Gunge, Pup Play, BDSM.'

Tom tells the programme: 'Rachel thought I was becoming gay.'

He later admits: 'A tiny bit of me regrets being a puppy because I lost what I had.'

Rachel is pictured taking Spot out on his leash. But he says on Twitter he is 'owned and cared for' by Colin, a burly fella who is into BDSM

Furries dressed in their favourite costumes are pictured at a convention in Vancouver, Canada last year. Most furries see it as a fun hobby rather than a sexual fetish

While those in the programme insist their desire to dress up as dogs is not sexual, it bears a resemblance to the furry fetish.

Furries are people who dress up in animal costumes and take on the persona of that animal.

Occasionally they engage in full-on sex in costume but more common is the bizarre practice of 'yiffing', a form of dry-humping.

Earlier this month nearly 3,000 people attended the annual Biggest Little Fur Con convention in Reno, Nevada, including around 700 people in fursuits.