Twiglet the Jack Russell exhausted after helping students de-stress before exams at Cambridge University

Twiglet the Jack Russell was brought in to help Cambridge University students de-stress before exams.

Dogs are an increasingly common sight on British university campuses around exam time, with petting and cuddling sessions aimed at helping students de-stress ahead of final exams.

But Twiglet the Jack Russell, who was brought in to help Cambridge University students, became so distressed by the experience that she refused to go for walks with the undergraduates.

Students at Sidney Sussex College were able to sign up online to walk the canine companion in hourly slots, the Daily Mail reports.

The scheme had been introduced by the college's mental health adviser in order to help students with revision anxiety.

But it became so popular that on one occasional Twiglet was booked for eight consecutive hours in a single day.

College students were emailed by pastoral staff earlier this month informing them that study-break dog-walking sessions would no longer be taking place after the terrier had a "surprisingly nervous reaction to being taken for walks by strangers".

Twiglet, who began working at the College at the start of this term, "refused to move" when prompted by students who were walking her last Wednesday, according to the Cambridge student.

The email said "this [was] very unlike her", leading to college staff cancelling future sessions, so as to avoid "any unnecessary distress".

It also reportedly stated that the vacancy will not be reopened until next year.

Animal petting sessions have become a popular source of stress relief with British universities.

Warwick University academics carried out a study earlier this year that looked into dog therapy sessions.

They discovered that the dogs were very tired at the end of each session because they behaved like they were working during each visit.

Essex University opened a petting zoo last year with tortoises, meerkats and rabbits.