A Coatbridge man who trained his girlfriend's dog to be a Nazi has apologised for a shocking video that was posted online.

Markus Meechan, 28, insisted he was not a racist after Jewish leaders slammed him for releasing the video which has been viewed almost one million times.

The video shows him teaching a pug-breed dog named Buddha to jump up at the phrase "Gas the Jews" and to raise its paw in an imitation Nazi salute when it hears the words Sieg Heil.

READ MORE: Video: Outrage at Coatbridge internet prankster who 'turned girlfriend's dog into Nazi'

Mr Meechan, 28, from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, also filmed the two-year-old dog watching speeches made by Hitler on a TV screen.

Now, after Jewish leaders slammed the outrageous video as "sickening", call centre worker Mr Meechan has issued a lengthy apology, insisting the video was meant as "shock comedy" in a bid to wind up his girlfriend.

READ MORE: Video: Outrage at Coatbridge internet prankster who 'turned girlfriend's dog into Nazi'