People use "puppy yoga," "doga," and "dog yoga" interchangeably — but they're genuinely different experiences. If you're deciding which one to book (or gift), here's the actual difference.
What is doga?
Doga is yoga with your own dog. You bring your dog to class, and the practice incorporates them — lifting smaller dogs into stretches, using bigger ones as (willing) props, and generally bonding through movement. The focus is the relationship between you and your dog, and the quality of the class depends a lot on your dog's temperament and training.
What is puppy yoga?
Puppy yoga flips the formula: the studio provides the puppies. You don't bring a dog at all. At our studios, a litter of young puppies from our trusted breeder partners shares the room while an instructor leads a gentle flow — 40 minutes in Toronto and Ajax, 35 in Vaughan — followed by 20 minutes of dedicated puppy time. The puppies are in the room for the entire session, free to wander between mats, play, or nap as they choose.
The key differences at a glance
- Whose dog? Doga: yours. Puppy yoga: a litter of studio puppies.
- Do you need a dog? Doga: yes. Puppy yoga: no — that's rather the point.
- The animals: Doga: one adult dog per person. Puppy yoga: young puppies — ours at a minimum ratio of one puppy for every two attendees.
- The vibe: Doga: a training-and-bonding practice. Puppy yoga: a wellness experience built around puppy socialization — yoga optional, cuddles guaranteed.
Which one should you pick?
If you have a dog and want a shared activity, look for a doga class. If you want an hour of gentle movement and a lapful of sleepy puppies — for a date, a bachelorette, a team outing, or just a hard week — that's puppy yoga, and that's us.
Not sure what separates a good puppy yoga studio from a sketchy one? Here's how to choose — and how our puppies are cared for.