An Australian company recently announced the arrival of puppy yoga in Luxembourg, promoting its first classes in mid-July. The sessions, which took place in Wickrange on 1 and 2 August, were held without official authorisation from local authorities or the Ministry of Agriculture, which oversees animal welfare.
The company did not apply for the necessary permits to operate such events in the country.
After a second weekend of puppy yoga classes in Wickrange, again without approval from the Veterinary Inspection Authority, a planned session at a yoga studio in Bonnevoie was halted by authorities.
The trend of incorporating animals into yoga, ranging from goats and llamas to rabbits and cats, has proven increasingly popular, generating significant enthusiasm during the two weekends in Wickrange, where all four sessions were sold out.
During the most recent puppy yoga weekend in Wickrange at the end of September, participants enjoyed sessions billed as "cuddle time", with young puppies meant to reduce stress and bring happiness. The sessions, run under the Yoga Paws brand, claim origins in Australia and have found success on social media.
Organisers report that the focus is on the puppies, with yoga exercises limited to the floor to avoid injuring the animals. The trainer involved, who only has basic qualifications and does not require formal certification for puppy yoga, explained that she received guidelines from Yoga Paws and managed the classes "according to common sense".
The company and breeders insist that the puppies are handled gently and not forced to interact with participants, claiming that the animals benefit from the experience and that it supports their socialisation.
However, veterinary experts, including Lis Stirn from Colmar-Berg, strongly disagree. Stirn stresses that puppies need plenty of rest and sleep, and that socialisation should happen gradually in the home environment. She also criticises transporting such young animals by car, noting that the prolonged journeys can lead to illness and stress.
Without free access to outdoor areas, puppies do not learn where to relieve themselves, which is an essential part of their development. This position aligns with warnings from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Munich, which raised concerns about puppy yoga sessions in 2024.
The French breeder involved in the events travels nearly two hours to Luxembourg, bringing puppies estimated to be no older than eight weeks, without their mother and sometimes without the required rabies vaccination.
The puppies spend up to four hours travelling in a car, are booked for back-to-back sessions over two days, and work up to four hours per day.
According to veterinary authorities, these animals should not be crossing borders at such a young age, let alone for commercial purposes.
Luxembourg’s Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) never authorised these yoga sessions, since Yoga Paws failed to submit the necessary requests.
As a result, the planned sessions in Bonnevoie the weekend after those in Wickrange were cancelled following intervention by the authorities. Organisers then attempted to move the event to Metz, France, but would also have needed official approval there.
Currently, the company’s website, based in Olm, lists no puppy yoga classes in either Luxembourg or Metz. Notably, Italy has banned this business model entirely, and most European countries recommend against permitting puppy yoga.
A report on the controversy will be featured on Friday evening’s television news and Friday afternoon on the radio. The reaction from the relevant minister, as well as details on how the European Union plans to address recreational animal activities like puppy yoga, will follow on Monday’s news and will be available online over the weekend at RTL.lu.
