Puppy Sphere — Attraction in Toronto

First of all, I want to say that I did participate in one class, and I am posting this as someone who didn't know any better before going there and who was very saddened to see how the dogs were treated.

Initially, our instructor chatted with us, informing us that the pups were currently sleeping but would be brought out later. That raised a flag for me as I was always told not to wake up a pup by my vets. However, I decided to carry on, thinking they might wait for them to wake up. Our yoga session started with meditation until the moment the pups were brought in—six Samoyeds. For those unfamiliar, Samoyeds are those white, fluffy pups, hyper-energetic and in need of training to prevent destructive behavior. Only six... for a class of about 20 people.

Can you see where this is going? Of course, very soon nobody was paying attention to the yoga part, surrounded by whistles and taps on the floor as everyone vied for the pups' attention. This resulted in three things:

Hyperactive dogs starting to bite (one of the pups began playing with someone's feet, and as they lifted them, the pup stayed attached to the sock, resulting in a fall of about 1 meter (3 feet) to the ground. The dog was then lifted up and moved to another part of the room). Due to all the noise and stimulation, what seemed to be anxiety or agitation rose in the pups, leading to diarrhea or frequent urination—six times in 40 minutes. Another red flag, but I thought, "OK, it's the beginning, and everyone's excited, it'll settle down." Despite being instructed not to stand and carry the pups to avoid accidents, people did just that. The final red flag for me was when the dogs sought a corner to rest and sleep, and people constantly went to manipulate them or even carry them to another part just for entertainment. Surprisingly, it wasn't just the attendees but also the company staff who would pick up the five pups (out of six) to place them in front of people for entertainment and laughs, disrupting their peaceful rest.

So, to sum up: anxious and agitated pups, hurt pups being constantly manipulated and awakened, despite their attempts to escape people's grasp and return to a calm spot. I'm no vet, but I'm pretty sure a dog hiding behind a trash can doesn't want to be touched or carried. I DEEPLY REGRET giving that company my money and strongly discourage ANYONE from doing so. I encourage people to speak out against this practice and advocate for regulation or a ban.

Upon reflection, I wondered if they could include a disclaimer such as "because the well-being of the animals is our priority, interaction with pups is not guaranteed, especially if they are sleeping or scared and need space." However, after witnessing how they were treated, I realized they would never do that because what you pay for is "puppy time."

Again, REFRAIN...

I'm not sure what I was expecting but I somehow reconciled going to this - ONCE and never again. I care deeply about the welfare of animals, volunteer for a rescue, adopt over buy....so I am so upset with myself for giving this place money (even one time) at the expense of the well being of animals.

Yes, the puppies are cute - they're puppies. But I ask everyone to seriously consider attending a puppy yoga class. Any "reputable breeder" or business claiming to care about animals simply wouldn't offer this service in the first place. Nothing about this is for the betterment or welfare of the puppies. The puppies ARE the product, the business owners and breeders are profiting off of these puppies and after my class it was clear their welfare is irrelevant. They have no choice but to be pulled in and out of the classes and subjected to up to 30 adults with varying degrees of care and understanding of how to interact and handle puppies.

There were 5 puppies in a room of 30 people, this happens 4 times a day. Everyone expecting and feeling entitled to time and photos with the dogs, that's what we paid for right?

The puppies showed clear signs of anxiety and nervousness from tucked in tails, to shaking, to panting. When they tried to hide in the corner someone would scoop one up or pull it for a photo op. It was so sad and disturbing.

And ya somewhere in there I guess we're supposed to pretend it's about the yoga.

If you want to spend time with puppies - volunteer with a rescue or Toronto Humaine Society. Go to a dog park and meet your neighbours. And if you do decide to take a "class" here be prepared for a huge...

I recently attended a puppy yoga class and left feeling deeply uncomfortable with the way the puppies were treated. The class had 30 people and only five puppies, which seemed overwhelmed and visibly distressed. The dogs were shaking, panting, and showing clear signs of anxiety—one even vomited, and another seemed to have an issue with its eye (white pus) but was still being handled.

It was especially upsetting to see that there were no rules about how to interact with the puppies. People were picking them up improperly, and at one point, I saw someone grab a puppy by the neck to pull it over. The puppies weren’t given space or time to rest, and it seemed like they were forced to endure multiple classes throughout the day.

This experience felt more like a commercial setup than a safe, nurturing environment for the dogs. I believe there needs to be much more attention to the puppies’ welfare, and the class should either be drastically restructured or shut down altogether. While I appreciate the concept of combining yoga and animal interaction, it’s critical that the animals involved are happy and cared for. In this case, that was far from what I observed.

I realize now that I got caught up in the hype when I purchased the class, but this experience has really opened my eyes for the future. I want to ensure others are aware of what they’re getting into before they go through the same experience. If you’re a dog owner or lover, this is NOT the...