Animal Welfare at Yoga Paws | Yoga With Animals Done Ethically
How we ensure the happiness and safety of the animals in our care - & set the Animal Yoga industry standard.
Animal welfare is the heart of Yoga Paws. Every choice we make, from the partners we collaborate with to the way our sessions are run, is guided by the wellbeing of the beautiful animals we work with! We utilise RSPCA’s Five Freedoms and Five Domains as a starting point, then go beyond to create an environment where every animal can thrive. Read on to discover how we uphold the highest standards of care.
Written by Yoga Paws' co-founders... with love and care!
Trusted By
Trusted By The Best
Ethical Partnerships | Where the Animals Come From
Ethical Breeders
We only work with ethical, verified breeders who meet our strict standards for animal care. No backyard breeders. No questionable practices. Ever. Each breeder is vetted to ensure the animals come from safe, healthy, and loving environments. Only one litter is featured per event, which means the puppies can enjoy the day without being overwhelmed.
Rescues & Shelters
We proudly partner with incredible rescue organisations across Australia, running not-for-profit events with organisations such as the Animal Welfare League of NSW, Best Friend Felines, Love A Greyhound INC, and much more, hosting rescue animals from bunnies to Greyhounds. These collaborations allow us to help socialise adoptable puppies and kittens in nurturing environments while raising awareness about adoption. Every cuddle, every class, every giggle contributes to real outcomes for animals in need.
The Animal Experience
Our sessions are designed around the animals’ needs first. If they want to play, they play. If they want to rest, we provide soft bedding so they can snooze comfortably without disturbance. Every animal sets their own pace - our job is to create the safest, calmest environment for them to thrive in.
Studios are temperature-controlled, immaculately clean, and are set up with soft mats, toys, and fresh water to keep animals comfortable all day. Between classes, we schedule dedicated 60-minute rest breaks so they can nap and recharge in peace. This ensures no animal gets overstimulated, and they socialise in manageable doses across the day.
It’s not about creating a quick photo opportunity - it’s about structured enrichment, where our enjoyment is a bi-product of an animal-first experience! Every Yoga Paws class is designed to help animals build confidence, develop positive social skills, and experience healthy interaction with humans in a way that supports their long-term wellbeing.
The result is a balanced day of play, learning, and rest - where the animals leave happier, more confident, and better prepared for their forever homes.
Oh yeah, and they have an absolute ball! It is hard to determine who has more fun out of the humans or the animals...
Our Standards in Action | RSPCA Alignment
The RSPCA’s Five Freedoms and Five Domains are the gold standard of animal welfare in Australia. At Yoga Paws, we embody each one:
🐾 Hunger & Thirst / Nutrition – Animals arrive well-fed and have constant access to fresh water inside and outside the playpen.
🐾 Comfort / Environment – Studios are spacious, climate-controlled, clutter-free, and equipped with clean mats, toys, and bedding to keep animals comfortable and safe.
🐾 Health – Only animals who are at least seven weeks old, vaccinated, and health-checked take part. Staff supervise every interaction closely to prevent accidents and ensure wellbeing, and we use vet-grade sanitiser (F10) to maintain a clean environment.
🐾 Normal Behaviour / Behaviour – Animals are free to run, play, zoom, cluster together, or rest on their own terms. Natural behaviours are encouraged and never forced.
🐾 Freedom from Fear & Distress / Mental State – Sessions are calm and controlled, with staff stepping in immediately if mishandling or stress occurs, ensuring every animal enjoys positive, enriching experiences.
Beyond The Five Freedoms | Raising Animal Care Standards
To be frank, the Five Freedoms and Five Domains are only the starting point. At Yoga Paws, we set a higher standard by placing welfare at the centre of every decision.
Each session is supported by at least two trained staff who focus exclusively on observing behaviour, responding to any potential stress signal, and guiding safe interactions. The studio environment is managed with sensory regulation in mind - soft, consistent music, controlled lighting, and a calm atmosphere that prevents overstimulation and keeps the animals settled.
Rest is treated as essential, not optional, with 60 minute recovery periods between sessions so the animals can reset properly. We limit our events to a single breeder or shelter at a time to avoid overexposure, we provide structured opportunities for both play and downtime, and we work only with ethical breeders and rescues to ensure every animal is healthy, age appropriate, and fully vaccinated.
This combination of structure, supervision, and care creates an experience where animals are not just safe, but truly thrive.
