Our Animal Welfare Standards | Yoga Paws
How we protect animal welfare before, during and after every session - and the standards we believe every animal yoga provider should meet.
Animal welfare sits at the centre of everything we do at Yoga Paws. We recognise that animal yoga can raise legitimate welfare concerns when animals are poorly sourced, overhandled or denied adequate rest, which is why every decision, from the partners we work with to the structure of each session, is guided by the animals’ wellbeing. We use the recognised Five Freedoms and Five Domains as the foundation for how our events are run, then build on them to create calm, enriching, and well-managed experiences where animals can feel safe, comfortable, and supported.
Prepared by the Yoga Paws co-founders and updated as our animal welfare procedures evolve.
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Ethical Partnerships | Where the Animals Come From
Ethical Breeders
We only work with ethical, verified breeders who meet our strict standards for animal health, welfare, and responsible breeding practices. No backyard breeders. No questionable practices. Ever. Registration with organisations such as ANKC, MDBA or RPBA forms one part of our assessment, rather than being treated as proof of responsible breeding on its own. We also review each breeder’s animal care, living conditions, health testing, socialisation practices and broader reputation before working with them. Only one litter of vaccinated animals is featured per event to maintain optimal welfare, minimise stress responses, and support positive human-animal interaction.
Rescues & Shelters
We proudly partner with reputable rescue organisations across Australia, running events with some amazing rescues and shelters, featuring rescue animals from rabbits to Greyhounds. These collaborations provide structured, low-stress environments that encourage gentle social exposure, improve adaptability, and raise awareness of adoption and responsible guardianship.
The Animal Experience
Our sessions are designed around the animal’s individual needs and natural behaviours. If they want to play, they play. If they want to rest, they rest. Each animal sets their own pace, and our role is simply to create a calm, low-stress environment that supports comfort and wellbeing.
Studios are temperature-controlled, hygienically maintained with vet-grade F10, and equipped with soft mats, species-appropriate toys, and constant access to fresh water. All participant belongings such as shoes are left outside of the studio, and it is a requirement all hoomans sanitise on entry.
Before classes, animals enjoy dedicated 60-minute rest periods in their private safe space. This is kitted out with a Dazy Dog bed, toys, fresh water, blankets, puppy pads or grass, and more, all contained within a puppy pen.
Each session is supervised by trained event staff whose sole responsibility is monitoring the animals. They watch body language continuously - signs like withdrawal, lip-licking, avoidance, fatigue, or overstimulation - and step in immediately where needed.
Animals attend Yoga Paws sessions for socialisation, enrichment, and positive exposure only. Our events are not sales environments, and we do not support or allow animal sales at our classes. We believe decisions around pet ownership should be made thoughtfully, responsibly, and well outside the emotional atmosphere of an event.
“Working with Yogapaws paws was professional and seamless. We had wanted our puppies to try something different and we had seen Yogapaws on social media. We transported our puppies into the city and were met by staff who assisted in making them comfortable.
The yoga area was clean and warm. The puppies were able to have a play and had their own separate space with clean bedding, water and toys. The sessions commenced and the puppies enjoyed the many pats and cuddles.
The area was then cleaned down and lights dimmed and puppies could sleep and have quiet time. The puppies enjoyed their experience interacting with the big world that awaits them.”
SAPAGOLD Golden Retrievers
ANKC Registered Breeder
Our Standards in Action | Five Freedoms & Domains
The Five Freedoms and Five Domains are the gold standard of animal welfare in Australia. Fun fact, we have actually built our operations off the back of them.
🐾 Hunger & Thirst / Nutrition - Animals have constant access to fresh water inside and outside the playpen, and are fed in alignment with the breeder's or shelter's directives.
🐾 Comfort / Environment - Studios are spacious, climate-controlled, and equipped with clean mats, toys, safe spaces and bedding to keep animals comfortable and safe.
🐾 Health - Typically animals who are at least eight weeks old, vaccinated, and health-checked take part. We F10-sanitise the studio and mats prior to every session, hoomans sanitise their hands at studio-entry, and ensure all student belongings such as shoes are segregated.
🐾 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, structured, and closely supervised to keep stimulation at comfortable levels for young animals. Staff continuously monitor body language and behaviour, stepping in immediately if signs of stress, fatigue, or overstimulation appear.