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Doga Classes: Yoga with Your Dog

Doga Classes: Yoga with Your Dog

Updated on August 20, 2021
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

What it is | Benefits | At home | Classes

Dog yoga

Our lives are jam-packed with commitments and responsibilities, leaving little time for rest and relaxation. That's one of the reasons why yoga—with its time-tested benefits of stress reduction—is such a popular choice for on-the-go individuals who need a bit of downtime.

Today, yoga is being practiced not just by humans, with some dog parents bringing their dogs along for meditation and stretching.

Whether this is your first time hearing about dog yoga or you have been interested in giving this practice a try but haven't been sure where to start, read on to find out everything you need to know about enjoying yoga with your dog.

What is dog yoga (aka doga)?

The word doga (pronounced like yoga) is a combination of dog and yoga, and its definition is exactly as the name implies—a yoga session in which your dog participates in meditating, stretching, massaging, relaxing, balancing and more!

While yoga is an ancient practice, doga is relatively new. The specifics of doga vary widely based on your personal preferences—as well as your dog's—but the overall emphasis is to promote a bonding activity for you and your dog. Doga takes place in a setting where relaxation, play and unity come together in an enjoyable experience that dogs and pet parents can benefit from equally.

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Doga could be something as simple as spending time massaging your dog's paws on the mat. Or it could include helping your dog learn how to stretch in unison with you.

Doga can be done alone with your dog at home, or it could take place during a group class. Doga might involve a variety of poses that you train your dog to perform, or it might simply be time spent breathing slowly and relaxing alongside your dog.

However you choose to practice, doga is all about embracing calmness while enjoying time bonding with your pooch.

The benefits of dog yoga that extend beyond the mat

The benefits of doga are immense — for both you and your pup! The following are all reasons why you might want to give doga a try:

  • Increased trust and confidence: Doga is an excellent way to spend one-on-one time with your dog in a calming atmosphere that fosters positive emotions and trust. This bonding is highly beneficial in contributing to your dog's mental and emotional wellbeing. For example, as your dog learns to trust you to hold their paws, they might then feel more comfortable in other settings, such as at the vet or the groomer.
  • Improved relaxation: Both you and your pup will undoubtedly benefit from slowing down and spending time unwinding on the mat. You can use this as a positive way to help your pup find calmness when they are dealing with stressful situations.
  • Strength building and calorie burning: Dogs experience similar physical benefits from doga that us humans do by practicing yoga. The poses and the stretching work together to help loosen sore muscles and strengthen muscles overall. All the activity on the mat can also help burn extra calories, which can be particularly beneficial when working with a senior dog with limited mobility.

How to teach your dog yoga at home

First, since some of the elements of doga can involve stretching, massage and acupressure, you'll want to consult with your veterinarian before embarking on any doga activities. Once you've established a safe doga routine with your vet, you'll want to introduce your dog to the process slowly.

Dog yoga

Some fun ideas for trying out doga with your dog include the following:

Follow your dog's lead ˇ

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There's a reason why the poses are called downward facing and upward facing dog! Our dogs are already skilled masters at many yoga poses. Next time you roll out your yoga mat, consider watching your dog and taking a cue from them. You might find that your dog teaches you the perfect new flow.

Host a massage session ˇ

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While you find your inner zen, focus on helping your dog relax with a belly rub or back massage. This is a great opportunity to help improve your dog's circulation and loosen any sore muscles.

Try training your dog to do specific poses ˇ

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Doga can be the perfect chance to train your dog to do a few new tricks. Using positive reinforcement, work to teach your dog to sit, lay or do a specific pose on command.

Practice closeness during your quality time ˇ

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If your dog is comfortable with it, place one hand on your heart and your other hand on your dog's heart. This can help promote calmness for both you and your dog.

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Exercise caution and patience—some dogs are slow to become comfortable with posing on the mat or working on stretching exercises. Be sensitive to their hesitation and provide encouraging reinforcement by helping your dog associate the yoga mat with positive experiences, such as playing with a toy together.

Remember, doga is what you make it! Your dog might enjoy sharing a moment of stretching in downward dog alongside you, or they may prefer to take a relaxing snooze next to you while you meditate.

Trying out a doga class

In addition to trying out doga at home, you can check to see if doga classes are offered in your area—regular outings to yoga classes can be a great way to socialize your dog while allowing you to share the experience as a pair.

Humane societies occasionally team up with yoga instructors to hold doga events—sometimes as community fundraisers. Ask your local humane society if this is something they offer. A doga event can be a great way to get acquainted with the practice of doga and meet other doga enthusiasts who share similar goals and experiences.

If you can't find doga activities in your area, don't despair! Instead, contact local yoga instructors to see if they would consider offering a doga class or gather up a few interested friends and their dogs and pursue doga activities as a group.

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