UConn brings back doga session with Tildy and Carson

UConn put Tildy and Carson back on the wellness calendar on May 16, and the appeal was as simple as it sounds: gentle stretches, a pair of familiar dogs, and a session built for people who want stress relief without the pressure of a hard workout. The calendar listing said the two were making a return for more gentle stretches and playfulness, and it noted that yoga mats would be provided.

That detail matters on a campus where dog-centered events have already proven they can draw a crowd. In March 2021, WHUS reported that a DOGA session with Tildy and Carson filled up just 35 minutes after registration opened, a sign that UConn’s dog yoga audience is not just curious, but quick to claim a spot when the dogs are on the schedule. The May 16 listing read like a continuation of that same demand, with a familiar pair anchoring a wellness event that students, staff and visitors can recognize at a glance.

Tildy and Carson have become part of UConn’s broader wellness identity. UConn promoted a DOGA event with the pair during Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2024, framing it as a mix of relaxation and companionship for faculty and staff and involving Human Resources, UConn Recreation and the UConn Police Department. That earlier session was presented as suitable for all skill levels, which fits the way UConn has consistently used the dogs: not as a fitness challenge, but as an easy entry point into campus wellness programming.

The names also carry institutional memory. The Daily Campus reported in February 2021 that Carson, a black lab and golden retriever mix, had been introduced as UConn’s second facility dog and would primarily serve the regional campuses with handler Officer J.B. O’Reilly. The same campus coverage said the dogs helped lighten moods after stressful classes. Tildy arrived earlier, first joining the UConn Police Department’s community outreach unit in 2018, and UConn Today later reported that she formally retired on Feb. 4, 2025 after seven years of service.

Even with that retirement milestone, the May 16 doga listing showed how firmly the dogs remain part of the campus routine. Canine Companions at UConn, founded in September 2023 and inspired by officers Justin Cheney and J.B. O’Reilly, reflects how dog-centered outreach has grown from novelty to recurring campus culture. Research on therapy dogs has also linked these sessions with reduced stress, improved mood and a stronger sense of belonging, which helps explain why a short doga class can feel like more than a quirky calendar item. At UConn, it is becoming a dependable reset button.