Netherlands moves to ban puppy yoga after watchdog flags welfare concerns

Netherlands agriculture minister Piet Adema said he wanted to ban so-called puppy yoga after inspections by the Dutch food and consumer product watchdog raised animal-welfare concerns. The minister framed the practice as harmful to very young animals and urged immediate limits on their use in commercial sessions.

Adema said puppies are often woken and overused in these sessions and need uninterrupted sleep and appropriate space, and he added the practice "serves no purpose" and should be stopped. He called for banning the use of very young animals—puppies and possibly kittens—in commercial animal-assisted classes and events. The NVWA investigations that prompted the call documented welfare problems tied to the trending practice of bringing litters into public exercise and relaxation sessions.

For dog yoga instructors and studio owners, the announcement signals likely regulatory change and a need to re-evaluate programming. Puppy yoga has become popular because of the feel-good appeal of combining animal contact with yoga flows like downward dog, but the NVWA findings and Adema’s comments focus attention on the rhythms puppies need: long stretches of uninterrupted sleep, quiet recovery time after socialization, and physical space that lets them retreat when overwhelmed. Those needs clash with back-to-back commercial classes in small rooms, bright lights, and repeated handling by strangers.

Practically, check how classes are run. Ask instructors what ages and breeds they bring in, how long puppies are exposed to groups, where animals can rest between sessions, and whether sessions prioritize the animals’ sleep patterns and space needs over booking convenience. Studios planning to continue animal-assisted offerings may need to shift toward adult, well-socialized dogs from shelters or certified therapy programs, or offer human-only classes with occasional supervised meet-and-greets that respect animal rest.

The wider community — studio owners, freelance instructors, and participants — now faces a choice between adapting to tighter welfare expectations or ending puppy-based programming. Adema’s push is part of a broader animal-welfare response to a viral trend that boosted bookings but also strained young animals.

What comes next is likely a regulatory process and potential enforcement steps that could define age limits, rest requirements, or outright bans for very young animals in commercial settings. In the meantime, prioritize clear disclosure, documented rest arrangements, and animals’ needs when planning or attending dog yoga so classes remain safe for both people and pups.