Goat yoga vs puppy yoga: which one should you try?

Goat yoga vs puppy yoga: both promise a yoga class with animals, lots of laughs and great photos, but they feel very different on the mat. In goat yoga, small goats wander around and sometimes climb on your back during the poses. In puppy yoga, young dogs explore the room, nap in your lap and chew your shoelaces. This guide compares the two side by side so you can choose the one that suits you, and shows a third option many people forget: yoga at home with your own dog.

Goat yoga in a nutshell

Goat yoga took off in 2016 on a small farm in Oregon and quickly spread across the US and beyond. A class usually takes place outdoors or in a barn, with a handful of small or young goats among the mats. The yoga itself is gentle; the real show is the goats, who nibble hair, hop onto backs in tabletop pose and wander off mid-flow.

• Setting: farms, barns and outdoor fields, often seasonal.
• Animals: small goats, often young or dwarf breeds.
• Vibe: playful, a bit chaotic, very outdoorsy.
• Contact: goats may stand on you, which can be light or surprisingly heavy.

Puppy yoga in a nutshell

Puppy yoga is a gentle yoga class with puppies free to roam the room, usually in a studio or an event space. Many classes partner with shelters or breeders, and the puppies spend most of the hour cuddling, playing and sleeping. You can read the full picture in our guide to what puppy yoga is.

• Setting: indoor studios and event spaces, all year round.
• Animals: young puppies, often from a shelter or a litter.
• Vibe: cosy, sweet, a lot of cuddling.
• Contact: puppies climb into laps and sniff faces, but they don't stand on your back.

Goat yoga vs puppy yoga: side by side

The experience

Goat yoga is livelier and funnier: expect to break a pose because a goat is standing on you. Puppy yoga is softer and more emotional: expect to stop mid-stretch to cuddle a sleeping puppy. If you want a calm, relaxing hour, puppy yoga usually wins; if you want an adventure and a story to tell, goat yoga does.

The price

Both are priced as special experiences rather than regular classes. Many goat yoga classes are advertised at around $25 to $45 per person, and puppy yoga classes at around $30 to $60, with big cities on the higher side. Our article on how much puppy yoga costs breaks down what is usually included.

The mess

Animals are animals. Goats may pee or leave droppings on the mat, and puppies have the odd accident too. Organisers usually provide mats and clean as they go. Bring an old towel, wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty and leave jewellery at home. For the puppy version, see what to wear to puppy yoga.

Age and accessibility

Puppy yoga works well for most people, including children with an adult, because the contact is gentle. Goat yoga can be harder if you have back or joint problems, since goats may stand on you. In both cases, tell the teacher about any injury and skip any pose that doesn't feel right.

Animal welfare

Good classes protect the animals: short sessions, rest breaks, water, a calm space and limits on handling. With puppies, age and vaccinations matter, and with goats, the weight they carry and the heat outdoors matter. Before you book, ask how the animals are cared for. We wrote a whole guide on whether puppy yoga is ethical with the questions to ask.

Which one should you choose?

• Choose goat yoga if you love the outdoors, want something truly unusual and don't mind a few hooves on your back.
• Choose puppy yoga if you want a cosy, calming hour and endless cuddles.
• Choose both if you can: they are fun one-off outings, and very different from each other.

The third option: yoga with your own dog

Classes are wonderful treats, but they are occasional: you book, travel and pay each time. If you have a dog, you can enjoy much of the same joy at home, as often as you like, with an animal who already knows and trusts you. This is doga, or dog yoga: you breathe and stretch, and your dog joins in by lying close, sniffing your hands or walking under your bridge.

It has real advantages over both classes. It is free, it fits in ten minutes, and the bond you build is with your own dog. Our guide to puppy yoga at home shows you how to set up and what a first session looks like.

Frequently asked questions

Is goat yoga or puppy yoga better for beginners?

Both are beginner friendly, because the yoga is gentle and the animals are the focus. Puppy yoga is usually calmer, and goat yoga more physical since goats may climb on you.

Do goats really stand on you in goat yoga?

Often, yes. Small goats like to hop onto backs during tabletop or child's pose. It is part of the fun, but tell the teacher if you have back problems.

Is puppy yoga more expensive than goat yoga?

Usually a little. Many goat yoga classes cost around $25 to $45, and puppy yoga classes around $30 to $60 per person. Prices depend a lot on the city and the organiser.

Can I do goat yoga or puppy yoga at home?

Goat yoga needs goats, so that is a farm activity. Puppy yoga is easy to bring home if you have a dog: it becomes doga, yoga with your own dog, and you can do it every day for free.