Luxembourg has banned illegal ‘puppy yoga’

The Australian company Yoga Paws organised a series of unauthorised ‘puppy yoga’ sessions in Luxembourg. The first sessions took place in early August in the commune of Wickrange to a full house; however, the company had not sought the necessary permits from the local authorities or the Ministry of Agriculture, which oversees animal welfare. Subsequently, a planned event at a studio in the Bonnevoie district was cancelled following direct intervention by the Veterinary Authority (ALVA).

Despite the growing popularity of incorporating animals into yoga classes, veterinary experts have expressed serious concerns. It has emerged that a French breeder, working with the organisers, was bringing puppies under eight weeks old to Luxembourg. The animals undertook a two-hour journey each way without their mothers and, in some cases, without the mandatory rabies vaccination. In total, the puppies spent up to four hours on the road and took part in back-to-back sessions, working for up to four hours a day. Representatives of the veterinary services emphasised that animals should not cross national borders at such a young age, particularly for commercial purposes.

Company representatives and the breeder insist that interactions with people are handled with care, and that the sessions themselves help the pets to socialise. The trainer who led the sessions noted that she holds a basic qualification and, whilst working, followed Yoga Paws’ instructions and used common sense.

However, experts in the field strongly disagree with this practice. Veterinarian Lis Stirn from the municipality of Colmar-Berg points out that puppies of this age need plenty of time to rest and sleep, and that socialisation should take place gradually in a home environment. Long car journeys cause severe stress to the animals and can lead to illness. Furthermore, the lack of free access to open spaces hinders the puppies’ normal development, as they are unable to learn basic behavioural skills. This position is supported by the findings of the University of Veterinary Medicine Munich, which has previously published warnings about the risks of such activities.

Following the ban on sessions in the Bonnevoie area, the organisers attempted to move the sessions to Metz in France; however, they would also have required official authorisation there. At present, there is no information about upcoming events on the website of the company based in Olm. It is worth noting that in Italy this business model has already been completely banned, whilst most European countries oppose the granting of permits for entertainment events involving puppies.