On a Thursday afternoon in October 2026, CardioRise Network, a student club at the University of Ottawa, invited Pups&Yoga to campus. Instead of bringing their members to our studio, the club booked a private Puppy Yoga session right at the Lees Campus, at 200 Lees Avenue, for a group of about 25 students. Eight mini dachshund puppies came along for the hour.
A big room, made puppy-sized
The session took place in a large, bright, oval-shaped room with tall windows and space for far more people than the group. A room that size is great for a yoga class, but puppies love to explore. So our team used playpens to close off a smaller area around the mats, keeping the puppies close to the students instead of wandering across the whole floor. Our crew arrived an hour early to lay down floor protection, set out the mats in a circle and prepare the puppy area, and the students arrived about fifteen minutes before the start to settle in.
How the hour went
The session followed our usual Puppy Yoga format. It opened with 30 minutes of guided, beginner-friendly yoga with a certified instructor, a calm way to stretch and leave the school day behind. Then the puppies came out for 15 minutes of yoga with them roaming freely between the mats, followed by 15 minutes of play, cuddles and photos. Our hostesses and the breeder supervised every interaction, and the puppies had water and rest breaks throughout.
The last part of the hour is always the liveliest, and this one was no exception: phones came out, puppies were passed gently from lap to lap, and a CRN Ă Pups&Yoga photo frame made for some great souvenir pictures. Before the event, the club also asked to tag us in their posts and share a thank-you with their members, a nice way to keep the moment going after the mats were rolled up.
âWeâre really excited to have Pups&Yoga join us at uOttawa!â
â the organisers at CardioRise Network, before the event
Why student groups book puppy yoga
Student clubs and associations book Pups&Yoga for wellness weeks, exam season, orientation and member events. It is simple for organisers: we come to campus with the puppies, mats, playpens and supplies, handle set-up and clean-up, and the students just show up. Groups larger than one class can be split into several sessions, or choose Puppy Playtime, a no-yoga format where small groups take turns in a secure puppy area.
Plan your own event
Want to bring the puppies to your campus, office or team? Take a look at how we plan a private puppy yoga event, or request a quote and tell us about your group. If you would rather join a public class, you can also book one of our puppy yoga classes in Ottawa.
