Puppy Yoga vs. Goat Yoga: Which Should You Try in LA?

Animal yoga is having a moment in LA, and the two big options are puppy yoga and goat yoga. They sound similar, but the experience is pretty different. Here's a straight comparison to help you choose.

The quick answer

• Want cuddles, photos, and a cozy indoor vibe? Puppy yoga.
• Want a quirky, outdoorsy farm experience? Goat yoga.

Both are beginner-friendly and more about fun than fitness. The rest comes down to the animals, the setting, and the vibe.

The animals

Puppies are soft, sleepy, and want to be near you. They'll crawl into your lap during savasana and pass out on your mat. Many are rescue puppies looking for homes, so there's an adoption angle goat yoga doesn't have.

Goats are curious and mischievous. Baby goats might hop on your back during a pose (it's a thing), which is hilarious but a little more chaotic. They're not coming home with you.

The setting

Puppy yoga usually happens indoors at a studio — climate-controlled, clean, and easy to reach in the city. Ours runs in Westwood, near UCLA, an easy trip from across the Westside.

Goat yoga is typically on a farm or ranch, which often means a drive out of central LA. The trade-off is fresh air and a rustic backdrop — great if you want the full countryside outing.

The vibe

| | Puppy Yoga | Goat Yoga | |---|---|---| | Energy | Cozy, calming | Playful, silly | | Best for | Dates, birthdays, a relaxing reset | Novelty outings, adventurous groups | | Photos | Endless puppy cuddle shots | Goats-on-your-back comedy | | Adoptable animals | Often, yes | No | | Convenience | Central, indoors | Usually a drive |

So which should you pick?

If you want a warm, photogenic, genuinely relaxing hour — and the chance that the puppy on your mat is looking for a home — puppy yoga is the easy pick. If you're after a one-time novelty adventure and don't mind the drive, goat yoga delivers the laughs.

Curious how puppy yoga actually runs (and whether it's done responsibly)? Read is puppy yoga ethical? and how much it costs in LA — or just book a class and find out for yourself.