This Premium Pilates Class Comes With Puppies — and Growth Plans

Puppies and Pilates, a boutique class pairing a 45-minute workouts with rescue-puppy cuddle time and mocktails, operates in four cities and is expanding

A Pilates class that closes with someone handing you a puppy to snuggle sounds like a dream, but it’s a reality at Puppies and Pilates, a premium wellness experience that pairs a 45-minute Pilates workout with squirmy, four-legged friends from local rescue organizations and ethically responsible dog breeders.

Make no mistake, though: cuteness overload aside, the Pilates is serious. Programming was developed in collaboration with Alex Perrin, founder and CEO of Cut Seven and former director of coach development at Solidcore.

“The goal from the beginning was to make sure the fitness component could stand on its own,” said Bethany Kazaba, founder of Puppies and Pilates. “The puppies add an uplifting element to the experience while also getting valuable interaction and socialization as they prepare for their future homes.”

Kazaba is equal parts entrepreneur, animal lover and real estate pro. As the founder of Neighborhood Retail Group, a commercial real estate firm, she has used that background to scale Puppies and Pilates to Washington, D.C., Arlington, Virginia, Annapolis, Maryland, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, since its launch earlier this year.

Tickets run $65 in most markets and $75 at the beach. Classes cap at 25 to 30 people, with an age requirement of at least 12. Attendees get 30 minutes of “wellness time” with the puppies and mocktails poured from pink bar carts.

Classes are currently offered on weekends in D.C., Arlington, Annapolis and Rehoboth Beach, with additional Thursday and Friday classes in Rehoboth through Labor Day.

The brand has also moved beyond its regular schedule to take on private bookings, such as birthdays, girls’ gatherings, bachelorette parties and corporate events.

The growth won’t stop there. Puppies and Pilates is planning to open another location this fall and is evaluating additional markets for 2027.

“We want to grow thoughtfully while maintaining a consistent workout and overall experience in every market,” Kazaba said.

For those counting down the seconds to get their hands on a puppy, there’s no need to wait until Pilates wraps. Puppy time kicks off during the last 30 minutes of the class.

“The instructor continues leading Pilates during that time, so participants can choose to keep moving, spend time interacting with the puppies, or move between the two,” Kazaba said. “It creates a natural transition from a challenging workout into a more relaxed, social part of the experience.”

Puppies and Pilates isn’t the only pup in the litter. Puppy Sphere, which bills itself as North America’s original puppy yoga company, offers its own puppy Pilates alongside puppy yoga and says it has welcomed more than half a million guests across 12 studios in the U.S. and Canada, including one in Washington, D.C.