For Francesca Albo and Lea Burdidge Izquierdo, Puppy Sphere began with a simple observation: spending time with dogs can make even the hardest days feel a little lighter. After experiencing burnout and the pressures of demanding corporate careers themselves, the two founders set out to create a new kind of wellness experience, combining gentle movement, puppy companionship and community.
What began with small classes in Toronto has grown into a wider puppy wellness concept across North America. Here, the founders talk about the origins of Puppy Sphere, the therapeutic power of dogs, the realities of building a new business and why the puppies’ wellbeing has to come before everything else.
What is your business background?
Francesca Albo: "Before Puppy Sphere, I studied biomedical sciences and worked in biotech, where I eventually led a research team. It gave me a strong foundation in leadership, problem-solving and building systems. I always had an entrepreneurial side, though, and I tried several different business ideas before Puppy Sphere. Those early attempts taught me a lot about resilience and helped prepare me for what it takes to build and scale a company."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "My background was in the corporate world, and I studied criminology before moving into roles that gave me experience in operations, organisation and working with people. Francesca and I were both in demanding corporate jobs that looked successful from the outside, but we were burned out and knew we wanted to build something with more meaning. Puppy Sphere became the combination of everything we cared about: wellness, community, entrepreneurship and, of course, dogs."
What was your personal connection with dogs before starting Puppy Sphere?
Francesca Albo: "Dogs have always been a huge source of comfort and joy for me. When my dog Hershey was a puppy, he would climb all over me while I was practising yoga at home. It was such a simple, playful moment, but it showed me how naturally movement and time with puppies could work together. Dogs also supported me through some difficult periods in my life, so I understood firsthand how healing that connection can be."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "Dogs were actually how Francesca and I met. We met at a dog park while we were there with our dogs, and that shared love of animals became the foundation of our friendship. My dog has been an incredible source of companionship and emotional support for me. Long before Puppy Sphere became a business, I knew how much better even a few minutes with a dog could make someone feel."
Puppy Sphere became the combination of everything we cared about: wellness, community, entrepreneurship and, of course, dogs.
Was there a specific moment when you realised, “This could actually work”?
Francesca Albo: "The first classes were really the moment for me. We started small in Toronto, doing everything ourselves, from contacting studios and puppy partners to welcoming guests and running the events. When the classes began selling out and we saw people leaving visibly happier than when they arrived, it felt like confirmation that we had created something people genuinely needed."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "I remember watching people during those early sessions and seeing the atmosphere in the room completely change. Guests would arrive carrying stress from their week, and within minutes they were laughing, connecting and completely present. Then they started coming back and telling their friends. That was when we realised this was more than a fun event. There was a real community and wellness need behind it."
What was the biggest challenge when you first started?
Francesca Albo: "In the beginning, the biggest challenge was that there was no roadmap. We were creating a new category, so we had to figure out every part of the business ourselves while also working our corporate jobs. We were handling partnerships, marketing, customer service, logistics and classes with very limited resources. It required a lot of persistence and a willingness to learn very quickly."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "Operationally, it was about creating an experience that felt joyful and effortless for the guest while being incredibly thoughtful behind the scenes. We needed to coordinate instructors, venues, puppy partners, schedules, staffing and safety standards. Puppies are living beings, not props, so flexibility and careful planning were essential from day one."
What kept us moving forward was seeing the impact on our guests and knowing we had created something that genuinely helped people.
Did you ever have a moment where you thought the business might not work?
Francesca Albo: "Absolutely. Entrepreneurship comes with a lot of uncertainty, especially when you are bootstrapping and building something people have not seen before. There were many moments when we questioned whether we could keep going or scale the concept responsibly. What kept us moving forward was seeing the impact on our guests and knowing we had created something that genuinely helped people."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "There were definitely hard periods when the workload felt overwhelming and we were solving several problems at once. We also had to learn that growth could not come at the expense of the quality of the experience or the puppies’ wellbeing. Those moments pushed us to build stronger systems and become much more intentional about how we grew."
What makes Puppy Yoga different from a regular yoga class?
Francesca Albo: "A regular yoga class asks you to focus inward and remain present, and puppies have an amazing way of making that happen instantly. They interrupt the idea that your practice needs to be perfect. You might be holding a pose and suddenly have a puppy climbing onto your mat or asking for attention. It creates a much more playful, welcoming and emotionally uplifting experience."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "It is also designed to be accessible. You do not need previous yoga experience, and there is no pressure to perform. The movement is gentle and beginner-friendly, and the puppies bring an element of connection and spontaneity that you would not find in a traditional class. People often arrive nervous or stressed and leave feeling lighter."
Puppy Sphere was created from our own experiences with burnout and mental-health challenges, so that emotional impact has always been at the heart of the company.
What do you hope people take away from a session, beyond the cute photos?
Francesca Albo: "We hope they leave feeling genuinely better. The photos are adorable, but the deeper purpose is to give people an opportunity to slow down, disconnect from everyday stress and experience a moment of uncomplicated joy. Puppy Sphere was created from our own experiences with burnout and mental-health challenges, so that emotional impact has always been at the heart of the company."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "I hope people take away a feeling of connection, both with the puppies and with the people around them. It is difficult to stay guarded in a room full of playful puppies. People laugh with strangers, put their phones down and allow themselves to be present. Even if that feeling only lasts for an hour, it can be a meaningful reset."
What do people misunderstand most about Puppy Yoga?
Francesca Albo: "The biggest misconception is that it is only about getting cute content. Of course, the puppies make it very shareable, but the experience was created around mental wellbeing, stress relief and human-animal connection. The yoga and the puppies work together to create something that feels joyful without requiring people to take themselves too seriously."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "People may also assume that the puppies are expected to perform or participate in the yoga. They are not. The puppies are free to explore, play, rest or engage at their own pace. The class is structured around their comfort, and guests are entering the puppies’ space rather than the other way around."
The puppies are never forced to interact. If they want to sleep, play with one another or move away from a guest, they are allowed to do that.
How do you make sure the puppies are comfortable and happy during the sessions?
Francesca Albo: "Puppy welfare comes first in every decision we make. We work with vetted breeder and rescue partners and keep sessions short, with capped class sizes and dedicated time for rest, water and enrichment. The puppies are never forced to interact. If they want to sleep, play with one another or move away from a guest, they are allowed to do that."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "We also have trained handlers supervising the puppies throughout the experience, including team members who are Pet First Aid certified. They monitor the puppies’ body language, energy and behaviour and can step in immediately if a puppy needs space or a break. Our processes are designed to adapt to the puppies, because every litter has different personalities and energy levels."
What rules do participants have to follow when interacting with the puppies?
Francesca Albo: "We ask guests to be gentle, calm and respectful. That means following the handlers’ instructions, allowing the puppies to approach naturally and never chasing, cornering or forcing a puppy to interact. Guests should also avoid feeding the puppies or picking them up unless a team member has confirmed that it is appropriate."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "We explain the interaction guidelines at the beginning of every class so that everyone knows what to expect. Guests should remain mindful of where the puppies are, avoid sudden or rough movements and give them space when they are resting. Our team is always present to support both the guests and the puppies."
At Puppy Sphere, we work only with vetted partners, maintain capped class sizes, provide dedicated supervision and build in rest and water breaks.
What would you say to someone who is critical of Puppy Yoga from an animal-welfare perspective?
Francesca Albo: "We understand the concern because we are animal lovers first, and we believe people should ask questions about any experience involving animals. Not every puppy yoga provider necessarily operates in the same way, which is why we are transparent about our standards and continue working to raise the bar for the industry."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "We would encourage people to look closely at how a company sources, supervises and cares for its puppies. At Puppy Sphere, we work only with vetted partners, maintain capped class sizes, provide dedicated supervision and build in rest and water breaks. The puppies are never required to perform, and their needs always take priority over the class schedule or the guest experience."
If you looked at Puppy Sphere today not as founders, but simply as animal lovers, what would matter most to you?
Francesca Albo: "I would want to know that every decision was being made with the puppies’ wellbeing at the centre. Growth, popularity and business success would never matter more than ensuring the puppies feel safe, comfortable and cared for. That is the standard I would expect as a dog owner, and it is the standard we work to uphold as founders."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "I would look at the puppies themselves. Are they relaxed? Are they able to rest? Can they choose whether or not to interact? Are knowledgeable people watching their behaviour? Those details would matter most to me. A successful experience should be positive for the puppies as well as the guests."
Is there anything else you want to say to the community?
Francesca Albo: "We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported Puppy Sphere and trusted us with their wellness time. What began as a small idea in Toronto has grown into a much larger community than we ever imagined. We do not take that support, or the responsibility that comes with it, for granted."
Lea Burdidge Izquierdo: "We want people to know that Puppy Sphere is about more than yoga or puppies. It is about giving people permission to pause, reconnect and experience joy. We are so thankful to our guests, team members, instructors and puppy partners for helping us build that community, and we are excited to keep making puppy therapy accessible to more people."
