What Is Puppy Play?
Puppy play is a kink or fetish where people take on the characteristics of a puppy or dog, or of the dog’s handler or owner. It is a form of animal roleplay, and can also be part of cosplay, leather culture, role play, entertainment, and/or BDSM.
Puppy play has nothing to do with being attracted to dogs or animals, as it is sometimes confused with or criticized. Rather, it is the desire to identify with puppies or dogs, and mimic their characteristics and their relationship with their owner or handler.
Read: Pet Play: All About Animal Roleplay
Most puppy play is cosplay, with a fun and lighthearted spirit. As with Littles, who feel an enormous freedom and stress relief through age regression to childhood, puppy play can bring a sense of freedom from responsibilities, and a spontaneous and affectionate flavor to the daily grind.
For some, puppy play is not inherently sexual. It is a form of play that is not attached to sexual desires. It is a form of theater, make-believe, or dress-up, usually called cosplay.
For others, it is a kink of its own, and those who enjoy puppy play find sexual and psychological pleasure and fulfillment that way.
For others still, puppy play is an expression of wider kinks or fetishes. For example, it is very common to have puppy play inside of leather subcultures, as a variation for the aesthetic of leather and expression of the leather fetish.
Puppy play is also part of BDSM for many, because the puppy and handler are in a power exchange relationship. It can be one expression of dominance and submission, or the only one.
Pup play can be a lighter kind of BDSM for those who aren’t interested in what they see as hardcore BDSM practices. Puppy play is a more playful kind of dominance and submission, with the dominant in a caregiver role.
16 Puppy Play Ideas
1. Puppy Petting
Every puppy loves a good ear scratching and pat, and this hands on affection is a big part of puppy play for many. Stroking and belly rubbing and massage are a wonderful reward in down time after the daily grind. Puppy petting can be rewarding for both puppy and handler.
Read: Erotic ASMR: 12 Ideas for ASMR Sex
2. Puppy Cosplay
Half the fun for a lot of puppy play enthusiasts is dress up. Puppy costumes, puppy gear, and puppy play accessories are varied. You can choose cute ears and a nose, or a full-on puppy mask. You can wear leather accessories that are finely crafted, or turn to something at your local dollar store. You can paint whiskers on. There are lots of styles of tails to choose from, and puppy feet too.
Read: BDSM Roles: 33 Dominant and Submissive Roles
3. Dog Grooming
As with petting, dog grooming in puppy play is a hands-on experience. Grooming can be brushing and massage, cleaning eyes and ears, trimming fur, clipping nails, and having a bath. Puppies enjoy being given a warm bath and they love being pretty afterwards.
4. Puppy Training
Many puppy play enthusiasts are acting out a power exchange relationship, and puppy training is an essential part of the dominance and submission natural in the handler puppy dynamic. Puppy training involves commands, attention, and discipline.
Read: BDSM and Total Power Exchange Relationships
5. Housetraining
Housetraining or paper training is part of some puppy play relationships. It is part of puppy training for those who want to go all the way. Usually puppy play that involves soiling on newspapers or puppy pads is a more intense form of BDSM and humiliation play, or it can be related to a omoroshi or wetting kink.
Read: 5 Piss Play Ideas for Kinky Lovers
6. Leashing and Collaring
Dogs and puppies have to get used to harnesses, leashes, and collars, and this can be a big part of puppy play. It can also be a symbolic and ritualistic part of BDSM.
Read: 9 Types of BDSM Collars
7. Feeding and Puppy Treats
Ever try eating from a bowl on all fours using only your mouth? If you’re a puppy, you do. This can be a lot of fun, and often a bit messy!
8. Wanna Go Outside?!?
Every puppy loves to go outside. Puppy play often involves the pup running about on all fours. This takes some practice at first! Taking the dog for a walk can be quite literal, or it can be part of going to a fetish party or a nightclub event.
Read: 11 Outdoor Bondage and BDSM Ideas
9. Play Fetch
While you’re out in the park or at the beach, pup hopes you’ll throw a bit of frisbee or an old tennis ball. Puppy play is a fun way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors.
Read: Nature Fetish: 16 Kinks and Fetishes of Nature Lovers
10. Puppy Crating
Puppy crating is essential to puppy play because it involves a sense of security and comfort for the puppy, and is important in training in BDSM.
Read: BDSM Cage Play and Bondage Cage Types
11. Puppy Position Training
Puppy play has a lexicon of submissive puppy play positions. Learning the positions with the authority of the handler or owner is essential for those who practice puppy play regularly.
Puppy play positions reflect what the handler commands, and can also be used to communicate to the handler, hunger, thirst, yes, no, tired, horny, etc. Since puppies don’t speak, puppy play positions make communication easy.
Read: 23 Submissive Poses and BDSM Slave Positions
12. Puppy Commands
Puppy commands are part of puppy training and can be universal or personal in the unique relationship.
Read: BDSM Hand Signals and When To Use Them
13. Puppy Toys
Showering a pup with toys for puppy playtime is great fun. Colorful sticks and balls and squeaky toys are popular.
14. Puppy Tails Butt Plug
Puppy tails for dress up often come as anal plugs, allowing the tail to stay in place while also offering stimulation and penetration.
Read: Your First Butt Plug: What You Need to Know
15. Go for a Ride
Taking the pup for a car ride is a favorite way for puppy play. Dogs love to hang their head out the window and enjoy a little adventure.
16. Dog Park
Going to the dog park is different from just going for a walk or going outside when it comes to puppy play. What’s at the dog park? Other dogs! Puppies love to play with litter siblings and new friends. A handler can have many puppies at home too.
Read: How to Meet Kinky People
Do you have a puppy kink or fetish? Are you into animal roleplay? Do tell!
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