Okay, everyone, it is time to discuss pup play.
Perhaps you are familiar with the practice of role-playing (sometimes sexually, sometimes not) as a dog. That’s pretty much all there is to it, and what exactly it means is up to you. You might have a leash and a collar; or chew on a bone; or do some obedience training; or just kind of roll around with some guys and bark. Oh sure, it looks kind of silly … but have you ever seen how undignified people look like during vanilla sex?
We asked a few pups what they like about getting down on all fours. “Everything,” said one.
“A good rub down,” said another.
And a handler explained that his favorite part is “my pup’s complete acceptance and love. He’s my confidant and sexy little beast.” Awww.
Pup play’s been around for years, but for some reason it’s been experiencing something of a renaissance. Over the last year, new pup play groups have sprung up in a couple different cities; events are drawing larger crowds; and in perhaps the greatest barometer of popular trends, there are more pup Tumblrs than ever before.
For some reason, 2014 is shaping up to be the year of the pup, with a community that’s growing like gangbusters. There’s a camp for pups called Camp K-9 in Washington state. There are whole shops devoted to buying tails and harnesses and bone-shaped gags, or a veterinarian’s outfit. Pup artisans can craft elaborate outfits for you. There’s a pup broadcasting star on the delightful No Safe Word podcast.
A kindly handler in Australia has put together a whole series of how-to videos for the aspiring pup.
There’s even an Indiegogo happening right now for a British maker of pup accessories. And you can find pup play parties from Portland to San Diego to Chicago to Missouri to Toronto to Saint Louis. In fact, the only city without a pup scene is San Francisco. Ha ha ha, just kidding, of course San Francisco is like ground zero for pupping out.
Now let’s get down to brass tacks. If you’re ready to dive into the world of pup play, where do you start? We asked Gabriel Green, Mr. L.A. Leather Bear 2014 and the organizer of Lost Puppy, a hugely successful pup party at The Eagle L.A. “To all single puppies looking to attract a handler,” he advised, “Don’t be ruff around the edges and have an open heart thats looking to be loved.”
But a lot of pups find it difficult to let go of their inhibitions, since we have a lot of social programming that tells us not to act like a dog. If you want to just let your mind go free and submit to a loving handler, of vice versa, what’s the best way to get over the hurdle of self-consciousness?
“Let go of the societal stereotypes,” says L.A. Band of Brothers President Jeremy Ronceros. “Let go of what we should do, what is masculine and proper. … Those external concepts melt away.”
Nowhere is that advice more evident at Eagle L.A.’s Lost Puppy, where an affectionate bunch of pups and handlers and leatherfolk and bears all mingled and barked this weekend.
Check out the photos below…
Names: John, Nick, Mr. L.A. Leather Bear Gabriel Green, and L.A. Band of Brothers President Jeremy Ronceros
Favorite Famous Dogs: Snoopy, Brian, Odie, Tramp, Wishbone, Eddie, Rin Tin Tin
Names: Zach and Cockpit
Favorite Famous Dog: Brian
Names: Ryan, Yoshi, Gary, Beacon
Favorite Famous Dogs: Marmaduke, Brian
Names: Xavier and Scott
Favorite Famous Dog: Snoopy
Names: Kieshav, mysterious “straight” guy, and Ali
Favorite Famous Dogs: Lassie, Brian, Toto, Scooby Doo, Courage
Name: Sir Erik and Hiram
Favorite Famous Dog: Beethoven
Name: Kryzstofer
Favorite Famous Dog: Snoopy
Names: Pug and Garrett
Favorite Famous Dog: Snoopy
Names: Patrick and Jose
Favorite Famous Dog: Underdog
Names: Ozzie and John
Favorite Famous Dogs: Pluto, Scooby Doo, Scooby
Name: Klaus and Chartreusec
Favorite Famous Dogs: Balto and Scooby Doo
Here’s Mr. LA Leather Eric Leue with his arm around Pup Niko.
Name: John
Favorite Famous Dog: Clifford
Name: Todd and an unnamed stray
Favorite Famous Dog: Benji
Name: Lisa, Sanjay, Peter and Bryan
Favorite Famous Dogs: Scooby Doo, Air Bud, the Queen’s corgis, Courage, and Riot Dog
Name: Frankie, John and Doug
Favorite Famous Dogs: Lassie, Clifford and Snoopy