Pup play

Puppy play is defined as "a sociosexual activity wherein one or more participants take on the mannerisms, behavior, and attitudes of a dog – often facilitated by the wearing of specialist ‘gear’".{{cite web |last1=Lawson |first1=Jamie |last2=Langdridge |first2=Darren |title=History, culture and practice of puppy play |url=https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/187394518/Full_text_PDF_accepted_author_manuscript_.pdf |website=University of Bristol |publisher=Sage Journals |access-date=16 December 2024 |ref=c |pages=574–591 |date=March 2019}} This can include both physical apparel and behavioral traits, such as communicating via non-verbal cues such as growling or barking.{{cite web |last1=Montgomery |first1=Blake |title=We Live in Packs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/style/pup-play.html |publisher=The New York Times |access-date=16 December 2024 |ref=b}} Pup play culture is closely linked to the leather subculture and BDSM communities, with much of the apparel and accessories crafted from leather, rubber, latex, or neoprene.{{cite web |last1=Kane |first1=Ashleigh |last2=Krevitt |first2=Zak |title=Behind the closed doors of the Human Puppy fetish community |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/photography/article/32635/1/zak-krevitt-goes-behind-the-closed-doors-of-the-human-puppy-fetish-community |website=DazedDigital |publisher=Dazed |access-date=16 December 2024}} While the culture is categorized as a fetish, it can also serve as a social outlet for many individuals, particularly within the LGBTQ community.{{cite web |last1=Wignall |first1=Liam |last2=McCormack |first2=Mark |last3=Cook |first3=Taylor |last4=Jaspal |first4=Rusi |title=Findings From a Community Survey of Individuals Who Engage in Pup Play |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-021-02225-z |access-date=16 December 2024}}

In puppy play, or pup play, at least one of the participants acts out canine mannerisms and behaviors. If there is a dominant role it can be taken by a "handler", "trainer", "master", or in the case of someone who also identifies as a pup, an "alpha". Not all "pups" or "dogs" are "alpha", some consider themselves "beta" or "omega", and as in the canine world hierarchy, "beta" can refer to someone who has both dominant and submissive or service oriented tendencies depending on the situation where "omega" generally indicates a more submissive, passive, service oriented and playful nature. Unlike other forms of animal roleplay, it is not uncommon for two or more pups to play together as equals, possibly fight for dominance, or play where one is clearly the "alpha".{{cite web|url=http://www.siriuspup.net/what-is-an-alpha/|title=What is an Alpha?|website=SIRIUSPUP|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919160112/http://www.siriuspup.net/what-is-an-alpha/|archive-date=19 September 2017|url-status=live}}

Puppy play is often about being playful, mischievous, cheeky and instinctive.{{cite web|url=http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/dictionary/Dog_play/|title=Dog play in the BDSM Dictionary|website=|access-date=4 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511083559/http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/dictionary/Dog_play/|archive-date=May 11, 2008|url-status=live}} Many human puppies like to simplify their desires and motivations as they embrace the side of themselves that acts solely on instinct.{{cite web|url=http://www.siriuspup.net/what-is-human-pup-play/|title=What is human pup play?|website=SIRIUSPUP|access-date=24 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826194221/http://www.siriuspup.net/what-is-human-pup-play/|archive-date=26 August 2017|url-status=live}} A great deal of animal role play occurs socially. A group of like-minded pet-players will gather at events specifically organised for social pet play. At pup play events, for example, which occur all over the world, human puppies will act like bio puppies, relaxing, playing fetch, and interacting with human handlers.

In relation to other BDSM play, a "puppy" who is "unowned" or "uncollared" can be referred to as a "stray". Many pups use a headspace when getting into a roleplay scenario known as "pup space" which allows them to take on their puppy persona more easily.{{clarify|date=February 2018}}{{Cite journal|last1=Wignall|first1=Liam|last2=McCormack|first2=Mark|date=April 2017|title=An Exploratory Study of a New Kink Activity: "Pup Play"|url=https://dro.dur.ac.uk/16328/1/16328.pdf?DDD34+dvmq56+d700tmt|journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior|language=en|volume=46|issue=3|pages=801–811|doi=10.1007/s10508-015-0636-8|pmid=26666883 |issn=0004-0002}} Other elements rooted in BDSM play involve bondage and restriction with collars, leashes, kneepads (for knee protection), harnesses, rubber suits, hoods (not needed but sometimes helps to assist with headspace and self identity) and mitts (for hand protection as well as finger usage restriction). Both sexual and non-sexual services are options that occur in the scene and should be discussed by the participants (pup / handler, beta / alpha, etc.) ahead of time so expectations are not misinterpreted. "Training" may take place in order to teach commands or tricks if both participants desire such interactions.

According to Wignall et al. (2022), data was collected from a 2019 survey designed and organized by the Australian non-profit Nerdy Doggo. The survey gathered data from various social media platforms popular with pups, including Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp. The data showed that homosexual males made up approximately 60.3% (442) of the sampled 733 participants, with 58.1% (426) of them aged 18–30 years, and the remaining 41.9% (307) being older than 30 years. Of the participants, 666 (90.9%) reported owning gear related to pup play, with 600 (81.9%) of those owning pup hoods.

Wignall et al. (2023){{cite web |last1=Wignall |first1=Liam |last2=Moseley |first2=Rachel |last3=McCormack |first3=Mark |title=Autistic Traits of People Who Engage in Pup Play |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2023.2239225 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |access-date=16 December 2024 |doi=10.1080/00224499.2023.2239225}} sampled 413 pup play practitioners from an international internet survey with the aim to "examine the occurrence of autistic traits and explore characteristics and social connections of people with autistic traits who engage in pup play". Participants' autistic traits were assessed using the Autism-spectrum quotient (short form). The survey found that the average score for autistic traits was 65.83, with a range from 29 to 100. Out of the 413 participants, 35.4% (146) scored above 70, which is considered a higher threshold for indicating stronger autistic traits. Additionally, 55.7% (230) of the participants scored 65 or above, which is considered a lower threshold for identifying autistic traits.

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