Lately, you may have seen that right-wing US Congressman Randy Fine posted a video of two men engaged in pup play, in order to take a pop at “the left.” But even after Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez clapped back, “Why are you tweeting your private likes?” many people were still confused about what exactly they were looking at.
So what is pup play? Is there a gay pup play, specifically linked to the LGBTQ+ community? And where can you get your hood? Sit up and pay attention, because we’ll be going through all of this and more today!
What Is Pup Play?
Well, it’s more or less what it sounds like: pup play is a form of pet play, where one or more partners takes on the role of a dog or a puppy, often with a counterpart who acts as their “handler,” taking on the role of a human.
A derivative of BDSM practices, pups are, typically, taking on a submissive role, while the handler takes on a more dominant role, perhaps giving instructions to the pup to perform tricks. However, while pup play can involve erotic humiliation, it doesn’t have to: indeed, it doesn’t necessarily need to be erotic.
Although a sexual element is often involved, for many pups (either individually or as part of a “pack,” the collective noun for pups) there is joy to be found in embracing and indulging an animalistic spirit, and freeing themselves from human responsibilities in order to play, run, roll over, and so on.
For handlers, there is also an aspect of control, but also an aspect of care. Rather than a strictly, er, strict form of taking a dominant role, the handler may also enjoy being able to rub the pup’s belly, pat them on their head, or have them sat by their side.
@eldeber.com.bo En Bélgica, cientos de personas que se identifican como ‘perros’ participaron en la Puppy Walk 2025. Los asistentes salieron a las calles con collares, orejas y máscaras para jugar, ladrar y realizar rutinas propias de los caninos. #ElDeber #PuppyWalk #Tendencia #Viral #Perros ♬ sonido original – EL DEBER The Meaning of Pup Play in LGBTQ+ Culture
So how come pup play has been associated with LGBTQ+ culture, and particularly with gay men? Well, while one does not need to be queer to be into BDSM, the community tends to be quite accepting of people from all walks of life, given that they share a (relatively) niche interest. As such, at public events, it is far from uncommon to see LGBTQ+ people letting their freak flag fly (or, in this case, tails wag).
There is also an aspect of, ‘in for a penny, in for a pound.’ Giving a speech about the progress of queer rights in Japan versus his native Ireland, Rory O’Neill, better known as his drag persona Panti Bliss, noted that, in his opinion, “the reason that so many of us wear bondage gear outside is because, if we’re going to be oppressed for being who we are in normal clothes, we might as well go all out.”
Are Pups Always Dogs?
Again, not necessarily. Although dogs are the most common — or at least, the most visible — in the scene, as a subsection of pet play, there are many variations that people can choose from. Popular alternatives include foxes, cats, rabbits, and ponies.
How to Get Into Pup Play
If all this has made your ears prick up, then you might be scratching at the door, hoping to jump right in. But there are a few things that you should be aware of before you shell out your hard-earned yen on a hood, or even some Scooby snacks.
Research
The first thing to do is start reading articles and watching videos from people who are already into pup play, whether you want to be a pup or a handler. If you decide that, on second thought, this is not for you, then all you’ve done is lose a little time and gain a little knowledge — but if you are positive that you want to party as a pup, you will gain invaluable insight and tips on how to get started.
It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with BDSM practices in general, if you are not already au fait. BDSM gets a bad rep for being dangerous or weird (at least among normies), but it is not inherently abusive. However, there are some pitfalls that people new to the scene can fall into, so it is best to get a good grasp of best practice — especially consent.
Pup Play in Japan: Where to Find the Community
The best place to start is on the Internet. As before, the Internet can get a bad rap, but these days there are a lot of reputable websites and apps that can help people ease into the scene that they want.
Probably the best known and most reputable of these websites is Fetlife.com. It is less of a dating website, and more of a BDSM-centered social media platform. As such, you can search by location for local events (often known as “munches”) where you can meet with local people to discuss interests and the community. However, in Japan pup play is, like DDLB/DDLG, less known than in the west, so you may need to go to more general pet play events.
It might be a little nerve-wracking at first, but munches are typically very welcoming safe spaces — and you are under no obligation to do anything you don’t want to. Remember: consent!
Where to Buy Pup Mask and Pup Gear in Japan
While you will always get the best results with customized gear, these can be very, very expensive — custom fitted leather and/or latex can run into hundreds of thousands of yen. As such, you will be better off getting something a little less expensive that is roughly your size.
Online stores can be good for this, with Amazon Japan and Temu selling many of the things that you will need. Even the all important pup hood can be bought for under ¥6,000 on such websites.
If you prefer to check things before you buy, then you should be able to find some in fetish and/or sex stores in Tokyo. Love Merci in Akihabara has a solid range of BDSM gear in the basement, and the nearby Otona no Depa—to M’s is also highly recommended.
So you know where to buy… but what should you buy?
Pup Play Gear and Accessories
Pup Hood/Mask
Arguably the most important part of the outfit to many, pup hoods or masks can be made of rubber and plastic, with fancier ones made from leather or latex. This is the one part of the outfit that you probably should get in person, to make sure that it feels good to the touch, that you are not allergic to any of the materials, and that it is comfortable.
Knee pads/Elbow pads
These may seem like something you might get as an afterthought — after all, you can crawl on your knees normally, right? But extended crawling means that your knees (and elbows, if you’re walking on those) will take a lot of light impact regularly. Especially if you live your pup life every often, this can add up and do serious damage to your joints in the long term. As such, knee pads are an essential buy. Safety first!
Collar/Harness and Leash
What’s a dog without a collar? How would you even know you have a handler without them holding your leash? These are pretty easy and relatively cheap to come by (though if you get something too cheap, a bit of a tug could snap it, so don’t be too tight-fisted), and can be found in most sex stores.
Harnesses are for much the same reason, but with a leash now pulling and controlling your torso, not your neck. Some people prefer the aesthetic, and it is probably better for beginners: tugging too suddenly on a collar runs the risk of neck injury.
Pup mitts
Optional, but fun for a lot of people. These cover the hands to make it impossible (or at least, very difficult) to pick things up with your hands, which lets pups rely more on their handlers, and get even deeper into “pup space.” It’s also, aesthetically, fun to look at for the pup and the handler.
Other Accessories
There are other accessories that can be used to enhance or amplify pup play, such as tails (which can be attached to pants or, in more intimate settings, placed… elsewhere), and toy bones or bone-gags, for those who are less interested in playing fetch.
What’s the Difference Between Pups and Furries?
While the two may seem related, they’re actually pretty different. Furries, who often buy fur suits of original characters, are interested in anthropomorphic animals — and again, this can be sexual in nature of not. Pup play, by contrast, is about making humans more animal-like. It’s the difference between, say, Bugs Bunny being a rabbit with a primarily human characteristics, as opposed to a pup, who is a human exhibiting animalistic characteristics.
While Randy Fine may think that pups are a problem, people in the community know that, just as when LGBTQ+ people are allowed to live their lives openly, people who are allowed to indulge in their desires — whether sexual or not — tend to be much happier. So, we will leave you with these wise words:
@jaxie621 Edinburgh Pride 2025!!!!!! #pup #pupplaytiktok #paws #pupplay #pupplaycommunity #wruffstuff #edinburgh #edinburghscotland #edinbrughpride #furry #furryfandom #furrsuit ♬ original sound – PupJax 