How to Play with Puppies: Pup Play in Sexual Expressions

Martin J. Goessl, Institute of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences FH JOANNEUM

Puppy play is becoming increasingly visible in sexual culture, although it has been around for much longer than many would expect (the first pup play competition in Europe took place in London in 1995). Dressing up in a puppy costume, usually made of leather, including a dog masc, can be both playful and mystical. Certainly the influences of submission and dominance are as essential as breaking out of a serious human world. This paper follows the leash or lead to explore not only the historical roots of pup play in postmodern societies, but also to attempt to answer why pup play has become so popular in recent years. Not only are puppies a vibrant part of many LGBTIQQ+ parades, but also in an outdoor scene, puppies do not want to sit in front of the door, they demand entry. What broader circumstances have made role-playing as a puppy more pleasurable, or vice versa, what can be expressed through the role of a puppy? In order to find a satisfactory answer, historical facts, anthropological perspectives and psychological approaches are explored.

No extended abstract or paper available

 Presented in Session 13. Queer Communities, Social Controversies