The pet play lifestyle is full of so many voices that make it unique and vibrant. To showcase this, every month we will be shining the spotlight on a particular human animal or Handler in our community. Let's hear what makes every pet player special! This month, we loved getting to know a wonderful pup and little in our community with a beautiful story to tell. They are also the talented artist and ear-maker behind Socks Sundries! Introducing...
PUPPIE!
Please introduce yourself and how you identify in pet play.
Hi, I’m Puppie! Besides that, I’m a black, agender, and queer. I am neurodivergent, and polyamorous. Most of you may know me as Sock, but that’s only one of my multiple pet headspaces. In my headspace as Sock, I’m a playful white pitbull pup. While I’m Void, I am a hellhound which resembles a jackal (think Anubis). Rose is my Handler and Domme. For her, I do Service tasks and act as a familiar. A headspace that interests me but I have less experience in is being a circus poodle.
How did you first get into pet play and discover your animal identities?
Did you ever play “House” when you were younger? There’s generally assigned roles for people like mom, dad, daughter, son… you get the idea. Those roles were not easy for me to identify with. I’ve always struggled with understanding my gender. Being able to fit in was not an easy feat. Discovering I could be the pet dog was revolutionary! It gave me time to not worry about gender at all. In that pretend play, I would be put on a leash and sometimes I would even “live” in a cardboard box as a cage.
For a long while after that, I felt I had to repress the desire to be a pup, because, at the time, I felt it was inappropriate to play pretend as I grew up. Societal norms really did a number on me. The things I loved were pushed aside just to fit into the “box” I was assigned. After a long while of suffering trying to conform to that theoretical box, I needed to emerge. Ripping the cardboard walls of that restriction released my freedom of expression. It was then that I ran into the arms of individuality.
What are your favorite activities as a pet?
I usually am deeper in my pup headspace around my Mommy and during moshes. With my Mommy, we cuddle and participate in more sexual type play. When I’m at moshes, I love to wrestle with other pups and consenting pets. Chewing and ripping toys is also a pastime I enjoy. At the first SoCal Creatures mosh I went to, I chewed up my hippo squeaky toy. RIP! Speaking of chewing, yummy treatos such as Scooby snacks, cereal and occasional bio dog food causes me to fall deeper into my pet headspace, especially if I’m being trained. I am also a good service pup. I love to do tasks for my Mommy such as cleaning, sexual service, and emotional support.
What helps you get into your pet headspace?
Wearing my pup gear usually helps me feel more focused on being a pet instead of being distracted by my “human form”. Seeing my body during pet play can really rip me from my headspace. Some of the things I use to distract me from that are faux fur ears, a wagging rubber tail, a leather muzzle, my pink collar, a body harness, and sometimes even a leash. Both my collar and one of my harnesses are made for bio dogs, actually! The jingle of my collar as I move is a constant reminder of my place as a pet. It stays around my neck almost always and certainly adds to my head space. Recently I got a hood and just as I suspected it also helped me feel less human.
Besides gear, other things that help are getting head scritches and belly rubs. I also like when my handler enforces things like speaking restrictions and being forced to walk on all fours. I enjoy training–preferably in a language other than English. And in my poodle headspace, I hope to get training from a clown to be a circus pup!
How, if at all, does being a little intersect with being a pet for you?
Sometimes I’m in both spaces at once! Both kinds of play really speak to my desire to take a break from being an adult human with necessary responsibilities and social constructs. It’s good to feel like things can just be simple sometimes.
What do you love most about pet play?
Pet play is very therapeutic for me–it aids in processing and managing a variety of difficult emotions. Nicknames like “dumb pup” and “silly baby” give me a break from being expected work my brain at full force all the time. It can also be a meditative practice for me since it requires letting thoughts come and go. I feel at ease as a pet. I feel like I can finally live peacefully.
To keep up with this playful pup, follow them at @precious.puppie