Brats, pets & primal
Pet play: a beginner's guide
One of you takes on a pet role: kitten, puppy, eager to please. It’s often more playful and affectionate than sexual.
In the quiz
- Pet play
- Pet play with gear
- Pet play in front of others
How to start
- Pick an animal and a pet name.
- Start with ears or a collar.
- The owner gives treats, praise and simple rules.
How to keep it safe
- Knee pads for time on the floor.
- Tail plugs need a flared base and proper cleaning.
What you need
- Starter: ears and a collar.
- Upgrade: a tail, mitts or a hood.
Ideas to try
- A lazy evening as pet and owner.
- Pet play at a kink-friendly event.
Is your partner into it too?
Take the quiz on your own phones. You'll only see pet play in your results if you both said some kind of yes.
Sources
- Wignall & McCormack (2017). An exploratory study of a new kink activity: “Pup play.” Archives of Sexual Behavior.
- Brown, Barker & Rahman (2020). A systematic scoping review of the prevalence, etiological, psychological, and interpersonal factors associated with BDSM. Journal of Sex Research.
Related guides
- Ownership and collars
Belonging to someone, and claiming them. A collar or a discreet necklace makes it something you can wear.
- Primal play
Instinct over technique: chasing, wrestling, growling, biting. For some people it’s the most freeing kind of play.
- Brats and brat taming
One of you pushes back on purpose so the other has to make them behave. It’s playful defiance, and many couples trade roles.
Educational, not medical or legal advice. Updated 2026-11-09.