Alpha, Beta, Omega:Gay Puppy Play & Fanfic

Anton Frisk discusses gay puppy play and the Alpha, Beta, Omega dynamic featured in gay fanfic.

Puppy play is one of the most interesting categories of gay fetish play, and it has been growing in popularity during recent years. Regardless of whether or not you have a personal desire to participate in puppy play, it can still be fascinating simply because of the fact that it sits at the intersection between BDSM power play, sexual role playing, and the rich world of slash/fanfic.

In it’s most basic form, puppy play is just a relational dynamic that involves two basic roles: Handler (a Sir or a Daddy, the Dominant person) and one or more pups (the submissive.) Puppy play has both sexual and non-sexual aspects, but at its core it literally involves the Handler relating to, treating, and training the pup in much the same way as they would relate to and treat a much loved dog. Puppy play often involves fantastical accessories such as leather puppy hoods, butt plug puppy tails, collars, leashes, and sometimes even paw-like coverings for hands and feet. If this is new to you, it might look a bit surreal and intimidating at first, but it’s usually all in good fun. It’s just kinky cosplay, more or less – not The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Despite the animalistic aesthetic, it’s important to understand that puppy play has absolutely nothing to do with bestiality. The fetish gear is meant to be symbolic and transformative, visually reinforcing the relationship dynamic which is at the heart of puppy play. For some pups, this dynamic is a way to embrace a more primal side of themselves that they normally hide. For others, it’s about yielding control and learning to trust and be obedient. For handlers, it can be both an erotic turn on and a chance to mentor someone and perhaps even help them to work through some psychological, emotional, and sexual issues that they may have (which can be true for a lot of BDSM.)

There are no strict rules for puppy play, and there’s some interesting interplay between the puppy play community and the fanfic community that has taken place. Puppy play enthusiasts often use terms like Alpha and Beta to describe relationship roles, both terms which are used to describe relationship dynamics among pack animals such as dogs and wolves.

Fanfic, on the other hand, is a genre of amateur literature where fans write alternate universe fantasy scenarios about their favorite characters from established anime, films, TV series, books, etc. (although fanfic can also include completely original settings and characters.) Many fanfics (esp. those with werewolves or animal-like characters) also employ terms such as Alpha and Beta to define relationship roles, much as the puppy play community does. But in the fanfic community, this particular kink trope is more detailed and can also include a role called Omega. You can read about each of these roles in detail on the Alpha/Beta/Omega wiki page at Fan Lore. A lot of gay men who are into puppy play are also fans of anime, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. As a result, some of the expanded ABO dynamics and fantasy backstory from fanfic are sometimes integrated into gay puppy play.

In 2015, The Stranger posted an articled by Matt Baume called What Is Puppy Play and Why Is It So Popular?. The writer attended a monthly event in Seattle hosted by a puppy play organization called Seattle Pups and Handlers (SEA-PAH) and talked to some of the participants about why this fetish appeals to them. In 2016, Huffington Post also published an article by James Michael Nichols about an art show featuring the work of photographer Zak Krevitt, who had created a photo series called Alpha, Beta, Omega documenting the puppy play community. On Vimeo there are also two short video clips from Krevitt called Human Pups and Play Ball. At Pup Play you’ll find documentary photos and videos as well as articles on topics such as unleashing your inner handler, how to look after a pup, what a collar can mean, etc.

If you’re looking for porn content related to puppy play, you’ll find a handful of videos at KinkMen, along with lots of non-puppy-play videos that explore power dynamics. You can also find some videos at TLA Gay and AEBN. For more info on puppy play in general, check out Pahs Without Borders.