From boy to puppy the gentle scratch on the back of the head pulling you into the moment with not a concern in the world… curled up in a bean bag with the gentle touch of the leather harness against your skin and the puppy collar that had helped you drop to that euphoric feeling of being free, the relaxation that comes from being in puppy headspace and exploring your world from a very playful view; where being on all fours adds to the headspace of being free. The puppy headspace is gentle, relaxing, fun, exciting, in fact it is anything that the pup wants it to be that suits their persona. 

In my experience identifying as a puppy was not always accepted by the community, and at times in the earlier days you were seen to be different and was very much on the outer fringes. The contemporary puppy emerged from the leather BDSM lifestyle/community, where submissive boys were forced to be a dog or slave dog and as with everything, there are those that enjoyed this and being able to explore puppy headspace that pleases their Master or Mistress, and this started what we now know as pup play. 

When I first entered the leather community in the late 90’s pup play was not something that was seen, there were dog slaves. The hoods back then were very BDSM like and not as individualized as they are now… just like a T-model ford, except you could get black or canvas brown. 

I was a boy and had a Master and I was trained to be a boy, As I journeyed through the Sydney leather community as part of my training, I delivered workshops on boys and the different persona boys had, including the brat… Most of my interactions occurred in Sydney. I found love and moved away from the leather community. I handed back my collar and embarked on a new adventure, that ended up going full circle, driving me back home to my beloved leather community, though in Brisbane which was different to many of the rituals of the days of my earlier youth in Sydney. BootCo brought for me a new hope, as Pup Play was now being accepted, and I was drawn through my bratty self and puppy emerged. 

In 2007 Matthew and I were preparing to attend Mardi Gras and had traveled down from Port Macquarie where we ventured into the Iconic Sax Fetish where Jeff Napier fitted us with a harness, as I was trying on the Chicago cross Harness, Jess said, no you’re more a bull dog harness and at this point my first Bull dog Harness was purchased and was the first time that I saw a puppy hood on display. It wasn’t until late 2012 that this style hood was purchased for me from Sax Fetish as a Christmas gift. 

I spent most of 2011 exploring what pup play was for me after it was suggested by some leather folk that I was more puppy like then boy, so I spent time researching (the limited research that was available at the times, as there was really no one I knew that I could speak with.) In Australia there was at the time Sirius Pack that I connected with who helped the puppy to emerge. But it wasn’t until the first pup play workshop run by BootCo Brisbane, present by pup Riot that I really found my paws. This was followed by the first themed pub night and MOSH space created by BootCo at The Sportsman Hotel, when I feel the current incarnation of pup play was truly born in Brisbane. While there were a couple of pups on the fetish scene, including at the Brisbane Sleaze ball.. pup play became more vibrant from the work and effort put in myself, Master Pierre Brand and pup Riot with the BootCo committee. 

Q-PAH grew from the conjunction of a puppy social group and AMADA and stood under the banner of The BootCo Brisbane until 2017 when the club formally started the process of becoming independent and put an application in for incorporation which was granted by Fair Trade in May 2018. 

My journey as a pup was somewhat at times isolating and lonely as I was living in Port Macquarie and being gay was a challenge in itself, however being guided by people in the community and heading to The Boot Co Brisbane I was very fortunate to meet Mst Pierre Brand and pup Riot. I learnt so much more about myself as I found my paws. Brisbane is where I learnt the joys and wonders of pup play. There were others that were instrumental in the early stages of me finding my paws, such as Cyll Duncan, Anthony Smith. In the latter stages of my journey others influenced me such as Wayne Nicol from L&D, Tigs (HCA), Darren Tracey and Twitch. I became the first State Title Holder in Australia to wear a pup hood and clearly identify as a puppy during my title year as Mr. Queensland Leather 2016. 

QPAH started with 6 puppies and 3 handlers, while Q-PAH officially formed in 2015, puppy play was alive and well in Brisbane long before the idea of a PAH and puppies were socially meeting in 2012. Brisbane led the way of pup play before any formal social groups formed in the other states, in Australia. I am proud that I was part of the modern puppy revolution. Like with any changes in subcultures it starts with one who leads the others out of the shadows to show that safe spaces are important. 

My journey finding my paws was life changing and allowed me to be the puppy I am today, while many see my public persona as boisterous and outgoing and at the extreme alphamatic, only a few get to see the private puppy, that truly gets to explore both the headspace, the fetish/kink and the sexual puppy. 

What I love most is that I have had the privilege to explore puppy play with so many puppies as they too found their paws and watch as the community has grown from strength to strength… Being a puppy for me is more than a kink it’s a lifestyle that is as individualized as every other pup or handler (and everyone in between) within our diverse and inclusive community.