Developments and the Status Quo 2025: A Look at the Puppy Play Scene in Berlin

Since 2019, I have been organizing puppy parties in Berlin. Back then, I started on a relatively empty stage, but by now there is a wide range of offerings. A large number of organizers has emerged who cater to very different needs – from simple regular meetups and puppy activities to kinky play parties and orgies, to dance parties and much more. Some formats have evolved, others did not work out or the organizers stopped them for various reasons.

It is time to take a closer look at what has happened in recent years and what the current status quo of the community is. For this, I also interviewed the current “Puppy Germany 2025”, Pup Uzuma, and asked the “veteran scene pup”, Pup Akamaru, to share his views.

Our first Puppy Play Party at Easter in sinberlin 2019.

What is Puppy Play?

Puppy Play is more than just a role-play. What started as such has grown into a large and colorful movement centered around solidarity, community, and belonging. At its core, it is about wonderful people you might never have met otherwise.

This type of play involves taking on the role of a puppy – a young dog. Dog-like behaviors and reactions are imitated. This is referred to as so-called pup space. You can do this entirely on your own or with one or more partners. What this behavior means to each individual is up to them. Some simply want to stop talking and thinking, curl up in a dog bed, roam around in a pack, or have minimalistic sex…

For many, however, it is not – or at least not only – about the lightness and freedom that this play brings. Other concepts play a greater role… They seek belonging, enjoy the aesthetics, or need the protection of the (puppy) mask to try things out and overcome inhibitions. For many, the puppy identity is a chance to reinvent themselves, live freely, grow, or simply be who they truly are.

Being a puppy defines a new group that anyone can join – regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, fetish, or preferences. It is enough to say: I am a puppy. Everything else – interaction, communication – can / must / will be renegotiated.

I have seen so many puppies transform through their puppy self. Trans people have experienced their transition through their puppy self before they were later able to receive their corrections. But there are also many fem puppies who are only fem* as a puppy. — Akamaru Canis

What do you need for Puppy Play?

In reality, you need nothing more than the right mindset, which is often referred to here as headspace. However, many puppies wear gear because it helps them get into headspace or feel safer.

But gear is not a must. Being a puppy primarily means letting go, being free, and living that playful feeling. Even without a mask or collar, you can live on all fours, take life lightly, and simply live in the moment… A ball? And off you go chasing it! A plastic bag? And it is shredded in no time… It is the feeling that counts, not the outfit!

However, gear can help you get into headspace, look stylish, become part of your own puppy identity, and much more.

It is interesting to ask experienced pup players what makes them feel like a puppy. It is not always the puppy mask. The tag on the collar symbolizes belonging. The knee pads encourage crawling on all fours. The paw mitts make you helpless. Not speaking as a dog requires a different kind of communication. — Akamaru Canis

Gear is often colorful and can be made from a variety of materials – leather, rubber, neoprene, fur, or whatever you think is great. A bit of femboy or a mix of things? Why not! Everything is allowed, but no gear shaming (and yet, unfortunately, it still happens sometimes)!

Does sex and kink belong to it?

Some have also consciously developed a puppy-gear fetish and enjoy sex in these special outfits. For them, Puppy Play is more of an entry point into the world of BDSM, while for others it has nothing to do with it. It can then feel completely wrong if someone does something to a puppy without consent. As usual, forms of expression are diverse and varied.

It is important to understand: “Gear is not consent.” This means that just because someone is wearing a certain outfit, this does not count as agreement to play or similar activities. As in every area: actively obtaining consent in advance is important, and you should not simply assume it.

How has Puppy Play developed?

The origins – Puppy Play 1.0

The origins can be found, among other things, in the gay fetish world, especially in the context of “master–slave” play, where the “dogs” essentially ranked even below the “slaves.” It was a form of degradation and humiliation, or even punishment. Masks made of leather or rubber already existed, as well as many other accessories such as paws to prevent the “dog” from using their hands.

But influence from the broader BDSM world, especially from pet play, was also strong. Here, animal identities were more of a role-play designed to help participants let go of everyday life and enjoy the simplicity of a creature’s existence. The characters were cuter and more lovable, expecting cuddles and affection, care, and play.

The furry community also had a strong influence. It creates so-called fursonas – anthropomorphic (that is, human–animal) characters. At first, these existed only in the imagination or as drawings and only much later – if at all – as fursuits. They are usually colorful and somehow cute, but can also be cheeky and sexual.

The puppy community – Puppy Play 2.0

o how did the puppies evolve out of these very different currents? Even though this is only my personal opinion, I would say that some gay fetishists could not identify with the old concepts and therefore looked for something new for themselves. In principle, they liked kinky role-plays and enjoyed headspaces, but the style and concepts of the “leather”, “military”, and “master–slave” worlds simply were not for them. So they borrowed from all of the aforementioned areas what worked for them and created their own outfits and kinky puppy identities – cheerful, lovable, playful, sexual, and colorful.

First, they developed their own fetish and lived their own fetish identity. They sought and found like-minded people, and thus the first foundations of the community were laid. What united them was not only being a puppy, but also other kinks and fetishes, and for many, being gay or bisexual as well. People from neighboring communities became interested and joined, and in addition to the shared interest, the community itself became increasingly important. A community emerged that offered support and stability, grew over time, and developed new structures. The role-play of being a puppy lost some of its importance and became more of a means to an end for community and social interaction, which accordingly gained importance and attracted more and more people.

In this context, the first pioneers in the puppy world emerged – people who created special masks and outfits, organized the first events, and helped transform a loose bunch of people with a shared interest into a community. They created identifiers, events, and more that gave this group a clear identity and allowed it to distinguish itself from others.

Nevertheless – or perhaps precisely because of this – puppies initially did not find a fixed place in the more leather- and rubber-oriented fetish bars and clubs. They were too colorful, often wore neoprene or fabric clothing, and combined fetishes, which was basically a “no-go” for pure fetishists. They stood at the bar with others, did not take orders, and absolutely did not want to be humiliated. They wanted cuddles and fun. And that simply did not fit the “dog” concept from the master–slave world that prevailed there. The cuddly pup had to stay outside and for a long time was not recognized as a separate group.

So the puppies built their own infrastructure. They organized themselves in online groups like Discord or Telegram. They simply did things together. They went together to the Christmas market or to the KitKat Club. They organized regular meetups and cooperated with partner organizations that were interested in them, and created their first own events, such as the Puppy Night of Sins by gay-BDSM.club at sinberlin or Wagging Tails at Quälgeist.

A diversifying community – Puppy Play 3.0?

As it grew in size, the puppy community gained importance. Even well-established clubs and institutions had to adapt and tried to create offerings for puppies without driving away their existing guests. Some managed this very well; for others it turned out to be more difficult.

Within the community itself, subgroups and special interests also developed. Puppies became more diverse and varied. There was more competition, which brought new offerings for specific parts of the community. But other organizers also increasingly opened up to the puppy community.

People distanced themselves from each other, wanted to belong to certain groups, or even developed hostile views toward others… Some organizations fell apart because of this, others split, or there were afterward two versions of the same thing, just slightly different ;)

I think it is wonderful that our community has become so colorful and diverse. Diversity is not a problem – it is our greatest strength, as long as we treat each other with respect. We do not all have to be the same to stick together. That is exactly what makes us so special as a community. — Uzuma – Puppy Germany 2025

Some feel more comfortable and better represented in the community this way, while others no longer recognize it… But that is not only due to the changes in the community – it also depends on how you perceive it… whether you are still seeing it through rose-tinted glasses or simply remembering the time when you were still part of it yourself ;)

Whether it was exactly like this or somehow different, I do not know. But it can be stated that the puppy community is very closely connected to the gay and queer BDSM and fetish world and that a large part of the puppies comes from this area – but certainly not exclusively!

Where do you find puppies?

Many puppies have organized themselves on online platforms such as Telegram or Discord. Today there is a large community with various chat groups that are moderated and organized by region and sometimes also by gender, profession, hobbies, or health and disability.

Clubs and private organizations have also been founded which, alongside many committed individuals, offer regular meetups and puppy activities such as walks, games in the park, or laser tag.

But they have also snuck into the gay club scene, and many bars and clubs that previously could not or would not offer anything for puppies have now added special events. Overall, however, puppies have established themselves more in the kink and fetish sphere, which of course also includes kinky dance parties and gay fetish bars. You could almost say that they can be found almost everywhere in the gay and kinky community – at least in Berlin.

Would you like to know what is available in Berlin for pets and puppies? On our special page for Pet & Puppy Play in Berlin you can find all the information.

Media presence

Since I have been following the topic, there have always been headlines and moments of visibility. At first, puppies frequently appeared in articles about Pride events or larger activities where they were visible. In some cases, the police were not clear about the rules for protests, or the media treated puppies as a scandal. Puppy Play was mocked or portrayed as “perverted.” A major part of the active work of community members helped educate the public and actively develop rules for how puppies could participate in such protests or similar events. Many well-meaning media creators from podcasts, magazines, and blogs also provided educational content and positive visibility. For example, Puppy Play was covered in 2022 in the online streaming series “Slavik Junge präsentiert: nicht erregen, Staffel 2, Episode 4” by RTL and, above all, explained in a factual way with a good dose of humor. In any case, they are no longer a topic for outrage or scandal in the tabloid press.

Today, in 2025, puppies have arrived in mainstream series like Sandman or Twisted Metal and are integrated as a natural element. How this visibility will impact the community remains to be seen. But one thing can already be said for sure: There is far more than one puppy community, and there are people who have nothing to do with the original groups or even the current puppy community who practice Puppy Play. This has always been the case, but with the unremarked entry into mainstream media, the aesthetics and concept will quickly spread to completely independent individuals, who will reinvent and use it entirely according to their own ideas.

Who are the people behind the masks?

Even today, there is still a disproportionately high share of gay and queer people behind the masks. However, by now all genders and orientations can be found there, and most (though not all) events are also explicitly open to all genders. The share of female puppies is estimated at around 10%, but can vary considerably. Female puppies have now also organized themselves and can therefore be found in their own groups. Other people can also be found in the puppy community.

Young people in particular seem to feel comfortable in the puppy community. This may be due to the anonymity of the masks, the open and itself very young community, or the eased access to the gay and kinky world that often goes hand in hand with Puppy Play. Since this does not always fit with the other activities of the puppies, and to prevent inappropriate behavior, special offerings have been developed that specifically create safer spaces that comply with youth protection guidelines.

In addition, there is a large proportion outside the community – people who have no connection to the puppy community, its organization, or its principles. I personally know several people who move mainly in the heterosexual world. They are, however, not as well organized and therefore less visible. The personal fetish is lived there in a similar way and may continue to grow thanks to increasing visibility. In this sense, one can say that it is mixed gay–queer, but becoming larger, more open, and more colorful. How it will develop remains to be seen.

Puppy Play and puppies have by now also become the subject of academic research. It has been found that people from the neurodivergent spectrum are particularly drawn to it. Those affected report that Puppy Play helps them:

• Regulate sensory overload: The clear framework and simple social rules in Puppy Play can have a calming effect.

• Escape social roles: Especially for people with autism or ADHD, breaking social expectations can be liberating.

• Strengthen physical self-confidence: Playing with movement, touch, and non-verbal communication can have a therapeutic effect.

• Experience community: Many neurodivergent people find acceptance and belonging in the Puppy Play community.

“We have to learn to deal with that. We have to take it into account when organizing." — Akamaru Canis

What kinds of events exist now?

I am by far not aware of all events, but I have organized some myself, noticed others, and at least heard of many more. The number has grown in recent years, and not every new event was successful.

There are special regular meetups or munches for the community, as well as some targeted parties and clubs. Some events are sex-, BDSM-, and kink-positive. Others are exactly the opposite, and sex or BDSM is not allowed there. Some are even 16+ (suitable from 16 years) and aimed at a particularly vulnerable audience. Some events deliberately move into public or semi-public spaces where careful checks are carried out in advance on whether masks may be worn and what other requirements there are for appearance. Others create protected spaces in which you can fully live the puppy experience. Some examples from Berlin are the Wagging Tails at Quälgeist, the Puppy Night of Sins at sinberlin, or Animalz at Folsom.

Puppies are also often welcome at other kinky events. Kinky dance parties often appreciate the colorful and creative outfits. Sometimes they are even featured on flyers and posters – like at Kinktastisch at Insomnia – or get specifically reduced admission. However, this is not the case everywhere, and it is worth clarifying in advance.

So make sure to find out in advance whether it is the right event for you and whether you will feel comfortable there.