page_title: Animal roleplay
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: Animal roleplay / Overview
caption_attribution_description: walking the dog
context_page_description: Animal roleplay is a form of roleplay where at least one participant plays the part of a non-human animal. As with most forms of roleplay, its uses include play and psychodrama.
  Animal roleplay may also be found in BDSM contexts, where an individual may take part in a dominant/submissive relationship by being treated as an animal. The activity is often referred to as petplay. However, not all types of animal roleplay within BDSM are petplay and not all petplay in BDSM involves roleplaying as an animal; some can be referred to as primal play and is not related or accepted by the furry fandom.
context_section_description: The origins of animal roleplay and petplay are probably various and diverse, again depending upon the participants involved.  However, its origins are certainly influenced by costuming, fiction, myth and legend, roleplay and psychodrama in their various aspects. Some of the earliest published images of animal play (especially pony play) are to be found in the work of John Willie, primarily in Bizarre magazine published from 1946 to 1959.
  Some of the equipment that can be used in animal roleplay include leash, chain, bit gag, neck collar, bondage harness, catsuit, bodystocking, butt plug, muzzle, ballet boots, etc.
caption: A man crawling like a pet animal at Folsom Street Fair. He is held using a dog leash.
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