Petplay

Petplay is a role-play practice in the BDSM and fetish context in which one person takes on the role of an animal and behaves accordingly, while the other person assumes a guiding, accompanying, or handling role. Common forms include ponyplay, dogplay, and pigplay. Petplay can involve dominance and submission, rituals, caretaking, obedience, or playful humiliation; however, it is not automatically sexual and can also take place without sexual acts.

It is important to clearly distinguish petplay from real animals: petplay takes place between consenting adult humans, and animals are not involved. It should also be distinguished from furries, where the focus is usually on animal-like aesthetics or identification rather than a BDSM role-play. As with all BDSM practices, consent, clear agreements, safety limits, and respectful treatment are essential. Public play is generally unsuitable and may lead to misunderstandings or legal issues.