What is an Alpha/little Relationship?

Like much of erotic play and role play, animal role play in an erotic or relational context is entirely defined by the people involved and by their mood and interests at the time of play. It ranges from the simple imitation of panting or the playful nudging of a puppy, or playful behavior of a kitten, to crawling around on all fours and being fed by hand, or petted. (In the Alpha/little instance, its motives are similar to those of age play, i.e. taking on a role that one feels spiritually appropriate or which allows for nurturing, and a change from usual roles in everyday life). The Alpha/little relationship is often canine or feline based and focused on a nurturing/disciplinary Alpha (or Big) and an innocent/naive “little”.

The reasons for playing such an animal can vary as much as the actual physical manifestations and intensity of the play. Some people enjoy being able to “cut loose” into a different, or more dynamic personality (e.g., Were-creatures or Catgirls). In some cases, pet play is seen as a loving, quiet cuddling time where there is no need for verbalizations and the simple act of stroking, rubbing and holding the other partner is satisfying or reassuring in and of itself for those involved. For others, there may be a spiritual side to it; some feel closer to their animal totem.

There is a growing trend in the BDSM scene in animal role play, especially pup/cub and kitten play. Playing the role of a pup or kitten is one of giving over complete control over to another, while the ‘master or handler’ expects only unconditional love and obedience from his/her animal.

While not widespread, erotic human-animal role play is still enjoyed by a sizable number of people within BDSM practice. Though commonly misinterpreted as being associated with furry or other alternative lifestyle activities, that is generally not the case though some instances may exist.

The furry fandom is a subculture interested in fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. Examples of anthropomorphic attributes include exhibiting human intelligence and facial expressions, the ability to speak, walk on two legs, and wear clothes.

Furry role-playing also takes place in-person, with petting, hugging and “scritching” (light scratching and grooming) common between friends at social gatherings. Fursuits or furry accessories are sometimes used to enhance the furry experience.

So while “pet play” is fairly common in the BSDM community, the Alpha/little relationship is a smaller subset and growing rapidly.