A

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Alpha– The most dominant in the family/pack. The leader and one who watches out for the others.

 

B

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BDSM– An acronym of Bondage & Discipline, Domination & Submission, Sadism & Masochism which are kink-related activities that some people take part in.

 

Biopup–A real biological canine.

Biped– A two legged animal, in this case, a human

 

Beta- second in command to the Aphla, takes lead when needed. Also responsible for care of Alpha in times of need.

 

C

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Cat/Kat– A kitten or cat-like player.

 

D

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Dominant– The partner who takes the dominant role in a BDSM relationship. The one who is in charge of the ‘pack’ (see also Alpha). [A person who is dominant in a BDSM relationship may still be a Critter and not necessarily a dominant one.]

 

 

E

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Electro-shock Collar– A device used for training real dogs that is NOT suitable for human-pets.

 

F

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Farmer- the dominant, owner, or handler of the hucow or hubull.

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Feral- term to describe a Critter who acts primal, also see Primal. 

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G

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Gearpup / Gear Critter– A player who enjoys, identifies and loves using types of clothing and BDSM gear.

 

Grooming– Looking after your Critter's personal hygiene.

 

H

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Handler– this is used here to refer to the caretaker and/or controller or any other human who has responsibility for a Critter.

 

Headspace– The mindset of an individual; the way they think or feel.

 

Hibernation– A Critter who takes a break/holiday from being in headspace.

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Hubull- a human cow critter player, usually depicted as dominant or masculine.

 

Hucow- a human cow critter player usually depicted as submissive.

 

I

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In heat- term used to describe a critter who is horny. 

 

L

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Losing Your Bark– A pup who feels he may be losing sight of what it means to them to be a pup.

 

O

 

Omega- submissive to the pack and lives to serve the pack as needed.

 

Owner- A handlers who prefer to treat their submissive as a pet, the dominant in a pet play dynamic.

 

P

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Pack– a group of critter who join together to form a social group that watches out for each other, a critter's chosen family. 

 

Pawsome–Another word for ‘Awesome’

 

Pet- a submissive critter player who prefers to be owned and treated as a pet, the submissive in a pet play dynamic.

 

Pig- a Critter player who enjoys being messy, usually depicted as a pig.

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Primal- a from of critter play that involves letting your base instincts take over, causing players to act feral and without restraint. 

 

Pupmode– when the pup is actively in the role of a pup.

 

Pupspace– the mindset that a person goes into when they absorb themselves into puppy play as a pup.

 

Pup– A human-pup (for the purpose of this guide).

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R

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R.A.C.K- Risk-aware consensual kink (RACK, also risk-accepted consensual kink) is an acronym used by some of the BDSM community to describe a philosophical view that is generally permissive of certain risky sexual behaviors, as long as the participants are fully aware of the risks. This is often viewed in contrast to safe, sane, and consensual which generally holds that only activities that are considered safe, sane, and consensual are permitted.

 

S

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Safe word– A word that is used in BDSM play to signal that the submissive needs the scene to end. There can also be a slow word that says they don’t want it to stop but they either need a breather or the just need it to go slower.

 

Scritches– What you give to a Critter by scratching/rubbing them on the scalp or behind the ear.

 

Slave– A submissive who has gone the extra step of giving up all their usual rights to their Dominant partner/Master. Sometimes there will be a pre-agreed contract that designates reasonable limitations of the control the Dominant has.

 

Squirrel– The term used to describe a puppy brain being distracted by something (usually a squirrel)

 

Stray– An unowned Pet, usually very hyperactive and annoying because they just want attention and someone to belong to, although they can go to the other extreme and be shy and unassuming.

 

Submissive– A person who, when in a relationship, gives themselves over to the rules and desires of the Dominant partner to serve/please them. A person who is submissive in a relationship is not necessarily submissive in life. A submissive usually retains the right to say “no” in such a relationship unlike a slave.