Peace, Love, Unity & Respect

PLUR is the raver motto—and the perfect compliment to both pup culture and the Burning Man Ten Principals.

What does it mean to wear a pup hood?

Human Pup Play came from the queer BDSM world, but evolved to be much more than that.

We believe that pups are more than just an aesthetic, pup play is a brilliant social hack, and first and foremost, a state of mind: headspace, the blissful state of abandoning human anxieties and pretensions, and just Being Dog. It’s a sneaky way of engaging in mindfulness practice that isn’t meditation!

Everyone is cute in gear. The usual rules about genetic-lottery, conventional-attractiveness pecking order don’t apply, the need for small-talk skills goes out the window, we’re as indiscriminately loving as your childhood golden retriever.

Putting on a hood signifies that you’re part of our community. Spotting other pups in the wild is exciting, as we aim to be friendly towards each other, and safe to be around. The hood can (but not always) mean these things:

That you believe in the value of play

That you’re gay/queer

That you’re sex positive (though some are ace!)

That you’re kink-friendly

That you have some familiarity with the concept of consent

Pups come from all walks of life. Many are neurodivergent, many are polyamorous. The pup world is a home for misfits: once you start questioning society’s norms, the sky’s the limit!

There’s no wrong way to be a pup—that’s part of the appeal! We don’t speak for every pup; not all of us ascribe to these values. Above all, we aim represent the beating heart of the pup world: the pups who are active participants, who believe in a judgement and shame-free world.

Read more about one of the camp founders’ experiences in the pup world.

Just in case it wasn’t clear, the human pup community has nothing to do with actual pups (biopups) at all.

What’s a pup mosh?

Moshes are events where pups get to switch from 2-legged mode (more like a human-in-a-hood) to 4-legged mode (fully role-playing as dogs). Generally there’s gym mats, and a place to put down your stuff. You get on all fours, and interact with the other pups through body language, barks, growls, nuzzles, wagging, wrestling, playing fetch, cuddling, etc… Many of us prefer to be non-verbal on the mats.

Some events allow the play to get frisky (NSFW). There’s usually a pup community and regularly-scheduled pup mosh in every major city, though there are often regional differences in the vibe, with some communities more rigidly structured, some more kink-oriented; others less hierarchical, or more SFW.

Self-consciousness goes out the window faster than you’d think. There’s a sense of easy kinship and unconditional affection. Want to meet someone new? Just go up and wag! Feel like taking a nap? Start a cuddle puddle. When else in your adult life do you get to really play?

  • No, however we are a pup-first camp.

  • We are not a turn-key camp, or a camp for sparkleponies (people there to spectate without meaningfully contributing). So respectfully, bark up another tree.

  • No! There are plenty of ways to contribute without being local.

  • It can be, but not necessarily. Gear is not consent, don’t make any assumptions based on what someone is wearing.

  • While it can be fun to keep your face a secret, an internal survey indicates that’s not the primary appeal.

  • While there is some overlap, they are distinct communities with different interests, expectations, and social norms. In some more conservative areas, respectability politics and misunderstanding about whether pups are inherently sexual/kinky gets in the way of more integration, while in many cities such as San Francisco, joint events thrive.