International Puppy 2014 at the 6-month Mark

Wow! It doesn’t seem like it’s been 6 months since that surprising moment on a stage at the Flamingo Resort in St. Pete. But, yep, come the 9^th, it will be six months since I became International Puppy 2014. Halfway there!  And, damn, what a ride it has been to this point! And there’s just as much ahead in the 2^nd half (actually, a little bit more).

Yes, it IS true that my step aside is in July, when IPC’s International Puppy 2015 takes the banner for his/her year, but I’ve been told I can still finish out a full year as the 2014 titleholder. And, looking at the schedule from mid-July through the beginning of November, I’ll definitely be out there!

Yes, the travels and the events have been fun, and I’ve enjoyed it all immensely. I know they’ve been mainly on the eastern side of the Mississippi ( I did get to cross it in New Orleans!), but that’s going to change in the 2^nd half of the year. From Tampa to New York City and New Jersey, Ohio in both Columbus and Cleveland, from New Orleans to Toronto, and a few points in between, I’ve been fortunate already to meet so many great pups (and their handlers) and to make, not just new friends, but new brothers and sisters.

No matter where I’ve gone, the energy that we all share has been amazing! Be it a fund-raiser bar night, an educational presentation, or a major event like CLAW, there’s just something special that draws us all together. Quite often, it has been part of the energy that has kept me going.

And no matter where I’ve gone, I’ve always come back having learned so much. We really are a very diverse community, with a wide array of interests and needs. That our common bond of being pups brings together so many who are so different is truly amazing. And no matter what the difference, you’ve all taught me so much more about being a pup and our community.

And, for all I’ve learned thus far, there’s so much more yet to be learned, and I look forward to all of it! As such, I can comfortably say I will never be an expert on pups or the pup community. I’ve never thought of myself as such, and now I really know why. But I can say I’ve gained a lot of new insights and increased my understanding. And, more than that, I can say I’m more proud and blessed than ever to be one of you!

I don’t want to start saying too many thank you’s just yet (I’ll save that to for the step aside in 2 months, and even then, I’ll try to keep it brief).  But I have to acknowledge that I wouldn’t have made it this far without a lot of support from people throughout the community and from IPC. Y’all have made sure I’ve been taken care of. I haven’t had to ask for much of anything. Y’all have invited me in, made sure I had what I needed, and opened the door for fun and successful events. More often than not, a phone call or an email was all I needed to smooth the road.  I’m looking forward to that continuing over the next 6 months!

And as I go into that 6 months, I want to repeat something I said at the beginning of my title run. I don’t see this as my title. It belongs to all of the pups out there. I’m the one that’s been chosen and entrusted with carrying it and representing our community in a positive light, and to bring us all closer together. But it also means I’m here, to hear what you all have to say, to hear your ideas of what the future can look like, and to do my part to make it happen.

Whatever that future is, it belongs to all of us, and we all deserve to be heard. There isn’t a one among us who can claim to know what’s best for us all (well, aside from safety concerns), and no one voice should be any louder than the others. We’re in this together, and together we can build a future pup community where we can all be proud to belong.

I have a feeling the next 6 months are going to kick ass! ARUFF!

A Bridge Not Yet Far Enough

One of the goals I set for myself as IPC’s International Puppy 2014 was to work on bridging the divide born of misunderstanding, misconception, and a certain level of unawareness between the broader leather & fetish community and the growing pup community within it. Having feet planted firmly in both places, there were already doors of opportunity open through which I could work to make new connections and strengthen old ones. Those avenues allowed for quicker progress toward the dialogue and discussion that is absolutely essential if we are to keep taking the necessary steps forward to mutual understanding. That there were voices within both communities urging me to take on that task only reinforced its importance and my commitment to it.

I believe I can safely say that I have made some measure of progress toward that goal. There is no way possible that it can be fully realized within the span of a couple of years, much less just one. However, at almost six months into my title year, I have already engaged in or facilitated a number of conversations that have been positive, enlightening, and constructive for all sides. More than enough to reaffirm my belief that the progress and the openness to make it happen are there.

Yet with them comes also the reminder of just how far we still have to go. For all those who are open and inviting to the pup community, there still remain the roadblocks that make the journey toward being one community united that much more difficult. For each success we achieve toward breaking through that wall of separation there remains the unbending rebar trying to hold firm to the existing structure. For each door that is unlocked, there remains some being held by hands on the other side so they can’t open.

The leather community today is not what it was 15 or 20 years ago, just as the leather community of 20 years ago was not what it was in the 60’s and 70’s. Nor will the leather & fetish community 10-15 years from now be what it is today. The change and evolution has been there all along and always will be. As each generation comes in to the leather and fetish community, it brings with it new ideas and concepts. These, in turn, meld with existing traditions, gradually replace those that have fallen into obsolescence, or themselves fall to the wayside. Together, it’s the fuel that propels the evolution of our community so that it can remain relevant and vital to those within it and inviting to those who want to join us.

In this present time, one of the instruments of that change and evolution is the emergence and growth of the contemporary pup and handler community. Like so many others before us, we’ve come to the threshold and found the way in to the broader community set with challenges and hurdles. And, like those who have come before us, rather than just give up and walk away from the party, we – as an overall community – have chosen to rise to those challenges, address and overcome them, and show that we’re just as much a part as anyone else.

And, yes, the pup & handler community is very much a part of the whole community. Even as we bring to it something new and different, we bring also new ways of adopting and living the traditions and protocols that have made the leather community the rich and enticingly mysterious entity it is. We bring with us paths of self-expression and acceptance taking their place right alongside those already there. Within the pup community there really is a melding of so many of the various parts of the broader scene. And, yes, it includes with it the flaws to remind us we’re not perfect and that there’s always room to grow.

Maybe not all of us wear leather. But a large number of us embrace and embody those traits that are taught time and again about what it means to BE leather. Just as a leatherman isn’t defined by the hides that went into making his vest or chaps, a pup or handler is more than the hood or leash they use to express what they are. Just as many of the people in the leather community adhere to, believe in, and promote relationships built on D/s dynamics, many in the pup & handler community embrace those same concepts. There are some who come into the leather and fetish world just for the intense edginess of the play. There are pups and handlers who have that same interest and fascination. Pup play, at one of its most basic levels, is a form of BDSM/kink play – different from any other form of play only in the specifics of what’s being done.

Within the leather & fetish community, it is repeated time and again that we are defined in no small part by what’s in our hearts. We are taught and told about the concepts of the slave heart or the boy heart, even the Sir or Daddy hearts. The pup heart and its handler counterpart are no less real and are equally definitive.  Within the social structure of the leather and fetish community is a wide array of roles and identifiers: Master/slave, Daddy or Sir/boy, Dom/sub, and so on. The roles of Handler/pup are just as viable. Among us you will easily find respected mentors and leaders, just as they are to be found throughout the diverse whole.

Just as the broader community has its avenues of addressing problems and problem elements within it, the pup community is equally aware of and determined to address its own.

Yes, there are most certainly things that make pups different. However, within a wide community where embracing and encouraging difference are part of our core, there is room to expand even further. We identify – and express – distinct canine characteristics and then incorporate them in to what we do. We, as a community, willingly take on labels and roles such as pup, handler, or trainer instead of some that may be considered more traditional. But rather than think we are tossing aside tradition in the interest of self-assertion, we’re doing our part to keep many of those traditions alive and relevant by adapting them to contemporary times and situations.

The pup community isn’t here to change everything. It’s here to give a place within the larger community to many who might not otherwise have ever found one. We aren’t out to upset the banquet table or take over the dungeon. All we’re really looking for is a place to put our dog bowls down and be part of the conversation, a corner in the dungeon to play so we’re part of the party, and the chance to be who and what we are alongside everyone else.

When the Pack Howls

Somewhere, in the late watches of the night, as the Moon rides supreme in the sky, the howl begins…

Do I howl in pain, venting my hurts and anger that they do not consume me?

Do I howl in loneliness, hoping another will answer?

Do I howl simply for the joy and wonder in my heart?

The Moon always knows why I howl, even when I may not know clearly myself.

How many things lay hidden in that howl, unnoticed by ears that hear but don’t listen?  For what may seem a lonely lament may often be a free spirit calling out.  What may seem a paean to the wonder of Night is a heart crying out in loneliness.

Listen, not with your ears, but with your heart, to the voice that echoes down the corridors of the Night.  It speaks, not with words, but with feeling deeply rooted.  Let it take you to a place where you no longer need language, where understanding comes directly through the spirit.

And then…only then…can you feel the real power of the chorus when you realize we never truly howl alone.

Keeping Disrespect on a Short Leash

As the pup community continues to grow and define both itself and its place within the broader leather and fetish community, there is a lot of discussion about what being a pup and pup play are all about. We often explore through discussions and interactions the various aspects and motivations we bring to it. Yes, we sometimes get into disagreements about it, but in the end we come back to a general consensus that there is no single right way or approach.

But one thing we almost always agree on is something that pup play absolutely isn’t about: that pup play and being a pup is not about having free reign to be disrespectful or disruptive. Being a pup does not excuse us from common or community norms for accepted public behavior. One of the most common complaints I encounter in my travels from leather and kinky folk is about people who will impose on someone’s personal space and then say that they’re a pup and they’re allowed to do it.

There is nothing that justifies disrespectful behavior, and putting ones nose in a stranger’s crotch without permission is just that: disrespectful. Being a pup does not allow for that behavior!

Yes, I’ve heard the counter that bio-dogs do it. For one thing, that kind of behavior with bio dogs is very much frowned upon. If a bio dog goes around biting or putting its face where it’s not invited or barking disruptively, it often gets smacked or dealt with angrily. It may even go so far as to having someone called or action taken to remove the dog entirely. If there’s a handler immediately at hand, they’re held responsible for the dog’s behavior.

For human pups and their handlers, it’s no different.

Or to put it within the context of how we play together as kinksters and leatherfolk. If someone came up to a complete stranger with a flogger and just started hitting them with it, there’s no way in this world or any other we would call that acceptable. No one would ever accept that it’s justified simply because that’s the play they get into. In fact, that kind of behavior isn’t merely disrespectful, it’s downright illegal and dangerous.

For pups and pup play, it’s no different.

Yes, part of pup play is about letting go our conscious concerns and inhibitions and just being in the moment. But, even so, we are still humans. The behavioral expectations placed upon as members of a community still remain. Just as we encourage thorough preparation for any kind of play scene to keep it safe and respectful, it’s important to adopt that same mindset when approaching a pup play.

Even as the pup community continues to build and define itself, none of us who are dedicated to it agree with these excuses that being a pup is some kind of “get out of responsibility free” card. We frown on and reject these behaviors. Even as we bring together a more cohesive and embracing puppy community, nowhere within it – or the broader leather and fetish world of which we are a part – are we trying to rewrite standards of acceptable social behavior. Nor are we, as a community, encouraging these continued examples of inappropriate behavior.

 

Pup play brings something different and distinct to the leather & kink world. That doesn’t include the liberty to be act irresponsibly and disrespectfully.  

There is No Box...

I'm a pretty open-minded person. I think it safe to say that anyone who knows me can attest to that. I'm not given to quick or rash judgments; I very readily acknowledge that I don't know everything, that I never will, and that I will ALWAYS have something to learn. And not only that, but I freely realize that I can learn (and HAVE learned) from those younger or with less time in the community than me just as much as from those older or with longer experience.

And it's also pretty safe to say I'm an easy-going person. It takes an awful lot to get under my skin, much less get me riled up.

But one of the things that constantly yanks my tail is the misinformed generalization of pups, not just as subs, but as wild-minded players in need of discipline and control. To me, it's both disrespectful and closed-minded.  Not all pups are subs! Let me re-state that, in case it didn't sink in the first time: Not All Pups Are Submissives! We do not all need to be locked up in chastity (although it can be fun for those who do!). That's something between each individual pup and his/her trainer or partner. It's not for anyone else to determine that it's needed. It's certainly not for someone else to assume it's required just because someone is a pup (or even a boy or slave).

And we are not a bunch of boys acting wild an in need of discipline. Are there individuals that fit that description? Yes. But is it grossly unfair to judge ALL of us by that. Many of us are well-respected (and respectful) members of the community. A good number of us are within stable relationships, D/s or otherwise. When flash judgments are made, our value as individuals within the community is eclipsed by misconceptions born of narrow-mindedness.

To know the pup community is to know that we are a very diverse and multi-faceted community, one that embraces a wide array of styles, personalities, and expressions. Take the time to see us as we are. If you want to enjoy being inside kennel with us, you have to first to think outside the box!

A New Year's Message from International Puppy 2014

Another year draws to a close. Like any other year, it’s had its ups and downs, its challenges and rewards. But as the last hours and minutes of 2013 tick down to the dawn of 2014, let’s take just a few of those minutes and look back on what we – the pups and handlers of our community – have accomplished. It’s worth taking that time, because we’ve grown a lot and come a long way in just 365 days.

As 2014 dawns with its still-undefined potentials, it’s important that we – the pups and handlers of our community – go forward into it together. For all the growth and achievement we found in 2013, this next year promises even more.  We haven’t yet fully explored or given voice to the power we have as a group. Let this be the year we make that voice, not just heard, but understood.

As 2014 opens with its as-yet unrecognized possibilities, it’s important that we cast aside the shackles of negativity and let our common bond of pup play be the foundation on which we build both our world and one of our connections with the broader kink & fetish community.

As 2014 comes in with its untold opportunities, it’s important that we use each and every one we’re given to better ourselves, as individuals, as pups and handlers, and as the big pack we have the potential to be.

As 2014 brings in the new, let’s all use this chance to cast aside the old that’s held us back. Carry forward instead all those things that strengthen and define us as pups, as handlers, and as part of a greater whole. The future truly can be what we make of it. So let’s keep only those things that make it better and dispense with all those things that will do nothing but inhibit our growth.

I’m looking forward to the possibilities, challenges, and adventures that await in 2014. I’m looking forward to getting out there to meet, have fun with, and learn from many of the amazing pups and handlers that make up our community.  Most of all, I’m looking forward to doing those things that will make our pack better and stronger, something in which we can all take pride!

Pup Tripp

IPC International Puppy 2014

Letting the Pup Heart Shine Through

 

It doesn’t seem like a month has passed since I was in Tampa alongside three other great pups. Yet it has. The last month has flown by, what with me laying out the base plans for the remainder of my title year, getting schedules to line up and getting ready for the fun that’s sure to lie ahead. There’s so much to look forward to, and that’s where I keep my focus.

But, as I do from time to time, I look back to remember where I’ve been. For me, it’s a powerful tool to keep me on track as I go forward; to never get so caught up in what’s unfolding that I lose sight of what got me there. And, today, seeing a particular photo momentarily took me back to that weekend.

For those who don’t know, my dad left this world less than 2 weeks before the contest. In fact, his funeral was Nov. 4^th, and I was in Tampa for the contest on the 7^th. So, going into that weekend, I wasn’t far removed from that deeply-felt loss.  My dad knew I’m a pup. He may not have entirely understood what that meant, but he knew it was important to me and he was proud of me for getting out there like I do. Right before he went to sleep for the last time, I made him a promise – that I would go down to Tampa and make him proud one more time. When I made that promise, it wasn’t that I had to win, but only that I would stand up there on that stage and do my best. He actually nodded a little, so I think he heard me. It was actually one of the last things I said to him.

I’ll be honest. It wasn’t always easy during the contest weekend. It weighed heavier than I thought it would. There were a lot of times when I would think about my dad and lose focus on what I was doing. Sometimes I wondered if I was even supposed to be there. I tried to hide those moments. I didn’t want to be the dark cloud on something that was supposed to be fun for all of us involved.

The one thing that kept bringing me back out of it, though, was staying in touch with my inner pup. Being alongside the likes of Hercules, Ego, and Amp made that possible. Being among the rest of my pupbrothers and family was the much-needed reminder of what we’re all about: one big puppy pack that’s there for one another. All that pup energy kept bringing me back to myself, to the pup I am in my heart.

And, in reflecting on that, I see again the real power of the pup heart. Even through such darkness as grief, being in touch with my inner pup gave me strength and focus. It brought me back to who I am and what it is I bring into it all. For my speech, I spoke about the importance of embracing the inner pup, of raising our heads and being proud as pups. I meant it then and now, as I look back, the words take on even more meaning.  Embracing that inner pup, letting it lift you to where you know you can be, has more potential than we realize. More than ever, I begin to understand how important it is for us to remain true to who and what we are, because there lies our strength.

And as I turn my focus forward again, I’m reminded anew of the promise and the power we pups can bring to ourselves, our brothers and sisters, and those around us – just by being who we are.  We have the strength and the drive to help each other and together build a community we can be proud to call our own.

 

WHEN WORLDS CONVERGE: Pups and the Leather World

 

Over the course of my travels and meetings in the pup community, I encounter many questions about how we pups fit in with the broader leather and fetish world – or if we even need to fit in at all. I also often hear pups asking how newer pups can learn more about the leather community. At the same time, I hear comparable questions coming from leather folk and kinksters about the pup community. Fortunately, these questions are very closely related, and the answers – while maybe not complete – can address all of them.

Now, I don’t pretend for even a moment to be an expert on either the puppy world or the broader leather and fetish community. My experience in the former goes back only six years and a little more than a decade in the latter. There are plenty of people in both who have been involved far longer than I have, and my own experiences pale in comparison. Every time I’m out an event or just talking with someone online or at a chance meeting, I almost always walk away having learned something new.  Having said that, however, I feel somewhat comfortable enough to give some general answers to the questions mentioned.

Of course, when it comes to the pup world, our own diversity isn’t limited to leather. Even though our roots, at least in the U.S., can be traced back to the earlier leather community, our own growth has encompassed a larger cross-section of interests. We have among us a number of pups who don’t identify with leather at all. A large percentage of us are more into rubber or other non-leather gear, and pups who aren’t into any kink or fetish beyond pup play. Many are comfortable being just on the fringe of the leather & fetish world, and that is perfectly fine.

But there are those who are interested in learning more and opening the door to make those connections. And there are those on the other side of that door trying to learn more about us. That is where it can all begin to come together.

Granted, the world of leather and fetish can seem a little daunting to the unknowing outsider looking in. Even though the leather mystique that’s been built up has been rendered somewhat translucent with the advent of social networking, there’s still a lot to navigate. Fortunately, for us pups, making the connection from our community to the broader leather & fetish world can be a little easier because, in some ways, we already are part of it.

There are a number of ways in which the puppy world isn’t so different from the broader leather and fetish community. Ways that actually bring us into the circle. True, many of these are more subtle than we realize, but some are quantifiable. For starters, pup play is widely viewed as a kink or fetish, even if our individual definitions for being pups go beyond that. We flag our interests as pups in ways comparable to how leatherfolk communicate their interests. We use the same hanky code, just that ours often include chew toys or other pup-related items. For many of us, our fetish and kink interests include more than just puppy play, same as our brothers and sisters in the broader community. Our pup/handler relationships have a number of parallels to and overlaps with the D/s relationships found among some leatherfolk. Our gear interests are mirrored all throughout the wider community.

True, these commonalities are only a start, but they might help alleviate some of the sharper apprehensions among newer pups when it comes to the leather world. Because these are more than just similarities. These are the ways in which we already are part of the whole. And, if knowing that can ease concerns even if only slightly, it becomes that much easier to make the next step.

That step is learning to navigate the differences. And these are where both sides continue to come together, hopefully to learn and exchange ideas and to mutually grow.  Fortunately, all it takes is respect, patience, and a willingness to learn. There’s a lot that can be learned just by watching – and watching can often give rise to the questions we want to ask to understand better. There are a lot of excellent resources out there, in print or in person. Quite often the experiences of one can resonate with someone else and open entirely new vistas for growth. And the more we learn as individuals and share amongst ourselves as a group, the more we all learn and grow.

Do we, the puppy world, need to fit in? No, we don't need to fit in. But there are advantages to not being completely separate. Again, many of our roots lie in the leather world, even if the spirit of pup play itself has grown and taken on new depth over the years. However, there remains still a lot of misunderstanding of where we've come from and what we've become, and by being connected we can overcome that.  Many pups and handlers find their way to us through the leather & fetish community. Still, it’s just as important that we keep that identity which defines us as the puppy world. We can find a respected place in the broader scene, but we need to be respected just as much for who and what we are. Even if, over time, the two converge even more, we also need to always be proud of ourselves as pups.

IPC 2014 Article

From the Great Lakes Den newspapaer:

Pup Tripp Wins International Puppy 2014

by Tyger • November 12, 2013

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – This past weekend was the International Puppy Contest and Florida Leather -n- Fetish Pride at the Flamingo Resort  and so much fun was had by all!

The weekend kicked off with many arriving Thursday or early Friday for some social time, seeing old friends and making new ones. Weather was perfect for the weekend and many spent time sitting by the pool or playing in it. The layout of the Flamingo Resort made it possible for several vendors to set up booths around the pool with everything from flogs, whips, dungeon kits and more to some very kinky Christmas ornaments. The Tampa Leather Club hosted an amazing dungeon as usual.

The weekend’s festivities kicked off Friday night with the raising of the US and Canadian flags and the National Anthems representing the contestants’ home countries. The staff for Leather -n- Fetish Pride, International Puppy and judges were introduced. After the four contestants were presented. This year competing for the title was Pup Hercules, Midwest Puppy 2012; Pup Amp, SEA-PAH; Pup Tripp, Mid Atlantic Kennel Klub; and Pup Ego, Toronto Puppy 2013. Once the formalities were done it was time for fun with social time and meet and greet.

Saturday was the “main event” starting off with the puppy photo shoot and then interviews. During interviews a number of demos were offered to keep everyone busy ending with Papa Woof Roth and Puppy Boo going Puppy 101.

After the afternoon’s activities wrapped up it was time for the Puppy Obstacle Course. A good turnout of pups showing up to compete and it definitely kept the audience amused. The pups all had amazing times showing that no matter what age or body type everyone could have fun. Pup Hercules was the winner with a time of just over 17 seconds! After the event it was time for a dinner break and everyone preparing for the main event!

The on stage portion of the contest kicked off with introductions and the Tampa Bay Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence doing the blessing for the evening. The Bill (Trooper) Boyd “Best in Show” award was presented to Pup Ego for his true spirit of being a puppy. Kamden Cass did a couple amazing numbers to entertain the crowd and then things really got going. First off were intros and speeches with all four contestants giving a very strong showing and looking amazing in their gear. Next up was the puppy play portion with each contestant showing their stuff with Pup Cruz serving as playmate. They chose some puppy toys from a bag full on stage (yes, some chose to shred the bag) at the end of things, Pup Tripp took the honors of International Puppy 2014 and Pup Amp was 1st runner up. It was a very close field and all the contestants should be proud. Slavepup Axel did a very moving step-down speech as he relinquished his International Puppy title. It was also announced that this was the last International Puppy Contest to be held at the Flamingo and that the contest was moving to Saint Louis and the Bad Dog Bar & Grill on July 17-20, 2014.

Sunday started with the Mama’s Family photo and the Puppy Family photo and then everyone was off to the Victory Brunch. During brunch, the “Good Puppy” award for the weekend was presented to Pup Sprocket from Toronto and “Good Puppy of the Year” was presented to Pup Jaeger. It was announced that Pup Gadget and Pup Jaeger would be the Western and Eastern International Puppy Liaisons and work with groups and events helping them get things rolling! Slavepup Axel was named Contestant Liaison and would work with not only the IPC titleholders but also other titleholders when they have questions or need guidance. The final big announcement was that Papa Woof Roth was being made one of the Co-Owners of International Puppy with the move to Saint Louis. The rest of the afternoon was spent enjoying the beautiful weather and the Tea Dance.

http://www.greatlakesden.net/pup-tripp-wins-international-puppy-2014/

Speech from International Puppy contest

I've been asked to share my speech from the International Puppy contest. The recording of it didn't work out very well, so I'm putting up what I originally laid out. It didn't come out quite the same way onstage, but pretty close, and the point was still there.


Good evening Friends, Pups & Handlers, Honored Judges

If I could have one wish, it would be to have my pupbrother Timber here with us. He was a pup long before we came together as we now are, and he would be so proud to see what we've become.

Timber was more than a friend or brother. He was an inspiration. Just by being himself, he taught me that I could embrace and be proud of my own inner pup. More importantly, he taught me that you don't have to be down on all fours to be a pup 24/7. What matters is what's in your heart.

That's the gift he gave me, and it's one I try to share wherever I go. Not just with other pups, but with the entire community. That it's not what we look like or what we wear. Not even how we play. It's about being proud of what we are.

So to my pupbrothers and sisters, I say this. Lift your heads and howl. Howl from your hearts. Listen to it and feel it. Because THAT is the sound - and power - of puppy pride!

Thank you