Pup Maxx

a good boy. now in houston, tx.

  • maintenance spankings

    I have some pretty mixed feelings about maintenance spankings.

    I’m not a fan of punishing, or being punished, without there being a good reason. My mind and my heart are the most relaxed and comfortable when the world is more clearly black and white, where good deeds are recorded and bad things are punished.

    Maintenance spankings should definitely be a part of that.

    Ideally, a sub or a slave should to be spanked because it has done an acceptable job. But the reality of the world mean that it will inevitably make mistakes, whether the slave is aware of it or not.

    So I “enjoy” maintenance spankings. In my mind, it is important to have a regular avenue for the punishing and forgiving of the guilt that I feel, even if I can’t remember them. It’s for things like not holding the door for others, or accidentally saying the wrong things, or maybe having the wrong kind of thoughts.

  • National Puppy Day, and more

    What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?

    As a pup, how could I not love the national pup days? National Dog Day? National Pup Day? Hehehe!

    It’s really just an excuse for me to be extra silly, to insist upon more scritches, and to be cute and adorable! In other words: It’s an excuse for me to be me. And to try to make my owner happy.

  • pup owner

    The greatest joy and reward of being a pup — especially being @LifestyleOwner’s pup — is the deep sense of belonging and ownership. I finally began to feel it a few days ago, when I woke up one morning and realized that, for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel lonely. Even though I had woken up alone, as I often am, I no longer felt lonely.

    Even though rationally I knew that I was in Chicago and he in Houston, it felt like he was only in the other room, and all I needed to do was to get up and wander over and I’d see him there.

    My owner is not only my owner and my Dominant, but he is my best friend and the center of my universe. In pup space, he is the partner of cuddles, the giver of treats, and the source of scritches. He is all things good and happy; he is my owner, and I am his pup, and I am so much better because of it.

  • Hierarchy comes to me fairly easily as a pup.

    I see my humans as being part of a higher power. There are things that humans can do that I cannot.

    Pups don’t have opposable thumbs like humans do, so it’s harder for me to open things or fetch things that don’t easily fit into my mouth. But pups also don’t have the same social skills as humans do, so it’s harder for me to understand how people are feeling without nudging them with my snout to ask them.

    I think being a human is exhausting. Life as a pup is much easier. The world is a lot simpler — treats come when being good, discipline comes when being bad. Bark when happy, whine when sad; hide in the cage when scared, and howl for attention when upset.

    People are complicated. People have feelings and emotions, they need sympathy and empathy and interacting with them requires much more brain processing and conscious thought. What’s the right thing to do here? How will what I say impact them? How do I take responsibility for the consequences of my actions?

    Life is hard.

    Bark.

  • A list of things to do for pups

    In pup play, it can be really hard to find the line between the human and the pup. Just like how every person is different, every pup has their own traits and quirks, and you’ll need to learn what those are for your pup. But there are some things that almost all pups will enjoy, so have fun — with their consent, of course!

    1. Pet them regularly. You don’t even need to have a reason. That they’re there is good enough.
    2. Give them a treat. When they’ve been good. Or when you need to cheer them up. Or when you need cheering up.
    3. Help them find their spot. It’s the place in the house that’s their place. It’s where they go to rest if they’re tired, to wait if they’re bored, and to hide if they’re scared. It could be anywhere — a corner, under a table, inside a closet.
    4. Give them a belly rub. Lots and lots of belly rubs.
    5. Clear out a space with plenty of direct sunlight and have them nap in it.
    6. Place some soft pillows and blankets under your desk, so they can curl up by your feet as you work.
    7. Give them a quick scritch as you walk past. And maybe another one. And another. And one more.
    8. Put their food in a dog bowl, and watch with delight as they get all messy while trying to eat it. Have them eat meals on the floor as you sit at the table.
    9. Keep their water bowl always full and fresh, so they’re well-hydrated and happy.
    10. Tell them they’re a good boy/girl/pup. Say it when they make you proud. Or when they accomplish something really hard for them. Or just because they are so good.
    11. Hand them random objects and tell them to hold it in their mouths. Watch as they try with the more cumbersome things.
    12. Announce it’s nap time, and have them take a nap — no matter what’s going on.
    13. Let them choose where to sleep at night. On the floor, at the foot of the bed, or all snuggled up with you. They’ll choose what makes them happiest.
    14. Leave them something that smells like you, like a shirt, if you’re going to be away for a while. It’ll help them stay calm as they start missing you terribly.
    15. Keep the door open just a little bit when you go to another room, so they can follow you there, too.
    16. Put a name tag on their collar. Write your contact info on the back, so they’ll always be able to find you if they get lost.
    17. Listen to their many, many, many noises. Barks, growls, whines. They all mean something different, so take the time to learn them.
    18. Tell them when you’re sad, angry, or upset. Even if it’s not about them. Especially when it’s not about them. They can sense something’s off and will get worried that you don’t like them anymore.
    19. Yank their leash occasionally, just enough for the leash to be tight. It reminds them you’re there, you care about them, and they can always follow the leash to find you again.
    20. Finally: Accept their love and affection. As a pup, everything in their world is about you. Respect the scale of that commitment, and they’ll be your loyal companion forever.