Pup Reaper Interview

What are your thoughts on pup names?

Pup names are a way of your pup side having its own personality. Your pup name allows you to separate yourself from your human side, as it is just your pup name not a nick name or anything like that it is you as a pup. A lot of people I have talked to feel that a pup name should only been given to you by a handler, but I feel if you don’t have a handler that being able to identify your pup side with a name chosen by you is a great way to start. I used to go by the name of Renz when I lived in New Zealand, as I didn’t have a handler I was wanting a name that was friendly and approachable. Then at the end of 2016 start of 2017 I was a very lucky pup and became an owned pup to Sir Erebus (APHC Handler 2017), who has given me a new name Reaper. I asked Sir the reason that he chose this name for me and he said “it was due to the images it conjures such as the grim reaper and dark and spooky stuff but also you think of the name and you expect this hard ass evil thing, and while that can be true for Myself and Erebus, in reality we are cuddly friendly people.

What does being a pup mean to you

To me being a pup is to have fun to be loyal and dedicated to your handler (if you have one), being able to escape for a little from every day life where we may have a a lot of stress and things we may need to just get away from, even just briefly. For me it also helps greatly with my mental health. It’s a great escapism and when I am channelling reaper I am a completely different person. I can be a smart ass and a little cheeky in every day life but as reaper I am a cheeky but cute little shit although I am still learning who reaper is but Sir is definitely helping with that.

We talk a lot about pup hierarchies (Alpha, beta, omega). What are your thoughts on this?

Myself being an omega pup due to not only sexual preferences but also through what I feel I am to my Sir like the idea, but at the same time they are not exactly needed. I guess it all depends on how you see yourself or the situation in which you are in. I myself knew even before I was Sir’s pup that I was an omega although at the time I didn’t know exactly how to label it.

How does your pup or handler persona balance with your “everyday” life?

It balances very nicely with my life. I get to speak with Sir everyday  not only as his pup and him as my Handler but we also are very close friends. We are able to not only have a great talk about every day life but we also have our pup and handler talks where we may do some little role plays over txt such as, if I am in a playful mood sir and I will role play about playing around with a ball, or I will pounce on sirs chest and give him a lick attack, where he eventually will pin me down and tickle the shit out of me, or I will run away and we play chase. It’s a great way to be able to keep going into pup mode even if your not near your handler or other pups.

When and in what way did you realize your desire  to be who you are?

Well this can be a bit of a difficult one due to the nature of who I am now to what I was, since I was young. I suffer from anxiety and depression but wasn’t diagnosed until I was 18, Not trying to get a sympathy card here (more a starter for my answer) it sucks yes but I have coped with it and still do. In about 2013 I started talking with a couple of people into pup play and was kind of interested in it as it was something new, and had heard about the really good things that can come from it. Unfortunately, I lost contact with those people. Cut forward to late 2015 early 2016 and I was able to get in contact with some pups again and started talking more about it and getting even more interested. I was lucky enough to be able to meet up with one and have a better talk about it and he introduced me to someone that was wanting to be a handler, this is where things changed this handler became the person to train under the Sirius pack laws and after what I felt was a bit of being led on I was informed that because of their beliefs and how pup play really isn’t good for someone with mental health issues that I should put a pause on it until I was “better”, even though I had stated that it was starting  to help with my mental health, but I was informed by them different. This is the When, How and In what way that I realised my desire and need to be who I am. I am now a very Happy and, mostly mentally stable pup with an amazing handler who is supportive of me on a daily basis who knows that I will have bad days and is there for me on those days and on my good days he is still there for me,  the fact I was told that I should put being a pup on hold because of my mental health really knocked me and it hurt. I was lost for a few months until I started talking to Sir who welcomed me as his pup with open arms (obviously with a lot of getting to know each other and talking about it and everything in between as jumping into it with someone you don’t really know is not the best way to go about it.) So in short the reason I have the need and desire to be who I am today is with thanks to Sirius pack for telling me I couldn’t. I was knocked down but my god I got back on that horse and rode towards the sunset and I found an amazing handler my mental health has improved dramatically, and I am in such a great place. All thanks to the support of My sir for being there for me and also the awesome pups and handlers of VIC PAH.

One of the hot-button topics in the pup & handler community today is about a perceived “need” for a collar or handler to be a pup. What are your thoughts on this?

A pup doesn’t need a handler  or a collar, I myself self-collard myself (even after being told I shouldn’t as its disrespectful to all handlers). I feel you should do what is right for you if you want to be a self-collard pup do it, if you want to find a handler that’s great too but don’t just do it because you think it’s a requirement to be a pup. I personally wanted collard and to have a handler because that’s what felt right for me and I am very glad I did. If you feel the need to be collard or to have a handler to be a pup I feel you need to take a step back and see is the need because, I want it or is the need because you are feeling it’s the only way to a pup. If it is the latter then you need to realise you can be a pup without a collar and without a handler being a pup isn’t being collard or having a handler being a pup is exactly that . Being a pup.

OK, pup and handler titles? What are your thoughts about these, or about pups and handlers competing for more “mainstream” titles?

As my sir is a Title holder (APHC 2017) I feel that I am a little bias answering this question, but I think it is a great thing it is a way to show appreciation, to help give confidence to the title holders and also to show that they are wanted to represent the community as the face of the community. I was lucky enough to attend the first APHC and not only is it for the competitors it is a great way to get out and socialise and be part of the community. Also get to know other pups and handlers around and get to hear stories from other people. I am envious of those who are able to get the courage to get up on stage and compete for the title, and I am sure that APHC 2018 I will want to get up on that stage and also compete all because of the atmosphere and enjoyment I had watching it.

What is something that you would tell new up coming puppies?

I would tell them that being nervous is a natural feeling when it comes to meeting new people, and that you should always believe in yourself. You are your own pup and don’t let others tell you how to be a pup. Also to have a look online at info sites such as Pupplay.info if there is anything you may be unsure about and always ask questions if you are ever unsure. Don’t be afraid to ask questions we are a very welcoming community and always willing to help out where and when we can

Within the pup world, how do you view the significance or meaning of a collar?

For me it personally shows the dedication I have to my Sir and the dedication he has for me. It shows that there is loyalty trust and respect between us both and the love and care that is there as well. Sir also made my collar so there is a lot of sentimental value in it as well as he made it specifically for me the love care and time he put into it is a huge factor

Whats puppy headspace? and what does yours look like?

Pup headspace is when you go into your pup persona and just forget about your everyday life (if you go into full headspace), it’s a way to be your pup self in my case Reaper. Pup space is different for everyone for me I get a bit playful but I find as I am still learning who reaper is I have asked sir what my pup space looks like and I quote “cheeky and a pain in my ass”

In terms of gender identification, sexual orientation, age, or any other “descriptor,” the pup and handler community is often touted as being very inclusive. What are your views of ideas regarding this?

I feel in general that the pup community is very inclusive. I am unable to speak about other PAH groups but I know that for the Vic PAH group here in Australia is inclusive of everyone, but I also know that there are some groups who have “standards” as to how and what a pup should be and does slightly discriminate against genders and sexuality which I feel is very wrong