These are my (slightly cleaned up and edited; thank you, FetLife, for only supporting a butchered sub-set of Markdown !!!) speakers notes from my talk at subCON3. I would like to thank hypno_pet for proof-reading my original draft for me.
I would also like to emphasise up-front: I have nothing against people that consider themselves to be kittens, puppies etc. Furthermore, the notion of being a human pet is how I choose to view my submission; I'm not saying that if you act in a similar way you must be a human pet, etc.
The concept of a human pet is relatively new compared to other roles/positions/etc. within the BDSM/kink community. As with every other term, it is open to debate and interpretation, so everyone puts their own twist on it. But this is even more true due to its newness, as there is less of a consensus as to what a human pet is than what is meant by a submissive, etc.
A short description of my interpretation is:
Being a human pet isn't about play: rather, it's about wanting to bring joy, companionship and affection to your Owner whilst retaining your humanity.
From the Oxford dictionary:
-- a domestic or tamed animal or bird kept for companionship or pleasure
-- a person treated with special favour or affection
-- Human pets are those that retain their human identity.
-- Human-animal pets are those that take on animal identities or roles.
-- Animal pets refers to actual animals kept as pets.
-- Being a human pet is not about play (though being a human-animal pet is usually more about pet-play).
-- A human kept as a pet who retains their human identity.
-- A person kept for companionship; often kept for loyal and playful characteristics, for their attractive appearance, and for sex. Human pets provide their owners with added benefits like stress relief, social interaction, and exercise.
-- A human that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.
-- A human kept as property, as a sexual object; cherished property.
For purposes of this talk, I shall use the term "Owner" rather than "Dominant" as it reflects the dynamic better (and having "Dominant/Owner" everywhere is rather cumbersome).
-- Pet-play has been an interest of mine since before joining the scene.
-- Since joining the scene, I have been told by various Dominants that I have various "puppy-ish" traits.
-- BUT: I could never see myself as a human-animal (that is, animal-like) pet (primarily an issue of headspace).
-- I came across the Human pets group on FetLife one day and the group description and various discussions "clicked".
-- I'm obedient to my Dominant (either in play or an on-going relationship)... though I do sometimes unintentionally disobey when I get distra-LOOK AT THE SHINEY!!!
-- I want to both give and receive affection, and quite often get touchy-feely. Especially pats!
-- I like to make people feel good, happy, etc.
-- I can get all excited/obsessed over activities/thoughts in my head.
-- I like (kink) play (then again, who doesn't? :p).
-- I like being told/praised that I'm a "good boy", even more so when it's in the third person (e.g. massaging someone's feet and the massagee is told how good I am).
-- Animal pets are locked up/secured to make sure they don't run away, so that nothing happens to them or because they're dangerous. With the exception of the last, this applies to why I like bondage.
From teh internetz (because they're always right):
-- Some people say that a slave has more "freedom" than a pet, in that they can still make decisions, whereas a pet is totally dependent.
-- Others think that a pet has more "freedom" because they're independent, possibly just role-playing, etc.
My take is more simple: being a pet is a type of submission. If there are sex subs/slaves, service-oriented subs/slaves, etc. then why not pet subs/slaves?
Animal pets - if cared for and looked after - love their owners unconditionally. We train our pets (type and amount of training depending on the species) on how they should behave: where to eat, areas they can and can't go (not on the couch!). We feed them, bathe them, take them to the vets when they're sick, ensure they're getting enough exercise, etc.
Similarly with human pets. They are trained to act how their Owner want. They are cared for, shown affection, looked after. They are pets; their species just happens to be human rather than dog, cat or bird. So the training and care is adjusted accordingly: we can actually understand spoken commands so we don't quite need to have everything demonstrated as much; we can look after ourselves within the human world more, etc.
Stellazina said it well (https://fetlife.com/users/785214/posts/807501):
A pet gives instinctively. There are no negotiations, no politics, no intrigue, no expectations. They crave you, your attention, your touch, your approval, and above all, your pleasure. They will measure their own pleasure by yours.
Another way of putting it - from the Owner's point of view - is given by a quote (from the internet) by manipulativejack in the description of the Human pets group:
I like the idea of a girl as a pet. Not really an animal pet, just a girl who is human and belongs to Us much as a pet would - being kept, cared for, trained, improved, shown off. Not quite a submissive but obedient, not quite a slave but Owned. One We can put time and effort into, improve, love and enjoy.
It's a mindset. Submissives/slaves can still be treated this way and respond in kind, but do not have to consider themselves "human pets".
Or those who do take on animal identies/roles can feel this way.
But I - and others - like the idea of being a pet. We don't consider ourselves to be any other type of animal (since humans are animals, biologically speaking).
There is an aspect of property involved (many human pets and their Owners subscribe to the Owner/property dynamic). Animal pets are registered and belong to their owner. human pets similarly feel like they belong to their Owner.
And whilst it may sound paradoxical, there can also be a bit of de-humanisation or objectification involved: whilst still retaining their humanity, human pets aren't "as human" (to use an Animal Farm-esque turn of phrase) as their Owners (sub-humans maybe?). However, this is more in the person-as-companion rather than person-as-object point of view.
A human pet is human, and does not identify as any other type of animal. However, you may "borrow" certain attributes from animal pets: purring like a cat, wanting to lick your Owner's face like a dog, etc. It's all up to how you wish to express yourself as a pet.
Different animals need different types of treatments: the type of grooming, the diet, amount and method of exercise, where they sleep, etc.
Similarly with human pets. It sounds appealing for a human pet to always be kept naked, on all fours, to eat out of a bowl on the ground... but it's not always practical.
For a human pet to be kept nude, the environment needs to be kept comfortable (just as with submissives/slaves kept nude): we don't have fur coats like animal pets do! And society tends to frown upon people walking naked outside...
Humans are also not designed to walk on all fours, and it probably also isn't ideal to eat off the floor always (since our digestive system wasn't built that way). The choice of food should also reflect human dietary needs (and pet food isn't nutritiously safe for long periods of time, though why feed dog or cat food to a human pet?).
Intellectual stimulation is also required. For legal reasons (at least here in Australia) we still need to vote, do tax returns, etc. And most of us will still have lives outside of the Owner/pet dynamic.
Just as in any other D/s relationship, there are usually various rules, rituals and protocols around the Owner/pet dynamic (and many of them can be similar).
A human pet might be required to be naked except for their collar and leash when at home, to walk (where feasible) on all fours (though for health reasons this shouldn't be 24/7!!!), to eat and drink either from the ground or from their Owner's hands, not being allowed on the furniture, etc.
The answer is: Yes! human pets can still do that!
I identify as a human pet. Yet I still like service. There is no reason why I can't cook, clean, fetch, etc. for my Owner. After all, I am still human so I'm capable of doing things that humans do!
Just like there are service animals, you can be a service-oriented pet. It is another way you can show your love, affection and devotion to your Owner.
I said earlier that being a human pet is not about play; however, it does not preclude pet-play (or any other kind of play; we're still human after all!).
Whilst human pets do not identify as any specific type of animal, they may wish to do so when playing: kitten-play, puppy-play, pony-play, etc.
Alternatively, you can remain human but have your pet-hood enhanced: speech restrictions, mitts over your hands, put into a cage, etc.
I consider myself a human pet. But I still call myself a submissive. Being a human pet is how I choose to express myself as a submissive.
Just like with any other aspect of the BDSM/kink/fetish/etc. scene, this is all up for interpretation. But I think the fundamental point is this: a mutual bond of love, affection and caring between Owner and pet.
-- Groups on FetLife
Human pets: https://fetlife.com/groups/5352
Human pet - Personals: https://fetlife.com/groups/57050
-- Writings about human pets
Human Pet 101 by Stellazina: https://fetlife.com/users/785214/posts/807501
I want to be a human pet by straygirlpet: https://fetlife.com/users/210755/posts/906843
My Pet Perspectives by Siljewyn:https://fetlife.com/users/631202/posts/914671
The difference between slave and pet by RobertMaddox: https://fetlife.com/users/65022/posts/1045010
Pet: human not animal by naridu: https://fetlife.com/users/38489/posts/1020582
a collection of "petness" by nameispet: https://fetlife.com/users/708176/posts/838519
On being a "pet" by petdave: http://www.collarchat.com/fb.asp?m=709455
A Human Pet by SkylerPet: http://www.submissiveguide.com/2010/09/a-human-pet/
-- Fiction containing humans kept as pets
Fantastic Planet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantastic_Planet
The Cage by A. Bertram Chandler: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=u5UJi2LFsC&pg=PA12
-- Erotica about human pets
Training of Shauna the Pet by Still Behind Blue Eyes: http://www.bdsmlibrary.com/stories/story.php?storyid=4064
SOURCE: https://fetlife.com/users/523880/posts/1142275