Sociable pup who's happiest in a room full of other pups: headspace, toys, the lot. I'm a switch, so some days I'm the one getting a bit bouncy and other days I'm keeping an eye on the pack.
You'll usually find me in rubber, neoprene, a singlet, or something shiny.
Always up for meeting new pups and handlers. Drop me a message on Telegram.
It started with a hood. My friend Monty in Berlin is a pup, and the first time I saw his hood something about it stuck with me. I was curious, but I didn't do anything about it for a while.
That's where I met Extortion (now my Alpha). We got talking, and at some point I worked up the nerve to ask if I could try on his hood. The moment it went on, something clicked. It felt like a part of me I hadn't known was there had finally woken up. I haven't looked back since.
After Pride, Extortion invited me along to Howl, my first proper pup event. He also gave me my very first puppy hood, a black one, and it made the whole thing feel real. I wasn't just trying pup play on anymore, I was a pup.
That's also when I found my name: Lyall, which means "little wolf" in Old Norse. It fit right away.
Walking into Howl, I was nervous. But once the hood was on, I quickly found my paws. What surprised me most was the freedom. As Lyall I could just be myself, play, bounce around and act daft, and it didn't matter if I made a fool of myself.
As an autistic person, that freedom meant even more. In pup space I don't have to mask or worry about saying the "right" thing. I can communicate with woofs, nudges and body language, and I can just be. For the first time in a social space, I didn't feel like I was performing. I was just Lyall.
Most of the time you'll find me in a singlet, or a shiny tank top and shorts, finished off with my purple shoes. Easy to move in and perfect for a proper play session.
My go-to hood is my purple hood.
Rubber is very, very new for me. I've just added a rubber tank top to the collection, usually worn with chaps, and I'm still getting used to it.
My first black hood from Extortion still means a lot to me, though. It's where Lyall started.
You don't need a hood to be a pup. Yes, a hood is a helpful piece of gear, but it's not required to chase that ball, give head pats when someone consents, or get head pats yourself.
Being a pup is about the headspace, not the price tag. Plenty of pups start with nothing more than a collar, or even just a t-shirt and jeans, and nobody at a good social will think less of you for it. Gear can come later, once you know what you actually like, and trying on other people's (with their permission!) is a great way to find out.
At first it was the amount of people that got me. But once I realised I was in a safe space, with event staff looking out for everyone, my guards came down and I just pup'd out.
If you're nervous, go anyway. Say hi to the staff, find a corner to settle in, and let yourself warm up at your own pace.