Pup play and pup gatherings in Ottawa

Ottawa straddles two provinces, and so does its scene — several events happen on the Gatineau side. It is quieter than Montréal’s or Toronto’s, and travels largely by word of mouth at munches.

Pup play is animal roleplay. You take on a dog-like headspace, you play, you chase, you end up in a pile on a mat. For a lot of people there is nothing sexual about it, and a gathering looks closer to a dog park than to a night out. They are called moshes.