Going to the dogs: A brief look at cynophilia
Regular readers of my blog will know that I am not averse to looking at various types of human zoophilic behaviour. So far, I have written articles on zoophilia in general, zoophilia classification, zoosadism (sexual pleasure from being sadistic to animals), necrobestiality (sex with dead animals), and very specific forms of zoophilia including delphinophilia (sex with dolphins), porcinophilia (sex with pigs), equinophilia (sex with horses), herpetophilia (sex with lizards), ophidiophilia (sex with snakes), ornithophilia (sex with birds including avisodomy), musophilia (sexual stimulation from mice including felching), formicophilia (sexual stimulation from insects), and melissophilia (sexual stimulation from bees and bee stings). Today’s blog takes a brief look at cynophilia (sex with dogs).
In 2006, Dr. Lisa Shaffer and Dr. Julie Penn developed a comprehensive paraphilia classification system and published it as a book chapter in Dr. William Hickey’s book Sex Crimes and Paraphilia. Within this they included a list of various types of zoophilia and reported that cynophilia referred to sexual arousal from having sex with dogs (and that canophilia was sexual arousal from dogs, which I am assuming means that the person being aroused may not have had actual sexual contact with a dog).
Last year in Florida (USA), the Tampa Bay Times reported the case of Eric Atunes, a 29-year old man who was accused of having oral sex with a dog. As it turned out, the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office “declined to pursue a charge of animal cruelty under the state’s new bestiality law” but it was confirmed that Atunes (an employee at the Pinellas County Humane Society) had six photographs on his mobile phone of himself performing sexual acts with his girlfriend’s three-legged dog, Ruby. The case was dropped because there is no law in Florida forbidding people having oral sex with animals. The newspaper reported that:
“Assistant State Attorney Beverly Andringa said her office declined to prosecute Antunes for bestiality because, out of the six photographs found on his cellphone, only one would meet the strict criteria of the statute. Officials also aren’t certain when all the photos were taken. Some might have predated the new law”.
In Georgia (USA), a 19-year-old man Bernard Archer was arrested after being caught on camera having sexual intercourse with pit bull dogs and charged with two counts of bestiality. A newspaper report said that:
“Dispatch advised [that] home owners witnessed a young black male having sexual intercourse with two dogs. WGCL-TV reports that Archer was hired to clean the cages of several pit bulls by Dr. Cathryn Lafayette, a local resident who owned the dogs. [On] Saturday [March 3], Lafayette was woken up from a nap by the Newton County police, who informed her of Archer’s crimes against her animals. Though initially skeptical of the claims, she was convinced when authorities showed her video evidence”.
I mention these recent cases just by way of establishing that sexual contact by human beings with dogs not only occurs but is reported on a fairly regular basis (i.e., both of these cases were from the last twelve months in the same country). There are also cases of what Dr. Anil Aggrawal would class as ‘cynophilia by proxy’ (based on a paper he had published in a recent issue of the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine,) where one person forces another (typically a man forcing his wife or partner) to have sex with a dog. Dr Aggrawal explains:
“This happened in R v Bourne (1952) 36 Cr App R 125 (CCA), in which the husband forced his wife to submit to a dog inserting its penis into her vagina. The husband was convicted of aiding and abetting his wife to commit buggery and sentenced to eight years in prison. The wife was not punished, since she acted under duress. In R v. Tierney (1990) 12 Cr. App. R(S) 216, the defendant took photographs of his wife having intercourse with his Alsatian dog for his own continuing satisfaction. In this case, three months’ imprisonment was given to the accused, but not to his wife, because she consented to perform the act in desperation in order to retain her husband’s affections”.
Dr. Aggrawal also noted that in ancient. Rome, the practice of canine bestiality was so common that professional people (the Belluri) supplied dogs specifically for this purpose. Much more recently, academic studies of zoophilia have typically collected their data online from non-clinical samples. These zoophiles typically have a preference for zoophilic sex and rarely seek treatment as they are happy and content with their sexual orientation. In a 2001 issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice, Dr. H. Munro and Dr. M. Thrusfield (2001) reported that they had collected data on animal abuse from over 400 British vets. They reported that 6% of their cases involved sexual abuse based on their observations of injuries in the animals’ genital and anal areas. Of these, 21 cases referred to dogs and three to cats. Dr Andrea Beetz reported that among the 32 male zoophiles she surveyed, 78% had had sex with dogs. Dr Hani Miletski reported that among the 93 zoophiles she surveyed that most of her sample preferred sex with dogs (87% males; 100% females).
I have come across very few articles (academic or non-academic) purely on the topic of cynophilia. One of the most detailed (written by a zoophile) is at the Vivid Random Existence (VRE) website (an online essay on ‘Cynosexuality (or cynophilia): the sexual attraction to dogs’). I do not endorse any of the (anonymous) author’s comments and the essay is written from a pro-zoophilia standpoint. The author of the essay notes that:
“Among all possible variants of zoosexuality, cynosexuality is one of the most common because the zoosexual size comparison rule — the fact is that there are many dog breeds, such as the Great Dane, which are physically capable of having sex with humans (without abuse occurring). This is why cynosexuality is fairly common among zoosexuals”.
The author then provides numerous quotes from many different cynophiles to highlight the commonility of this particular sub-type of zoophilia. Here are a just a few of the many examples cited taken from online zoophile forums such as the Beast Forum. (Please be warned that these are sexually explicit and you may find what is said offensive):
- Extract 1: “I’ve only had experience with my one dog, but it is quite an amazing sensation, hot, tight, and slippery. A dog’s body temperature is a few degrees higher than a human’s, and with the extremely sensitive flesh of the human penis, makes for quite a pleasurable combination” (Neverfox)
- Extract 2: “I have been with both species [humans and dogs] and my preference would have to be [the dog]; tighter, warmer and always wet” (St Benard)
- Extract 3: “My male dog used to tell me that he was interested in sex or wants it…He would sniff at my crotch and paw at me. He only does this when he wants sex. This is Consent, both by me and by him. Any Zoo knows that animals if they want it, it may ask a human for sex. Zoos know that animals consent. There is no question about it!” (Anonymous)
- Extract 4: “I have had sex with a female dog and it is wonderful! They never turn you down, are always horny… so why the hell not! Why deprive a dog of a sex life? Best of all, you can’t get pregnant and can’t get a STD from them!” (Dglover)
- Extract 5: “Take it from me you will be addicted once you have a dog’s cock entering your [anus], but be careful the first time as his knot can really hurt if you have never had anything inside you before” (Oscarsbitch)
The author of the VRE essay uses these quotes to make a number of distinct points. The first point made is that the quotes indicate that some zoophiles prefer sex with dogs to sex with humans (and that zoophilic activity does not have to occur where there is an absence of a human sexual partner). This has already been confirmed in the empirical studies of academic researchers like Dr. Beetz and Dr. Miletski. The essay author also say the quotes “prove that most zoosexual people are devoted to their animals and treat them with respect, kindness and compassion; these kinds of people would never harm an animal…Additionally, it would appear as though dogs don’t mind having sex with people; in fact, some of them apparently like it!” The zoophiles may well be kind and respect the dogs concerned, but as I argued in previous blogs on both herpetophilia and delpinophilia, the animals cannot give informed consent, so therefore such sexual activity is (in my view) morally wrong.
Dr Mark Griffiths, Professor of Gambling Studies, International Gaming Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
Further reading
Aggrawal A. (2009). Forensic and Medico-legal Aspects of Sexual Crimes and Unusual Sexual Practices. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Aggrawal, A. (2011). A new classification of zoophilia. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 18, 73-78.
Beetz, A. M. (2004). Bestiality/zoophilia: A scarcely investigated phenomenon between crime, paraphilia, and love. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, 4, 1-36.
CBS Atlanta (2012). Cops: teen caught having sex with dogs on camera. March 7. Located at: http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2012/03/07/cops-teen-caught-having-sex-with-dogs-on-camera/
Jamison, P. & Morel, L.C. (2012). Man who had sex with dog won’t be charged because of unusual reason. Tampa Bay Times, June 20. Located at: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/man-who-had-sex-with-dog-wont-be-charged-because-of-unusual-reason/1236153
Miletski, H. (2000). Bestiality and zoophilia: An exploratory study. Scandinavian Journal of Sexology, 3, 149–150.
Miletski, H. (2001). Zoophilia – implications for therapy. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 26, 85–89.
Munro, H.M.C., & Thrusfield, M.V. (2001). “Battered pets”: Sexual abuse. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 42, 333-337.
Shaffer, L. & Penn, J. (2006). A comprehensive paraphilia classification system. In E.W. Hickey (Ed.), Sex crimes and paraphilia. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Vivid Random Existence (2010). Cynosexuality (or cynophilia): the sexual attraction to dogs. November 14. Located at: http://vividrandomexistence.wordpress.com/2010/11/14/cynosexuality-or-cynophilia-the-sexual-attraction-to-dogs/
Williams, C. J., & Weinberg, M. S. (2003). Zoophilia in men: A study of sexual interest in animals. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 523–535.
Posted on August 8, 2013, in Case Studies, Compulsion, Gender differences, Obsession, Paraphilia, Psychology, Sex, Sex addiction and tagged Bestiality, Canine bestiality, Canine sex, Canophilia, Cynophilia, Cynophilia by proxy, Sex with dogs, Sexual fetish, Sexual paraphilia, Zoophilia. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Comments.
drmarkgriffiths 
Hello Dr. Griffiths. I actually have a cousin who has cynophilia. When I was seven years old, I had awakened one night to find that he had clandestinely left the bedroom. After a few minutes of searching the house, I gave up and decided to return to my bed. Right before I was about to lie down, I saw someone lurking in my backyard through the window. Curious, I looked through the window and discovered that my cousin was the one outside and he was making an endeavour to sexually penetrate the female Labrador Retriever we had at the time. Since that event, I had caught him on multiple occasions trying to abscond with the dog to a private location where nobody would see him, although I haven’t seen him making any sexual advances toward canines in recent years.
This is my first time reading your blog. This was a really good read.
I’m a zoophile and although we have different views, I appreciate that you wrote this respectfully, as opposed to most other bloggers who just seem to be jerks to us.
Very informative. Thanks.
I came across this blog recently and want to first say thank you for at least presenting some pro-zoophilia thoughts as expressed in various venues by others. And for at least trying to be objective on the subject while no doubt educating those who think of ‘us’ as perhaps ugly and of low intelect, and definitely sociopathic and abusive to our canine partners.
That said, I do take exception to your very last sentence, “The zoophiles may well be kind and respect the dogs concerned, but as I argued in previous blogs on both herpetophilia and delpinophilia, the animals cannot give informed consent, so therefore such sexual activity is (in my view) morally wrong.”
The rest of this short article was specific and caused the reader to ask few questions which were not at least explained. I assume that you DO see mutual body language between an animal and a human as sufficient to give IMPLIED consent (even without words). So what exactly is “informed” consent as it applies to a dog……who will never “grow up” and regret or feel guilty about past actions done…..who will never need to worry about if sexual activity with a human will cause disruption in their life (such as pregnancy or STD’s)…..and who will never “second guess” a decision made in the pursuit of pleasure? This is because dogs live in the moment and seek pleasure the same as human beings do……but for IT’S OWN SAKE and without all of the intellectualizing about it that we do.
I would first say your article is a brief but informative wade into the deep pool of cynophillia, i am personally one if those rare few that has a disorder in wich i am not attracted to humans sexually or platonicly. I spent thd first 25 years of my life trying to understand human attraction and my obsession with animals. As a child i fantasized about becoming an animal and to achieve that goal i therfor had to have sex with them. Now at the time i did not understand what i was fantasizing, yet every single night i dreamed of being an animal thru a twist on animorphs. The twist was in order to become said animal i had to have sex with a femal and a male of whatever species i wanted to obtain. Now this addition to my fantasy was closer to puberty but the point remained i did not see a sexual connection. However i had an unfortunate childhood followed by a highly shelterd adolescent pre teen. At any rate i have in my life seen up to 3 women that have caught my eye and only one of them can i remember, andRshe caught ny eye is easy, she wore a collar, and was in general demure and seeming
Ly dog like. It wasnt until i tried oral intercoarse with a female dog that i was deeply attached to that i discovered the crux of my problem. Previously oral with a human especially a woman( despite identifying as straight in human context, totally bisexual with animals thou) was not only unappealing but disdained and enjoyable. Yet i did it because i knew it was the right thing to do, pleasure your partner. Because of this dislike i didnt try it with a female dog for many years. Intrerestingly enough i serviced my roomates female right after a heat, in which i was totally turned off from her due to her aroma etc. But once she was out of her heat i remembered watching a pair of dogs trying to get it on and replicated what the male was doing, licking and rubbing her vagina in a way that made her cum. I did the same identical to what i saw and found not only was i so turned on that it was too amazing to write here but she enjoyed it immensly as well. I found i LOVED eating her out and quickly grew an obsession that is still prevalent today that i now recognize as the typical male drive for female anatomy, onlybit is normally reserved for humans. This realization brought me to the understanding why i did not get how people were attracted to each other and how i could see a gorgeous dog and feel a longing pull in my core when i laid my eyes upon a friskey brindle pit mix and felt nothing when i saw any human in any position or clothing etc. I began to realize my wires were crossed and instead of humans dogs whmere my obhect of desire. Since i have been able to accept myself and embrace who i am, not without frustration and an intense loneliness due to the fact no one is willing to be second love to a dog. I could happily live in a monagamous relationshil with a dog, in which all my sexual and non sexual needs woukd be fulfilled, alas there is no room for a person to marry their dog in the us and is highly frowned upon despite the phycological and genetic disposition. I would never trade who i was but it would be nice to be able to show a human the same interest, i have had failed relationship upon failed relationship with women and men, none have worked from keeping it a secret to being out in the open from the beginning. It leads to a very lonely life especially when i am not in a position to feel i can provide for a dog in the way i feel is necessary to provide for such. I do not just want to have sex with them i prefer to develop a relationship buitl on trust and compassion and when it feels right just as with humans i make a move suriptiosiously petting closer to their genitals until i am doing what is considered morally wrong and abusive. Yet by the time i get to this stage she is dripping wet panting spread eagle and cumming often to my gentel and passionate touch. As with females i enjoy pleasuring males and even relish the feel of their slippery expanding member as they try to mount me. I get none of the sensations or feelings that i do with them, with humans. Now woth the world developing furries and such i have found i am rare and few and far between. I have never met another person that truley feels the way i do, which is exactly what a “normal” person feels except swap out a human with a dog, exactly that nothing else, i dont want to force myself, i am protective jealous every thing that a nkrmal person goes thru with their partner except my partner is a dog, now how would this be classified? I bet that most would say some bs about conditions and treatments etc delusion, temporary physcosis or confusion, but i guarentee you if you were to use any of these words you would be wrong jn describing my physiology. Now they may be used to posibbly describe the conditions in which i became the way i am but it was and js a thru and thru part of me. It makes me feel good to knoe i am semo normal in the respect that im just like every other guy, zalways thinking about sex, pussy, etc but in terms of dog instead of human, put me in a room with a 1000 people and 10 dogs and id find the most attractive, to me, dog there was and wouldnt even notice any of the people so long as they did not force themselves into my personal bubble or attention space.
What do you call a person that has humans and dogs switched completly when it comes to everything in the world to them?
Jesus christ, this comments section. I’m really glad you don’t shy away from normative ethics at all as some people in academia might, with some even rejecting the idea of ethics or morality. I’m glad you actually say it’s wrong, because it is lmao