It is very common for human pups/dogs to wear collars and they are worn for a variety of reasons. Some choose to collar themselves while others prefer to wait to be collared by, or receive a collar from someone else. There are also a number of different things human pups choose to accessorize their collars with. One of the most common thing is a traditional canine-style name tag. These name tags can contain a variety of information, but most commonly the human pups chosen or given pup-name and may contain other information such as who their handler is or even who they’re alpha for. Another common accessory is a lock. A lock can also mean a number of things, it could mean the human pup has a handler, has a partner, a spouse or it could mean nothing at all. Some choose to wear locks for the aesthetic appeal, but more commonly it indicates they are in some kind of relationship with someone else. Another thing you may see is a key attached to a collar. A key on the collar typically means that pup is an alpha or dominate for another pup, or perhaps that pup is also a handler for another pup.
Having a key or a lock on the collar doesn’t necessarily mean that person is necessarily in a exclusive relationship, it could signify that they are in at least one or more relationships. This vagueness on how and why collars, tags, locks and keys are worn can be very confusing for people who come from a traditional BDSM lifestyle, but can also be really confusing for new people entering the community as well. The best course of action is always to ask the pup or dog about his collar and certainly always ask before touching tags and collars. Collars are very personal and are part of the person wearing it. It can be extremely upsetting for them when people reach for tags and collars without asking first.
– Micro