WhosDogging guides
Dogging guides
Everything you need to know about dogging, in five guides – what it is, whether it’s still going on, how to get started, what happens at a dogging site and what the law says – written for readers wherever you live.
The guides
Five guides for newcomers and the curious.
- How to get into dogging
New to dogging? How meets are arranged, where to find spots, what the signals mean, the unwritten rules and how to stay safe – wherever you live.
- What is dogging?
What dogging means, why it's called that, how it differs from cottaging, whether it's a thing in America, and the other slang meanings of ‘dogging’.
- Is dogging still a thing?
Is dogging still popular, is it even real, and why do people go? How the scene has changed, where it happens now and what hasn't changed at all.
- Dogging sites explained
What a dogging site is, what happens there after dark, how to tell if a car park is one, what a dogging tour is and how to find sites near you.
- Is dogging legal?
Is dogging illegal? The laws on public sex in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, explained.
Which guide should you read first?
It depends where you are. Each guide stands on its own, but they work best read in the order that suits you.
If you’re just curious
Start with What is dogging? It explains what the word means, the two theories about where it came from, and how dogging differs from cottaging and cruising – with a table that sets the three side by side. Then read Is dogging still a thing?, which looks at the evidence that the scene is alive and well, how the internet has changed it, and the reasons people give for going.
If you’re thinking of trying it
Go to How to get into dogging first. It covers deciding your limits before you leave home, how meets are arranged, what time people go, the signals made with lights, windows and doors, and the unwritten rules that everyone is expected to follow. Follow it with Dogging sites explained, which walks through a night at a site step by step and explains how to choose a good one.
If you’re going as a couple
Talk it through together before anything else. The getting-started guide has a section on agreeing your limits in advance – whether you want to watch, be watched or join in – and choosing a word or signal either of you can use to stop. Then read Our First Time, in which one couple describes how they arranged their first meet with the help of a more experienced couple, and how it felt from the husband’s side – curiosity, jealousy, nerves and all.
Before your first night out
Read Is dogging legal? The law differs between England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and the guide sets out the main offences in each, along with how UK police approach public sex environments. Knowing what the laws have in common – above all, the risk of being seen by someone who didn’t choose to be involved – is the best way to keep yourself and everyone else out of trouble.
Member dogging stories
Our members send in stories about their own experiences – from first times to favourite spots, in the UK, the US and Australia.
- Our First Time
After discovering this site a few months ago, this UK couple decided to take the plunge and try dogging – read their experience here.
- Walk in the Park
Find out what this couple from the US got up to in a local park on a sunny day.
- First Beach Dogging Experience
Jody had always thought dogging was an urban myth until her boyfriend took her to some local beaches with a reputation as dogging hotspots.
- A Visit to One of Our Favourite Parks Last Night
Seasoned British doggers recount an unforgettable night in one of their favourite local parks where they know there is always loads of action!
- Port Melbourne Packs a Punch
Charles takes his missus Katie down to Port Melbourne for a dogging experience of Olympic proportions!
- All member stories
Every story our members have sent in, in one place.
Quick answers
What exactly is dogging?
Having sex somewhere semi-public, usually a quiet car park at night, while other people watch – and sometimes join in. The word is British slang, but the practice has spread well beyond the UK. Read the full explanation.
Do I have to join in if I go?
No. Lots of people only ever watch, and nobody should touch you, or expect you to touch them, without a clear invitation. How far things go is always up to the people involved. See the unwritten rules.
What time does dogging usually happen?
Mostly after dark, once the daytime visitors have left and car parks are quiet. If someone has posted a meet online, the time will be in their post. More on timing.
How do people signal at a dogging site?
With their cars. An interior light switched on means an audience is welcome, and a window wound down or a door opened invites people closer. What happens at a site.
Is dogging against the law?
There’s no law against dogging by name, but sex or exposure where the public could see can be an offence in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The details differ from country to country. The law, country by country.
Do people still go dogging?
Yes. News reports, park rangers, police guidance and academic research all show it’s a real and continuing scene – it has simply moved its planning online. Why it hasn’t gone away.
About WhosDogging
WhosDogging has been running since 2006, and it’s built for exactly the kind of meets these guides describe.
Creating a profile is free. Once you’re in, you can search for people in your area, message them and get to know them before anyone heads out. It’s a simpler way to meet other doggers than turning up at a car park on your own and hoping for the best – and the people you’ll meet here are genuine members who are into the same thing you are. When you’re ready, the guides above will help you make the most of it, and the stories will give you an idea of what to expect.