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Texas Pet and Texas Handler, one stage

Show us your dynamic.

Two titles, judged separately

The contest awards two titles from one stage, and the two are scored entirely apart. Pets compete against pets, handlers against handlers, each on their own 1,000-point scale. Nobody is scored against their partner, and nobody wins on somebody else's performance.

What gets scored is the authenticity of your dynamic and your ability to carry it into rooms where people are watching. Whether you lead or you follow is not the question. Whether it is really yours is.

Winners represent Texas at an international-level competition as ambassadors for this contest and for Austin Kink Weekend.

How the scoring works

Six categories, 1,000 points, and Olympic Scoring: in each category the highest and lowest judge scores are dropped before the rest are counted.

There is a floor, and it is worth saying plainly. A contestant must reach 800 points, 80% of the total, to be awarded the title. Winning the room is not the same as clearing the bar.

Read the weighting, because it tells you what this title is for. The Judges' Interview is 300 points, the single heaviest category, and it happens in a private room with no audience. Add Lifestyle Image, scored from Friday's contestant meeting right through the weekend, and 400 of the 1,000 points are awarded for who you are when you are not on stage.

The six scored categories

  • Judges' Interview, 300 points
    The heaviest category, and there is no audience for it. A sit-down covering your application, your leather and pet or kink history, your social media, your lifestyle, and what you believe. The judges set the pace and the range is wide.
  • Fantasy or Play Presentation, 200 points
    Three minutes on stage. Pet-fun or overtly sexual, acted out rather than performed. Bring up to two other people. You may scene with another contestant and you will both be scored, but tell the producer first. Music as an MP3 before the first day of the contest. Stage practice time is provided.
  • Speech, 200 points
    Memorized, between 90 seconds and two minutes, on any topic you choose. Deductions start at 2:05, then one point per extra five seconds. Pick something you actually care about, because this is how most people will meet you.
  • Pop Question, 150 points
    One or two questions on stage, drawn at random or chosen for you by the judges, one minute to answer. Public speaking is part of the title year and this is where they find out how you handle it.
  • Lifestyle Image, 100 points
    Scored from Friday's contestant meeting onward. Pets are watched in the mosh, on behavior and on how they handle consent. Handlers are watched on whether they make a space safe and look after everyone in it. Social media counts too.
  • Application, 50 points
    Scored for thoughtfulness and thoroughness, inside a 1,000-character limit per answer.

Where the winners go

Both titleholders represent Texas at an international-level pet and handler competition, and both commit to the same year: six public appearances across Texas, at least one fundraiser, and showing up for the next Austin Kink Weekend and the contest that gave them the title. Eligibility and the full title-year commitment are on the Contests page.

One commitment is specific to these two titles. For the length of your title year you do not compete in other leather, rubber, puppy, pet, or fetish contests. One title, one year, one focus.

Texas Pet 2026

Pup Nero

Texas Handler 2026

Daddy Gil

Originally from Chicago, this Mexican-American leatherman has been a staple in Houston and Texas’ leather, pup, critter, and pet community for over 15 years. He passionately advocates for many community groups and causes that are dear to his heart. Specifically, being involved in fundraising and outreach for causes related to HIV and bio-pups for many years. Daddy Gil recognizes the critical role of our individual and collective intersectionality in allowing us to see issues from varying perspectives and calls for us all to embrace our intersectionality and provide spaces for others to embrace their own.

Who has carried these titles

Pup Nero

Texas Pet

Daddy Gil

Texas Handler

Pup Astro

Texas Pet

Daddy Gil

Texas Handler

Pup Atlas

Texas Pet

Mama Dawn

Texas Handler

Pup Sharpe

Texas Pet

Maxine LaQueene

Texas Handler

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