Dogging (sexual slang)

Dogging is a British English slang term for engaging in sexual acts in a public or semi-public place or watching others doing so.^[1] There may be more than two participants; both group sex and gang banging can be included. As observation is encouraged, voyeurism and exhibitionism are closely associated with dogging. The people involved meet either randomly or, increasingly, arrange beforehand over the Internet to meet up. ^[2]

In September 2003, BBC News^[3] reported on the "new" dogging craze. They cited the Internet and text messaging as common ways of organising meetings. The original definition of dogging—and which remains a closely related activity—is spying on couples having sex in a car or other public place,^[4] and the term had been in use on Britain's railways for many years. It would have been well-known at least as far back as 1951.^[5]

There is some evidence on the Internet that the "craze" has begun to spread to other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Denmark,^[6] the Netherlands, Norway,^[7] Poland,^[8] and Sweden.^[9]