Doggy Style Sex: How to Try It

If you're curious about doggy style sex and how to try it, the good news is that the setup takes about ten seconds and then it's a matter of adjusting to your preferences. One partner rests on hands and knees, or forearms and knees, with hips raised. The other kneels or stands behind. That's the whole position. It works for any pairing, whether penetration comes from a penis, a toy, or fingers.

Depth is usually why people love doggy. Rear entry allows for deeper penetration than most positions. Though this is why it's sought out, it's also why it can go further than is comfortable. But too much depth is also easy to correct. Adjusting how high the hips sit, how low the chest drops, how long the stroke is, and how much the person in front rocks backward all change the sensation.

Doggy style sex can also put more pressure on your body than reclined positions can. Hips, knees, wrists, and the lower back carry weight they don't carry in missionary, so it's good to be prepared to add a cushion, a folded blanket, or a firm wedge under the hips before you start. Doggy style is the most popular of the rear-entry positions. What follows covers the setup, the angles worth trying, and what to change when something doesn't feel right.

Get the surface right first, then the position, then the motion. A bed is a safe choice, though a rug with a folded blanket or a couch cushion under the knees is far kinder to joints than a hard floor. Keep a towel underneath to protect sheets or surfaces once lube is involved.

1. The receiving partner kneels with knees about hip-width apart, hips stacked over the knees, and hands under the shoulders, spine neutral rather than arched in either direction.
2. The penetrating partner kneels close behind. Standing works too, as long as you pick a bed or table height that puts both sets of your hips on the same level. A height mismatch can interfere with your technique.
3. Add lube, and more of it than feels necessary. This position invites longer and deeper movement. This means friction builds faster than you may expect. Don't be afraid to pause and add more if you feel yourselves starting to dry out.
4. Start shallow and slow, then build as you both warm up and get a feel for what's working. Immediately going for full depth may be uncomfortable and stop play before it begins.

Once you're moving, the most useful adjustment available is dropping from hands to forearms. This takes the load off your wrists, lowers your chest, and changes the angle of entry all at once.

Rocking back into the thrust sets both depth and rhythm from the receiving side, and a hand resting on the hip from behind works as a gentle depth limiter.

Each variation below changes the depth, the load on your joints, or how close the two of you feel. Pick whichever one you want more or less of tonight.

Forearms down, chest low. From the classic setup, drop to your forearms, or rest your chest and cheek on the bed with hips still raised. Arms and wrists stop carrying weight, your back gets more support, and the angle of entry shifts noticeably. This is our #1 pick for adding variation.

Hips low, lying flat. The receiving partner lies face down with legs together and hips raised only slightly, usually with a cushion underneath. Depth drops, full-body contact goes up, and there's even less strain on your joints. This is an excellent choice for tired bodies and deeper connection. Our guide to the lazy doggy position walks you through that version in detail.

Bent over and standing. Stand and lean forward onto the bed, a couch arm, a desk, or a kitchen counter, feet on the floor. This transfers all the pressure off your knees. Matching heights can get tricky here, but that's where position aids and even putting on a pair of shoes can help balance you out. See the bent-over position for the full setup.

Hips supported on a wedge or ramp. A firm angled support under the hips or chest helps hold you up for easier movement.  Unlike soft bed pillows which can compress and slide out of place, a wedge keeps its shape and supports you throughout sex.

Closer, not just deeper. A common complaint about doggy style is that you can't see each other's faces, but there are other ways to connect. Leaning forward onto your partner's back puts more skin against skin. Holding hands or holding onto each other changes the whole mood. Setting up facing a mirror gives you the eye contact the position normally takes away.

Because the front of the receiving partner's body is completely unobstructed, this is one of the easiest positions for adding a toy. A small clitoral or bullet vibrator can be held by either of you, and a wearable style leaves both hands free. Rear entry can also involve strap-ons. If you're interested in doggy style for anal play or pegging, both of which need their own preparation and considerably more lube, check out our guides to anal sex and doggy style pegging.

Since the receiving partner is facing away, the small facial cues you'd normally read simply aren't available. Agree on a signal like a tap on the thigh, a squeeze of the hand, or spoken words that mean pause or stop. In order to reach your best mutual pleasure, communication is key, and you both need to be able to speak up without fear of rejection.

Lube is the other thing to get right early. If toys or condoms are in play, use an appropriate water-based or silicone-based formula. CDC's condom guidance states that oil-based products such as petroleum jelly, mineral oil, body lotion, massage oil, and cooking oil weaken latex, and that a new condom belongs with each act, including when you move between anal and vaginal sex. For anal play, added lube is a requirement, because the rectum doesn't produce its own lubrication.

When something hurts, change the depth before you change anything else. Shortening the stroke, lowering the hips, or handing the pace back to the receiving partner usually resolves it. A sharp or cramping sensation is a signal to back off the angle, not something to push through. If you're concerned with back pain specifically, a Spine study of back motion measured ten healthy couples across hands-and-knees, missionary, and side-lying arrangements. The authors' recommendations placed the hands-and-knees doggy variations among the better options for givers whose pain is brought on by bending forward. Note: the participants weren't back-pain patients, so read that as a reason to experiment, and let your own back have the final word.

Don't write doggy style off if it doesn't immediately go right. Most complaints about this position have an easy fix.

When your arms give out, drop to your forearms, or rest your chest and head on the bed with your hips still up. You can also stack a firm cushion under your chest to take pressure off your triceps. For sore knees, switch to the bent-over version and let your feet take the weight instead. If it simply gets too deep, lower your hips, bring your knees closer together, and ask for a shorter stroke. A hand on your hip from behind can help set a physical limit, and rocking back on your own terms lets you meet the thrust exactly as far as you want to.

Feeling disconnected has its own set of fixes. Ask your partner to lean down along your back, reach for a hand, or move so you're both facing a mirror. You can also encourage yourselves to speak while you're doing it, since hearing each other promotes connection. A height mismatch is the other usual culprit, and that one can be fixed with changing the furniture, surface, or adding a wedge under the hips. A taller partner can also widen their knees to drop their hips.

Too much friction? Usually you just need to add more lube. Since it can thin out or dry over time and this is a more demanding position, you may need to reapply, switch to a longer-lasting lubricant, or both.

When none of these changes the picture, that's useful information too. Plenty of people prefer cowgirl or missionary for exactly the reasons doggy style doesn't suit them, and that's okay. Discovering what feels good to you is the whole point.

If having to hold your hips up ends your fun early, a firm wedge or ramp is a simple fix. Unlike a bed pillow, a shaped support pillow holds its angle under weight, so you can settle into the position and stay there with your arms free for other things. Browse position pillows and wedges at Adam & Eve, or see how to use a wedge first if you want to picture how it'll work for you before you choose. For something larger and more permanent, sex furniture offers even more support.

Lube is an often overlooked but necessary accessory here. Water-based lube is the favorite pick and stays condom and toy friendly, silicone lube lasts longer without reapplying, and anal lube is thicker for rear-entry anal play. From there, a vibrating penis ring adds a shared buzz without anyone having to hold anything, and our couples toys selection is a good place to look if you want to bring something new to the position. Start with the support, add the lube, and let the toys follow once you've found the angle you like.