Don’t get it backwards (pun intended): doggy style is a classic sex position, and for good reason!
Why? Well, doggy style is a great way to stimulate the G-spot, which is considered one of the easier ways to have an orgasm through penetration. If you’re a fan of deep penetration, it’s a great bet. For those doing the penetrating, you get an unrestricted view of your partner (hot!). And for both parties, it can feel, well, kinda primal which can be a major turn-on.
But just because doggy is a timeless fave, that doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up a little. You don’t even have to stray from doggy (though if you want to, you can find tips for that here), you can just change locations, add some accessories, or switch up the position juuuust enough to make it feel new and even more exciting than usual.
Oh, and FYI, the UK is a nation of doggy lovers: doggy style is one of the UK’s favourite sex positions, with 38% of people recently citing it as their fave way to have sex according to Lovehoney.
So, to help you finesse your technique, we asked Lovehoney’s sex expert Sammi Cole and Scotty Unfamous, resident sex expert and educator for Ann Summers, how to make doggy style sex even better. Here’s how...
How to make doggy style sex even better
1. Take the ‘stairway to heaven’
Why not try the stairway to heaven? It’s a simple-but-effective variation on doggy style that can be done on the stairs in your home.
Kneel facing towards the stairs with your hands resting on an upper step, and have your partner kneel on the same step with their legs outside of yours as they penetrate you. Bring a blanket or something soft to lean on so you both don’t get carpet burns on the knees.
2. Leg up
Scotty says this is a great position for partners who have a noticeable height difference, if they are plus-sized, or simply want to help control the depth of penetration.
Scotty says: “You should be standing, bent over, and preferably holding on to something to brace yourself.” For this example, let’s say you’re standing, bent over the side of your bed. Positioned behind you, Scotty says your partner will have one foot on the floor and the other planted on the bed. The position of their feet and you standing up will allow you both more freedom to adjust yourselves accordingly and find the position that works best for you.
“For shallower strokes, they can position their thrusts from higher above or directly forward, but if depth is what you’re after, a simple bend of the knee will allow them to thrust from underneath to drive up into you,” she continues. “This position also provides more freedom to get better angles.”
3. Use a mirror
Due to the nature of doggy style sex, it’s not easy to make eye contact with your partner (unless you’re a contortionist). So, positioning yourselves in front of a mirror allows for greater intimacy, as well as a great view.
4. Throw it back
“One of the joys of doggy style is that you can both be active participants,” says Scotty. Sure, she says, it’s fine to plant yourself firmly and receive what they give, but if you want to increase the depth and power of your partner’s strokes, when they thrust forward, you thrust back, keeping pace with each other.
“If you find this tricky, start off enacting this on a bed and allow the natural spring back from the mattress to guide you,” she adds.
5. Comfort is key
Some people with vaginas can also find that doggy style sex is a little uncomfortable, because the depth of penetration can mean that their partner presses on the cervix during penetration.
An easy variation that can help to prevent this is for the receiving partner to use a headboard, the side of the bed, or a chair to press their arms against. This then pushes their torso into a more upright pose.
You could also try a penetration buffer to help control the depth that you or your partner can reach — whether during doggy or any position. These buffer rings are also great for people who have endometriosis, who may find deep penetration painful.
6. Arm behind your back
According to Scotty, this is a small adjustment that makes a big difference. She explains: “Once you both have assumed the doggy style position, place one of your arms behind your back and bend it so that your forearm lies horizontally across it. Your partner can then hold onto your forearm as they thrust, using it as a brace to pull you back onto them.”
It’s important that you communicate whilst doing this, Scotty urges, especially if you are feeling any discomfort, to avoid injury. If you decide that you enjoy doing this, she says the next step up would be to have both arms behind your back, and maybe even incorporate some restraints.
7. Turn it into a quickie
Doggy style is a great sex position for impromptu quickie sex. Provided you’re somewhere secluded where no one is likely to stumble upon you, a standing variation of doggy can be a fun way to move play out of the bedroom. Remember, although the thrill of being caught can be very arousing, it’s important not to expose other people to seeing something that they haven’t consented to seeing.
8. Add a sex toy
Despite all its benefits, doggy style isn’t the greatest sex position for those who need clitoral stimulation to climax. But it does allow either partner to reach the clitoris easily with a hand or a vibrator.
Try combining doggy style with a small-but-powerful sex toy, like a bullet vibrator. Lovehoney’s Magic Bullet Vibrator has 10 speed and vibration settings, is really well made, and affordable. It has pin-point edges which allow precise targeting of vibrations to your clitoris.
A small bullet vibrator will provide clitoral stimulation while also not getting in the way of the deep penetration. To add to the fun, you could try a remote controlled vibrator, giving your partner the power over pleasure.
You can stimulate the clitoris while resting on one hand rather than two as your partner thrusts from behind, or they can hold the toy against you for a more intimate experience.
Best bullet vibrators
LELO MIA Bullet Vibrator
9. Hands free clit stimulation
To add to this, Scotty notes that clitoral stimulation isn’t generally part of the equation during doggy style. So, she recommends using a hands-free clitoral stimulator, like the Satisfyer Double Classic. It’s a small ‘U’ shaped vibe with a slim G-spot stimulator that you can slide inside of you, that leaves enough room for your partner to enter. On the outside, the clitoral stimulator lays in place against your clit, so you don’t have to focus on anything else but receiving.
10. Switch up the legs
If you can bring your legs close together during doggy style sex, you can increase the sensations as it makes you feel tighter. Not only does this provide extra stimulation to your partner, but you’ll also benefit as you’ll be able to feel more of their movements, too.
Try moving your legs as close together as you can, and, if your bodies allow for it, you can even cross one knee over the other.
11. Butt plugs
“At the back of the front wall of the vagina, adjacent to the cervix is the A-spot (the anterior fornix) which is a great spot to help stimulate an A-spot orgasm,” explains Scotty, who adds that doggy is great for stimulating this area.
To increase A-spot stimulation, and give your lover something to look at, try incorporating a butt plug into your play, she advises. Scotty says that the pressure from the plug will not only stimulate the nerves in your anus but will also play into the sensations felt in the deeper parts of your vagina.
“If you are new to plugs, you can find affordable starter kits that have a selection of graduating sizes. Once you are more comfortable with them you can venture out to plugs that vibrate, are bejewelled or even have tails attached,” she recommends.
However, Scotty warns: “Please make sure that anything that goes into your backdoor has a flared base to stop it from disappearing inside of you.”
12. Drop it low
This is like regular doggy except you stretch your legs out so you are both lying down, with your partner on top. Some people enjoy this take on the classic pose because it allows you and you to kiss, hug, and feel more intimate — and it can help to slow things down if traditional doggy gets a little frantic.
To improve the sensations for you and to make penetration easier, try slipping a pillow (or even a specially-designed sex pillow) underneath your hips.
This position is also known as the ‘speedbump’ and is another of the nation’s favourites.
13. Lube up
A good water-based lubricant will enhance any sex position, particularly one like doggy where there can be a lot of friction.
Liquid Silk is a water-based lube that is super easy to dispense as it comes in a handy pump. It’s not sticky, doesn’t dry up too quickly, and is made with sensitive skin in mind.
Paisley is the former Sex and Relationships editor at Cosmopolitan UK. She covers everything from sex toys, how to masturbate and sex positions, to all things LGBTQ. She definitely reveals too much about her personal life on the Internet.
