Siezen und duzen

FUCK!  Domming is such a trip!  Even just saying "Puppy will address Me as 'Sir' unless I tell him otherwise" is getting my heart racing.

In German, there are essentially two formality registers.  In formal situations, or when addressing someone of higher status, one uses the Sie-form, e.g., "Kommen Sie in, bitte," and addresses others as "Herr X" or "Frau Y."  (Incidentally, "Fräulein" is never used in Germany, and is considered offensive there.)  Using the Sie-form, or siezen, also implies a certain distance, so a superior might siezen a subordinate.  When on familiar terms, one uses the du-form (or online, the Du-form, a compromise between Sie and du), e.g., "Komm in," and addresses others by first name, or at least omits the Herr or Frau.  As I understand it, there was also once a third register, used by superiors addressing subordinates, of the form "Er komme in," where the person addressed is in the third person and the verb is in Konjunktiv I/a hortatory subjunctive.

In our power schema, there are three registers.  Well...three-plus-one registers.  Ordinarily, my pup siezt, i.e., he addresses me as Sir.  Further, he is to rise when I enter the room or rise, and always wait for permission to sit.  Unless told otherwise, when he sits, he sits on the floor or lies with his head on my leg.  When we walk, he follows closely or is led on a leash; when we go out, I order for him.  When I give him an order, he is to obey.
If I tell puppy, "duze, bitte," he can drop the "Sir" and doesn't need permission to sit.  When we're being more relaxed like this, I won't ever lead him on a leash, and I'm more inclined to let him order for himself, and I'll ask him to do things instead of telling him to.  But when I say "sieze!," he better snap back to top form!
It's always good to have time when you and your partner can be totally relaxed, no matter how fun it is to be in Dom- or subspace.  I tell my pup to be at ease when it's time to relax.  He doesn't have to stand on ceremony.  When we're around family, puppy can be at ease.  (Because seriously, how do you come out as kinky to your 1st gen. Italian-Australian Roman Catholic father?)

And then we come to the plus one.  I bought my puppy dog tags to wear (because I'm a huge dork like that), but when those come off and the collar goes on...well, puppy really gets to let his inner puppy out!  And he is such a sweet puppy, too.  And a very fast learner!  I'm already impressed.  We are going to have a lot of fun, I just know it!