Biography
You met Ruff at Atlanta Leather Pride 🐾
If you’re reading this, something fun just happened.
You tapped your phone to my hand and now you’re here.
Yes, the chip is real.
And yes, watching people realize my business card is literally implanted in my hand is still one of my favorite moments.
Welcome to Atlanta Leather Pride.
🐾 I’m currently running for Georgia Pup 2026.
Learn more about my platform and journey:
Welcome to Atlanta Leather Pride
Whether this is your very first leather event or you’ve been attending for decades, I’m glad our paths crossed.
Atlanta Leather Pride is a weekend dedicated to celebrating leather history, service, education, connection, and the people who make this community extraordinary. You’ll find contests, vendors, classes, socials, demonstrations, bootblacking, and countless conversations that often become lasting friendships.
If you happened to tap my hand today, congratulations—you found one of my favorite little Easter eggs.
Why am I bootblacking?
Bootblacking isn’t just about making leather shiny.
It’s an act of service.
Every pair of boots, every jacket, every vest, and every piece of leather tells a story. Caring for that gear is really about caring for the person wearing it and the experiences it’s been through.
One of the things I love most about sitting behind the bootblack stand is that it gives people permission to slow down. A shine might start with polish and brushes, but it almost always turns into conversation. I’ve met first-time attendees, longtime leathermen, titleholders, curious newcomers, and people who simply wanted a quiet place to sit for a while.
Every shine is different.
Every story matters.
Who is Ruff?
Ruff is the chaos corgi behind https://ruffthe.dog.
Part pup, part educator, part traveler, part technologist, and full-time believer that communities become stronger through curiosity, kindness, and showing up for one another.
You’ll usually find me:
- bootblacking around Atlanta
- teaching classes on pup play, kink education, rope, electro, and safety
- traveling between leather and pup communities in Atlanta, London, Montreal, and beyond
- mentoring newcomers
- building delightfully nerdy projects like the NFC implant you just scanned
One of my favorite moments at any event is watching someone realize they belong here.
Sometimes all it takes is one welcoming conversation.
Looking for me this weekend?
Besides the bootblack stand, I’ll also be helping present Pet Play 101.
Whether you’re completely new to pet play, wondering what all the barking is about, or simply curious about this corner of the leather community, it’s a welcoming introduction designed to answer questions and help people explore at their own pace.
If you’re attending the class, please come introduce yourself before or after the panel. I’d love to meet you—even if we only have time for a quick wag.
Why the chip?
Because handing someone a business card is boring.
The chip you scanned is an NFC implant.
Your phone briefly powered it and brought you here.
No battery.
No GPS.
No tracking.
Just a tiny piece of technology that turns introductions into memorable moments.
Every tap represents a conversation.
Every conversation has the potential to become a friendship.
One last thing…
If I helped bring your leather back to life today and you’d like to say thanks, there’s one more bit of NFC magic waiting for you.
You can tap my other paw to leave a tip for my bootblacking services.
I happily accept:
- 🐾 Treats (the financial kind)
- 💳 Credit & Debit Cards
- 💵 Cash
Your support helps me keep volunteering my time, replacing worn brushes and supplies, maintaining my bootblack kit, and continuing to serve the leather community at events like this.
Of course, there’s never any obligation. Sitting down for a shine, sharing a story, or simply stopping by to say hello is always appreciated.
If this is your first Atlanta Leather Pride, welcome.
I genuinely hope you leave having learned something, met someone new, or discovered a corner of the community you didn’t know existed.
If you see me around the event again, please come say hello.
I’d love to hear your story.
And if someone asks how you got my contact information today…
You’ll know exactly what to tell them.
“I scanned his hand.” 🐾