Yappy Hour

Seminole Heights Yappy Hour!

BarkoftheBay.com proudly announces our newest venue for Yappy Hour, Viva La Frida of Seminole Heights! First YH will be held Sunday, June 25th, 4-7PM featuring the music of DJ OMM.

"Patti Paws is a Tampa native who grew up raising and showing horses and dogs. She now resides in Seminole Heights with her husband Paul, two Whippets, a Greyhound and a Pit Bull Terrier. After moving North to follow a career in music promotion in 1996, Patti volunteered with Greyhound rescues and the activists (GREY2K) trying to bring dog racing in Massachusetts to an end. She organized a music fundraiser for GREY2K called "Greasers for Greyhounds" that featured Rockabilly bands and a vintage car show to showcase the slogan "Race Cars, Not Dogs!" In 2001, she returned to her hometown and began to explore ways to combine her favorite things, music and dogs once again."

"In Boston there were cafes and patios a plenty where your dogs could come along and chill out while you had coffee or lunch. There was nowhere in Tampa to just hang out with other people and their dogs that didn't involve the chaos of dog parks or fundraising sponsorship events. Where could you go with your dog that exercised them mentally and socially with other dogs without overstimulation?
The idea of Yappy Hour is simple, engage your dog in an activity with other dogs while still on leash and under control. This stable environment encourages mental exercise leading to better manners for your pooch. When dogs are loose in the dog park, there is constant chaos, from one dog picking fights, to owners content to talk to others while their dog runs wild, maniacally knocking others dogs down. A famous dog behavioralist once said, "You don't teach your child table manners at Chuck E Cheese's". This is true for dogs as well. Also, a new element was coming into the dog world, the ownership of ever smaller dogs who go everywhere with their owners, yet never learn proper manners. Even these little ones need a place to socialize with different dogs. Most owners don't have an ideal place with other calm dogs to practice what they learn in obedience class. These are the factors that brought Yappy Hour into being.
In 2004, Patti approached the owner of New World Brewery with the idea for Yappy Hour. The first YH was held in Oct 2004 and was a huge success! Since then Yappy Hour has continued every month at New World Brewery. Gourmet treats, homemade dog ice cream and even local musicians to provide low-key acoustic entertainment are the staples of YH. We even have drawings for door prizes for each dog that comes in. Anyone who feels like they could use a little help socializing their dog is welcome to ask Patti for advice or tips to make a YH experience the best it can be. Our canine regulars are proving that they can accompany their owners to social events and know how to behave. Come and check out the furry fun and see why Yappy Hour has become Tampa's #1 Bark of the Bay!"