Sure is a bummer I can't give this place 0 stars.
I visited Yard Bar this evening for my 50th or so time. I typically take my dogs there in the later evenings around 830pm to run off some steam until closing around 10pm. I've come here dozens of times, even when I didn't have my dogs with me, to play with the dogs and have a few drinks.
Things went well for about 45 minutes, at which point a white Siberian husky (or mix) puppy began aggressively playing with the other dogs in the park for an extended period of time. I had noticed this dog intently following and sniffing my very timid Ashtin Poocher, who would come and sit in my lap to get away from her. This happened three times, and the final time, Ashtin sat in my lap for about 10 minutes before feeling comfortable scurrying through the rest of the park. I didn't think too much about things because there the husky wasn't being terribly aggressive, but it was enough such that I had to divert the husky's attention away from Ashtin numerous times.
Several minutes later, the husky had escalated its aggressiveness with the rest of the dogs in the park, terrorizing a good number of the dogs. I stood by the bar and twice I inquired of the Park Rangers if someone was going to do something about this dog. I observed three dogs cornered in various ways by the husky, in some cases barring teeth to indicate to it that they were feeling threatened by her. Irrefutably, the dog was aggressive towards the other dogs.
The so-called Park Rangers did absolutely nothing but throw balls and the owner giggled that no one had started fighting yet. Rather than complaining a third time, I asked to see a manager, at which point Paul emerged from the office to the situation. The following summarizes my experience with Paul:
1) He indicated that I should have my dogs in the small section if I found the husky's behavior inappropriate. I note this is irrelevant to whether or not the husky is misbehaving.
2) He indicated that, in his observation, nothing was wrong with the dog's behavior. I noted several instances while we stood there of inappropriate behavior -- behavior that would eliminate the husky from participating in *ANY* boarding facility where I have boarded my dogs. I informed him that I understood this to be a puppy, but that it's a great time to teach the dog that this behavior is completely unsociable and unacceptable.
3) I walked away to return to my table. Paul comes by 10 minutes later to make further pathetic attempts to indicate that the dog's behavior was truly ok and that it had calmed down. While we talked, the dog escalated again twice. Additionally, I make repeated efforts to indicate to Paul that I was uninterested in having this conversation. His efforts focused on the general nature of huskies, in that it is their nature to rile up other dogs. Again I informed him that I understood this to be a puppy, but that it's a great time to teach the dog that this behavior is completely unsociable and unacceptable.
I hope this is not the official position of Yard Bar: that aggressive breeds are behaving as planned when terrorizing other dogs for over 15 minutes.
4) Since Paul refused to leave me in peace, and seemed to need the last word, I began putting my dogs on leash and leaving (45 minutes earlier than planned). While I was harnessing my Ashtin, another dog came and pawed at him aggressively. The situation forced me to resort to pushing the dog off of Ashtin, at which point Paul indicated I never had a reason to do such a thing to a dog. It makes me wonder if Paul has spent any time around dogs at all.
I welcomed Paul to the knowledge that, any dog or human doing such a thing to Ashtin would be met with the same exact result by me every time.
At this point, Paul invited me to try with himself.
Apparently the Yard Bar business model includes managerial staff that welcomes physical altercations from guests.
I won't be back to Yard Bar, and I'm sad to say that. read more