10 JunEpisode 11 | Let’s talk about dog parties with Hayley Meholco
If, when I was a little girl, someone had said “When you grow up, you can be a professional dog party planner,” I think growing up quickly would’ve become much more of a priority. I didn’t take that particular awesome life path, but Hayley Mehalco did!
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Podcast Episode 11: Lets talk about dog parties with Hayley Mehalco of Puppy Parties NYC
Transcript:
Annie:
So in the pet realm, there is this whole category of services that I think tends to make a lot of people roll their eyes. And when I was working as a journalist and releases for these kinds of services would come across my desk, I could always kind of tell when my editor would be interested and a story about one of these things, because it was kind of like there was always room to make fun of things people do for their dogs. And if you keep an eye out for this kind of story about these kinds of services, they almost always have the same lead. It's usually something like “Last Friday afternoon, Bethany got her nails done and then had a ballet lesson and saw her Latin tutor. Bethany is a French Bulldog..” And there's always this kind of sense to it of like, Oh, we got you, right. You thought we were going to say Bethany was a sophomore at ….Although I always find these leads sort of annoyingly dishonest because usually from the title of the article or the picture, you can tell they're going to be talking about a dog.
So anyway, I am sure I wrote some stories like this, and I think I rolled my eyes just as I assumed my editor would and the reader would. Because I think there is this general underlying assumption, somehow that people who spend money extravagantly on their pets are just ridiculous. And I'm saying all this because my point of view has really changed. Now, I know it's possible. You might be listening to this and you might be thinking well, of course her point of view has changed, she runs a place called School for the Dogs where people spend money needlessly on their dogs, lots of the time. But I think it's actually more than that. You know, eight or nine years ago when I first kind of discovered the world of dog training and realized that it was something that really spoke to me, I started to think how weird it is that there aren't sections in the newspaper devoted to animals in any kind of serious way.
I started to see that dogs could be a hobby that was no better or worse than any other hobby, but that pet ownership really isn't recognized in that way in our society, right? Look at the sections in newspapers, there's a section on sports, there's a section on cooking, there's a section on homes, cars, but if there's any kind of pet section, it has generally been more about showing pictures of cute adoptable animals rather than offering really interesting content on what it means to own a cat or a dog or any other kind of pet and with content that could actually appeal to someone's interest in animal behavior and that kind of thing.
And I've also really come to think about what it means to spoil a pet. You hear the word spoil in relation to pets a lot of the time, or at least I do. But spoiling a pet seems to suggest that you're giving them more than they deserve. And I think it's a really strange way of looking at how we treat our pets to talk about how spoiled they are, because I mean, what does any hobby deserve? Do people talk about giving a car more than it deserves? Do people talk about spending more money on the bathroom renovation than it deserved? The big difference in the hobby that we have when we are giving a lot of our time and effort and interest to our pets is that we're dealing with a living thing. But still, it seems to me that if you're trying to place any judgment on what you're devoting to this hobby financially or otherwise, it's kind of weird to peg it to what the cat or dog deserves or doesn't deserve.
And it's also so different than stuff having to do with, like horses, right? It's so interesting. I think how, if you're interested in horses and training and riding horses, that people don't talk about spoiling horses in that way. If you buy an expensive saddle or board your horse at an expensive stable, it's not like you're doing something for the horse that the horse doesn't deserve at least, I mean, maybe I'm wrong, I don't deal in the world of horses so much, but that's generally the sense I get. Also kind of just as a side note, I think it's also interesting how horseback riding and training is considered an ongoing hobby where dog training is, I think, in our society thought of more as something that you do, and then you're done, but anyway, more of a conversation for another time.
So anyway, my point of view about this kind of let's call it “indulgent pet service” or this category of services for pets that is more than providing them with simply, you know, food and medical care and a place to sleep is that if you're not hurting your pet and you're doing something that makes you feel good, then I'm totally all for it. And I don't see why anybody wouldn't be for it. Especially like I said, when I think about all the hobbies, people do devote so much time and money for that doesn't really benefit anyone other than themselves. Right? Think about all the money people spend on cars and sports and clothing and furniture and all these things that, you know, I don't judge people for being excited about at all. But they're not really usually benefiting anyone other than the person spending the money. Whereas, if you're spending your money on something that, at the very least, is a way that you and your dog can spend time together and you can make your dog's life a little bit better in some way, whatever that is, then I think it's a great thing.
Now, of course, I talked about this a little bit in the episode I did a few weeks ago with Carly Strife of BarkBox. Would your dog be just as happy with a dirty sock as he would with some, sort of, designer chew toy? Yes, certainly, probably, but I don't think that means you're spoiling your dog by buying some kind of designer thing. I think it just means that you have that money to spend and it's making you feel good. And if it's also giving your dog something to enjoy, then yay, love it.
So, one thing that I think falls into this, let's call it the eye roll category would be parties for dogs, and I have seen more and more people throwing different kinds of parties for their dogs. And in today's episode, I am speaking to a professional dog party planner. And let me just say that I have had a lot of fun at some parties that we have thrown for dogs at School for the Dogs. And like I said, if you're not hurting your dog and you're doing something that's going to help strengthen your bond with your dog, that's going to help you share your love of your dog with others, that's going to allow you to spend time with their dog and for people you care about to spend time with your dog and their dogs, I think it's really all totally cool.
Our Wood Shout out today definitely goes to a human, her name is Sarah Williamson. She is the owner of two adorable Goldendoodles, two of my favorite clients, Meatball and Hammy. And for two years in a row now Sarah has thrown these incredible birthday parties at School for the Dogs.
Last year, it was a unicorn themed birthday party. This year and it was just this past weekend, she threw a whole fiesta themed party for the dogs. And Sarah really goes all out. There are handmade gift bags and customized bandanas for each dog and photo booths. And I could absolutely see some reporter coming and writing some gimlet-eyed account of all of these indulgent pet parents doing this silly thing by treating their dog's birthday as if it were like a kid's birthday party. But again, from my vantage point, now I am just a hundred percent excited about it and I feel glad that I've gotten to see this person show their creativity and love in a really unique way, in a way that they've shared with a whole community of dogs and dog owners at School for the Dogs. So big kudos to Sarah for being such a great dog, mom and party thrower, and for pouring so much of her love into her dogs. Because really in the end, that's what it's about, if you're doing something that's going to help you feel the love that you feel for these animals who are in our lives for rather brief amounts of time, then, you know, yay.
But let's hear from someone who actually plans parties for dogs for a living.
Haley:
Hi, I'm Haley Mehalco. I'm the founder of Puppy Parties NYC. So we are a full service party planning company here in New York City for dogs and their owners. So we specialize in birthday parties, adoption anniversaries. We also do monthly public events. We actually have our upcoming, World Pup Cup coming up next month. So yeah.
Annie:
Hold on. World Pup Cup. Let's step back for a moment. So basically you're an event planner.
Haley:
Yeah.
Annie:
And do you have the background in event planning?
Haley:
So I went to school for hospitality and events.
Annie:
Where did you go to school?
Haley:
I'm from Ohio.
Annie:
And were you interested in dogs in school?
Haley:
Actually, no, it's kind of a crazy story. So I grew up kind of in the event planning world, my mom has done events for a long time. My cousin did events. Um, so that's kinda how I found my passion, um, in event planning.But the crazy story is I actually didn't grow up with dogs. I didn't grow up with any pets, not even like a fish or rabbit, nothing. So this all kind of happened. I got my first dog, Bailey, actually when I was 25. So I didn't have an animal until I was 25.
Annie:
Were you pining for pets when you were a kid like so many kids or were you just kind of..
Haley:
I really actually, I really wanted a kitten and we kind of just grew up in a household where we didn't have, you know, animals. So my mom did everything that she could without getting me a kitten. So she got me a huge book all about cats and, you know, stuffed animal cats, even ones that like purred and, like, kitten wallpaper is like everything. But yeah, unfortunately, I just didn't grow up in a pet friendly household, but yeah..
AnnieL
So you suffered great injustices.
Haley:
Yeah. Like I said all the way until I was 25 and then I got my dog Bailey and she's amazing and just really has, like, changed my life. She's awesome.
Annie:
So were you already working in event planning when a light bulb went off and you said there needs to be..
Haley:
Yes. I kind of pulled that crazy…
Annie:
What were you doing?
Haley:
I'm going to leave my job and, you know, go into doing this. Event planning. I worked at a hotel at the time planning corporate parties.
In New York. Yeah. So I planned events back home, went to school for it. I moved out here.
Annie:
What hotel? I want specifics.
Haley:
Oh, sorry. Um, the Bryant Park Hotel.
Annie:
Ok. Beautiful hotel. And so you were planning like weddings and…
Haley:
Not so much weddings, but more, it's like a fashion-based hotel. So at the time I was doing we had two loft spaces that had run out to like PR companies and fashion groups, so I was handling all the events there. We also had a screening room, so we had a lot of, like, companies come in and it was really cool. I saw a lot of actors and actresses. It's a very, like, hip, trendy hotel. And then before that I did more corporate events where I traveled. So I worked for, like, a conference producing company and did conferences and trade shows, large scale, some were like 5, 6, 7,000 people attended. So I traveled all over the U S and booked large, large scale events. So..
Annie:
I mean, I think it's part of what's interesting to learn this about you because I think it's possible for someone to hear like, Oh, she does puppy parties and think like, oh, she goes to party city and get some balloons for puppies.
Haley:
Yeah, oh no.
Annie:
But you have a serious background in events, which I think is… I mean, am I wrong? Is that a stereotype that I think people might have about people who plan parties in general? Probably.
Haley:
Yeah. I mean, some people might not know, but like you said, you know…
Annie:
Like this girl seriously,
Haley:
Yeah like serious, yeah.
Annie:
Living in New York, you can't do anything, I think half way. So you have to be good at what you're doing. And then if you're good at what you're doing and it seems like you are you take it and go in the direction you want to go.
Haley:
Yeah. Yep. Exactly.
Annie:
And so how did it end up in the dog direction? Was it through Bailey then?
Haley:
Yeah, so, it's actually kind of a funny story. So like I said, I was working at the hotel at the time and I, kind of like, started the business, but it wasn't anything, you know, like crazy, just have like a couple parties like here and there.
Annie:
And for dogs?
Haley:
For dogs.
Annie:
At the hotel?
Haley:
Not at the hotel. It wasn't a dog friendly hotel, just partnering with different, like doggy daycares and then companies in the city. But before all that, soI actually called my mom one day and I was like, “mom, would it be weird if I throw a birthday party for Bailey?” She's like, “no, not at all.” She's like, “you know, you love planning events. That's what you do for a living. She's like, any reason to celebrate? Like, why not?”
Annie:
Go, Mom.
Haley:
I'm like, right, you're totally right. So yeah, so shortly after, I had a birthday party for my dog Bailey at the time she was turning two and we invited just like close friends and like family and we just had it in our apartment and, of course, went all out. I had, like, a princess theme and I had custom gift bags and I organized games and activities and I made puppy chow for the humans. I don't know if you're… it might be a Midwest thing. So I did like puppy chow..
Annie:
What’s Puppy Chow?
Haley:
So it's Chex mix, but you… it's made with like chocolate and peanut butter and powdered sugar. It's amazing. It's addicting. So, but yeah, so I mean like that for the humans. And like I said, it was all like a princess theme, like pink decorations and glitter everywhere. And Bailey had a tiara and a sash and yeah, so the party was really great and everyone loved it.
And then like time would go on like six months, a year. And, you know, we'd see like our friends again and every time we were together, like that party somehow came up. Like, you know, that party you had for Bailey was amazing. And you know, after hearing it so many times I'm like, you know what? Like maybe this really can be something. Like I love planning events. I went to school for it, I have the background and, you know, I don't think they're really just telling me this ‘cause you know, they're friends of mine. I think they legit had a good time. And so after that I was sitting on the beach with a few girlfriends and I asked them, I'm like, “Hey guys, like I have this idea.” I was like, “you need to tell me though, like, be my good friends. You need to tell me if this is like crazy or not.” And I told them and they're like,” no, like that's amazing. You need to do it.” And so yeah, that's kind of how the whole thing came about.
**music**
Haley:
I mean, the great thing is we've had a lot of really great press and PR lately. We were recently in Business Insider. So yeah, so a lot of it honestly is, like, organic, a lot of the links that come through or either through our website or we're very active on Instagram, so a lot of people reach out that way. So you know, a lot of it is related to people reaching out to us, which is really great. But yeah, I mean it's, it's a mix of both. I would say average right now we're doing one party a week, but there was a week in April that we had three parties. So, you know, it all depends. But yeah, so it all depends. I mean, every week, no day, no week is the same. So, like I said, a few weeks ago, we had three parties in one week, but I would say on average, we're doing like one party a week, whether it be like a birthday party or we host it monthly public events as well.
Um, so that being said, we talked about the World Pup cCup. So that's an event that we're doing, it's going to be super cute. We did a Puppy Bowl a couple of years ago and it's going to be very similar to that. So what we're doing is as the dogs sign up, we're putting them on teams where they're going to “compete” against each other. And we're making this huge artificial grass soccer field and we have someone who's making the dog goals as well. Downtown Dog Pets, they're creating these awesome like 3D goals that are going to be on each side and we have a referee and then actually, Richie Redding and Katie Haller with Bark Box. They're going to be the comedians that are commentating it.
Annie:
Oh yeah, and where is it going to be?
Haley:
It’s going to be at D Pet Hotel in Chelsea. So yeah, it's going to be super cute. We're gonna have like a photographer and like a raffle and some other companies. We're still kind of planning out like full logistics and everything, but yeah, it's going to be super cute. And they're each gonna be like on teams and they're going to have a bandana and then we're going to have like soccer balls on the field that, you know. So yeah, when we did it for the Puppy Bowl, it was super cute and like the dogs actually, you know, would pick up, since they’re toys, would pick up the football and like run into the end zone, so we are able to keep track of, like, the score and we had an MVP, Most Valuable Pup, afterwards and it was super cute. So we're really excited.
So for all of our public events, like the World Pup Cup, we donate a portion of the proceeds to charities. Alot of them being local charities and this one we're donating to Brooklyn Badass Animal Rescue.
Annie:
So when someone calls you up, do they contact you because it's their dog's birthday and they want to do something or do they have a more specific idea or a specific idea?
Haley:
So everyone's kind of different. Some people come and they know kind of exactly what they want to do and some people don't. So a lot of it…a lot of requests that we get are for first birthdays. But yeah, a lot of people just reaching out, like I said, first birthdays tend to be very popular and I think the reason is because a lot of people that own dogs, you know, this is like their first child. They don't have children yet, so you know, they want to, like, spoil them and of course they deserve to be spoiled. So that's why they want to throw them like a big bash for their first birthday. So a lot of our business is first birthdays as well as parties for senior dogs. So we have a party coming up for a dog who's turning 10.
Annie:
That’s so nice.
Haley:
And her name is Booboo and it's the cutest thing. We're doing a Star Wars theme. So the dog has been through a lot. It's survived like brain surgery and like a lot of things. So her mom wants to do a Star Wars theme because she's like her warrior. But like a princess warrior.
**music**
Haley:
We had a party out in the Hamptons. It was more of a public event, but the tickets were a hundred dollars each and it included…it was a pool party for the dogs and it included..
Annie:
Was this last year?
Haley:
The year before, we're doing it again this summer too cause it was like a huge hit. But it included drinks like wine and champagne for the adults and appetizers and legit, like, the dogs were like in the pool. We had like different vendors there and like a photo booth and a photographer. And I mean, what's better than being out in the Hamptons on a nice summer day? Yeah, so that was like really great. But yeah, we have we've done like parties for dogs, like I said, on rooftops and movie theaters and you know, like, it all depends on what the client's budget is.
So we have like our standard packages, but it seems like a lot of times those standard packages end up being customized packages. So yeah, kind of how we handle it is we're a one stop shop and a full service party planning company. So we do everything from working with the customer to find them, the location, being there the day of, setting up decorating, you know, running the show, singing Happy Birthday. We organize games and activities and then depending on the packages, you know, we have different ones that include like the cake and the decoration and goody bags. We've even done fresh flowers and centerpieces for, you know, the more of elaborate parties.
Annie:
So what would it cost to have like the prime of the prime puppy party?
Haley:
I mean, we've done some, that were, like, upwards of like $10,000. So, you know, it just all depends.
Annie:
And where are people learning about you then? You said Instagram a lot.
Haley:
So we're very active on Instagram. So a lot of people reach out that way. And then we're starting to get a lot of referrals from, you know, people that have gone to parties or their friend’s have had parties, which is really great. And then just a lot through just like our website and everything.
Annie:
So are there any particular challenges as far as entertaining and creating a safe space for dogs that you've come across?
Haley:
Um, that's a good question. No, we've honestly, I haven't really run into…all the places that we work with our dog friendly. So whether it be like a daycare that you know, has dogs in every day, so their spaces, you know, well equipped to have dogs, but no, we've never really run into any issues. Like knock on wood.
Annie:
When you talk about games, what kind of games do offer?
Haley:
So we do different things. Um, one of our most popular is musical chairs, but the kicker of it is the dog needs to sit too. So we, like, play songs and everyone kind of goes around in a circle. And the thing is, like I said, not only does a human have to sit, but the dog has to sit too. So that's always fun. And we have like a bunch different props and costumes that we do for photo booths and just like different racing games and like the best trick and stuff like that. So a lot of different fun stuff.
Annie:
Do you have a maximum on how many dogs you can have in a given space?
Haley:
No, it all depends on the space. So we've done some like very small, simple parties for just a couple of dogs. And then I think the most that we've done was around like 45 or 50 dogs. And then we did a big launch event actually in February and that was our biggest event, dog-related event. And that was 300 people and about 150, 200 dogs.
Annie:
Wow. All on leash or off leash?
Haley:
It was… some were on, some were off, but the space, it was okay for them to be off leash.
Annie:
I mean, I get stressed out about off-leash interactions with dogs. I think in general, especially like dogs and new places. But granted, that's partially because as a dog trainer I tend to see dogs who have problems. Um, but I also, I've also been in the position where we've hosted parties or really more meetups I guess. Actually the particular situation I'm thinking of was at a meetup which, unlike most of the stuff we do is open to whoever wants to come. Usually people who come for other things that we have at School for the Dogs I think are like, you know, tuned in to understanding that, like, if a situation is not right for the dog, we'll let them know. But with the meetups, we have people who are just coming in off street. And there was one time in particular where there was, actually it was French Bulldogs, uh, two French Bulldogs that it was not appropriate and the owner wasn't taking initiative to leave. And I eventually just had to like ask him to leave. And I felt awful because it wasn't, it was like asking someone to, it felt like asking someone to leave a party, but you've never had to be in that position.
Haley:
I mean a couple of times, but if they were like off-leash, you know, we just politely tell the owner like, Hey, you know, I think your dog just needs to relax a little, like if you could just put them on the leash and maybe, you know, pick them up for awhile. But we never had where we had to, like, tell someone to leave. Like I said, knock on wood, we've been very fortunate. I think too is kind of how we advertise our events. It's kind of, a lot of these dogs are Instagram dogs and they're kind of socialites and they've been to, you know, they're used to that environment. They've been to all these events, you know, throughout the city.
Annie:
A dog socialite. How would you define a New York city dog socialite.
Haley:
Yeah, just like a dog that literally, you know, you see on Instagram the dogs that are literally at like a new event every day, you know, whether it be our event or another company in the city that's hosting an event. So I think they're just used to that like environment.
**music**
Haley:
So one of our favorite parties that we did was a star studded event for a dog named Prince. And it was at a movie theater, the Alamo draft house, which is dog-friendly for therapy dogs, which he's a therapy dog and a lot of his friends are as well. So we legit rented out the movie theater and we had pupcorn for the dogs, um, which is just like these little popcorn dog treats. But just seeing it all come together and just seeing, you know, the dogs running around having a good time and humans laughing and I don't know, to me, like I just got goosebumps. Like, to me that's like all worth it. Um, just seeing, you know, at the end of the day everyone being happy and having a great time. It's like, can we know had a successful day.
We hosted a Frenchie meetup and everything based on France. So we have like a huge French flag and we made these custom dog-friendly French martinis for the dogs and we had like French-fake like treats and stuff like that. And we had a costume contest and the dogs, some of the dogs like legit came in their like French… What's a little hat?
Annie:
A beret.
Haley:
Yes, the beret. They had like the little beret and the little stripe shirt. And then a couple of them were matching their owners. Their owners had like a striped red or blue shirt and they were like matching. It was like the cutest thing ever. Um, and just like Frenchie overload. The youngest Frenchie was like three or four months old and a lot of puppies, and I love all the smushy faced dogs. I have an English bulldog.
Annie:
So what do you think it is that makes people want to throw parties for their dogs? How would you explain it to someone who was skeptical?
Haley:
Yeah. Like I said before, it's, you know, your dog is part of the family, so you know, why not throw them a celebration. You know, it's like they deserve to be spoiled and they deserve to have that day. And yeah, so I think it's like a really great thing. And you know, like I said before, it's not only like the dogs are running around letting loose, having fun, but it's great for the owners too. You know, a lot of times they bring or we'll have like human food and drinks and you know, they're talking and mingling and the dogs are playing and it's just, you know, all over like a really great experience.
**music**
Fun dog fact of the day: There really are people who throw a bark mitzvahs for their dogs. Among them, Jason Biggs and his wife who four years ago threw one for their dog, Teets, at a Los Angeles temple. They outfitted him in a yarmulke and had him eat Challah at the temple, the whole bit. I don't think he had to read a haftarah. I will post some photos in the show notes.
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