07/24/2023
The Year of The Dog
It has been a busy year for Beargrass Landscape Architecture, working on many creative projects from single and multi-family residential to pickleball courts. The best news is we have been dog crazy. Last year was a tough year, with some much-needed arm surgery, but after getting a titanium plate and recovery, I celebrated with a brand-new Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Puppy. Kya led the charge into this fantastic year. Now, not quite 1 ½ years, she is a sweet, happy pup that excels at whatever she wants to do. From Obedience to hunt training, she explodes through life with a joyous personality.
So how does this reflect on Beargrass? This year we have three big dog projects. Beargrass has been known throughout the US and Canada for designing dog parks, built for dogs and their human companions. Kya shows me the way, investigating, exploring, playing, training. Illustrating exactly what I want dogs to do in a park. What are we working on?
The Humane Society of NW Montana is planning a huge training campus that combines training fields and dedicated dog sport areas, with a splash of trails and obstacles. I am excited to see Sniff Field and the Bone Yard come to fruition. The admirable goal is to reduce the numbers of pets that get surrendered for adoption by creating a place to learn, teach and play, strengthening the forever bond between dog and human. What a phenomenal resource this will be for our community. Stay tuned for updates.
The second dog project is to design a training pond for versatile hunting dogs. Unlike many retriever ponds, we want cover and habitat. This pond will have plenty of cattails, dogwoods and willows. Kya and I can hardly wait till next spring when its finished and full of water.
The famous WAG dog park is getting an upgrade on obstacles in the playground. Dog Parkour is coming to Whitefish, as we will add new elements for play. This will be part of the upcoming Whitefish Challenge Fundraising events. Details will be emerging soon.
Lastly, an update on the Barry County Veterans Memorial Dog Park in Hastings, Michigan. This park was the dream of Frank Mix. Unfortunately, Frank died last year, and the world lost a fabulous dog lover and visionary. Together we created a masterplan for a 20-acre dog park that was designed for everyone. Not only for persons with disabilities but disabled useable. It has an area specific to service dog training, including multi-surface areas, sound boards, and an inclusive playground. In addition, it has trails, fields, dock diving, fly-ball, and areas for events. Frank wanted the legacy of this park to challenge and define a better dog park. Without Frank, this park faces many challenges to be fully implemented, but I am hopeful. I have incorporated many of Frank’s visions into the Humane Society training campus. He would be proud to see his ideas playing forward.
Kya is challenging me to be a better dog trainer, more receptive to her way of learning and her exploration of the world. We continue to train for hunting, she has delved into the show world with her breeder, (secretly she prefers birds to hairspray) and continues to work obedience. She is a stable happy dog, and we have both begun training towards her becoming my Gluten Detection Service Dog. I am hoping that this will help to keep me healthy and my Celiac disease under control when I am travelling to distant places to bring more of our crazy dog ideas to light.
Cheers!
Leslie
Beargrass Landscape Architecture
www//beargrassla.com
