Ms. Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine

MS. PEGGY BEISEL-MCILWAINE of Ann Arbor, Michigan, bought her first show dog after graduating high school in 1973, an Old English Sheepdog. In 1977 Ms. Beisel-McIlwaine began a three-year apprenticeship with Terrier master George Ward, where she discovered her love for terriers, specifically Wire Fox Terriers.  During her apprenticeship with Ward, Peggy met her husband-to-be, Sandy McIlwaine. The established Foxairn Kennels specialized in Wire Fox and Cairn Terriers.  One notable handling client was the legendary Cairn breeder Mrs. Betty Hyslop, of Ontario, Canada. 

Ms. Beisel-McIlwaine has been nominated for Judge of the Year on three occasions. She is approved to judge the Terrier, Sporting, Working, Toy, and Herding Groups, a few Hound and Non-Sporting breeds, Junior Showmanship and Best in Show. She has judged Groups at the AKC National Championship and Best in Show at the Montgomery Kennel Club. Additionally, she has judged internationally in the UK, Australia, Scandinavia, the Philippines, South America, Mexico, Spain, South Korea, and China.  She judged the Terrier Group at Westminster in 2006 and the Herding Group in 2019. This is her eighth assignment at Westminster.