Judge's Background & History

Ms. Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine
Home: Ann Arbor, MI
Initial Breed: Fox Terriers (Wire)

Peggy acquired her first show dog, an Old English Sheepdog, soon after her high-school graduation. It was as an assistant to George Ward in the mid-1970s that she began her association with terriers, particularly Wire Fox Terriers. She was a professional handler by 1980, when she married Cairn Terrier breeder Sandy McIwaine. Their Foxairn Kennels have "finished a multitude of Cairns and fifteen homebred Wires". Foxairn has twice produced the number-one Cairn in the country, one of whom was a two-time National Specialty winner. Has judged National Specialties for Cairns, Sealyham Terriers, and Wires at Montgomery County, presided over the Terrier Group at the Great Western show, and has judged the Terrier Group at Westminster (2006). Peggy has also judged Norwich, Airedales and Irish Terriers at Montgomery Co and is slated to judge the Group in 2010. She counts among her ring highlights judging 198 Cairns at an Open Show in England. A member of the American Fox Terrier Club and serves on the judges’ education committee of the Cairn Terrier Club of America. She has presented Cairns at many educational seminars. Peggy and her husband no longer breed Cairn Terriers but are still active in their breed clubs as well as being a board member of the all breed Detroit Kennel Club, a benched show in the US and has many duties with that club. Peggy was just recently invited to join the prestigious Westchester Kennel Club, one of the first 3 women to join the formerly all male club. She has judged in China, the Philippines and in Scandinavia as well as in England. Now the proud owner of a Bull Terrier.

---

If you are the judge and would like to modify or add content, please email us. If you're someone who knows about the judge and would like to give us the judge's background in good faith, please email us