2023 BREED JUDGES
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 .
MR . JEAN-LOUIS BLAIS of St . Gilles , Quebec , Canada , bought his first Labrador Retriever in 1979 and registered his first litter with the Canadian Kennel Club in 1981 . Mr . Blais and his wife Madeleine Charest have produced over 135 Canadian Champions and 35 American Champions ( most of them owner / handler and shown in Specialties ) under their permanent registered kennel name , Chablais . Additionally , they have bred many dogs that have become Champions worldwide . Most notable wins include Best of Breed at the Canadian National Specialty several times , Best of Breed at the American National Specialty , and winning Best of Breed three times at the prestigious LRC of Potomac Spring Specialties .
Mr . Blais began judging in 2006 and is currently an AKC-approved judge for the Sporting , Hound , Working , Non- Sporting , and Herding Groups . He primarily judges in Canada and the US , including the Canadian and American National Specialties and Best of Breed and Non-Regular Classes at LRC of Potomac . He has also officiated in Mexico , Brazil , Spain , the Philippines , Finland , France , Italy , Japan , Poland , Denmark , Argentina , Costa Rica , and in the UK . This is his first judging assignment at Westminster .
MR . WAYNE R . CAVANAUGH of Kalamazoo , Michigan , is a third-generation dog fancier . He has bred and exhibited top-winning and top-producing Pointers , English Setters , and Beagles . He ’ s judged sporting and hound breeds in the USA , Canada , Ireland , Japan , and Mexico .
Mr . Cavanaugh has served as a Vice President for the American Kennel Club , President of the United Kennel Club , Charter Board Member of the AKC Canine Health Foundation , and presenter at the World Congress of Kennel Clubs in Ireland and Bermuda . He ’ s appeared on behalf of purebred dogs on all major networks and served as a dog show commentator for Animal Planet , ESPN , and NBC in the USA . In the UK , he served as a commentator at Crufts for the BBC . He ’ s written extensively for dog publications and won his first Winkie for Outstanding Journalist in 1992 .
He began judging in 1990 and is approved to judge several Sporting breeds and Beagles . This is his first assignment at Westminster .
MRS . CARRIE A . CHASE of Martinsburg , West Virginia , started in purebred dogs in 1988 , purchasing a Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy from Pat Jensen in California . Carrie ’ s first AKC Champion came from her first litter in 1990 , and one of the resultant puppies sired a breed Top Ten stud dog .
Mrs . Chase has bred 1-2 Champions per year since , with one Corgi , Ch Hum ’ nbird Keepn Up ’ Pearances , aka “ Kevin ” owned by Mr . & Mrs . Samuel B Lawrence , holding the record as the top winning Pembroke Welsh Corgi in AKC history , with 77 Best in Show wins . “ Kevin ” won the Herding Group at the 2004 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and the 2003 PWCCA National Specialty .
As an AKC judge , Mrs . Chase is currently approved to judge the Herding Group and some Hound breeds . She has judged the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America National Specialty , the Australian Welsh Corgi National Specialty , most US regional Pembroke specialties , Specialty shows in other breeds , and multiple Herding breeds in Australia . This is her first judging assignment at Westminster .
WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB 2023