Boone County couple takes five dogs to prestigious show

By Anne Eickstadt

Editor

ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO Belvidere Daily Republican
Left to Right: Crawford, Kent Meyer, Holly, Gwen Meyer, Laney, and Jagger all competed in the Westminster Dog Show on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 12 and 13.

“We’ve been here under the Meyer name for 32 years,” said Gwen Meyer. “Kent’s parents, Ryan and Cindy Meyer owned it first. We took it over 22 years ago. We do lodging, grooming, training, and doggie day care. We are professional dog handlers. We show dogs for their owners across the country. We show all breeds but we, ourselves, breed Wheaten Terriers.

“Holly is an English Setter. She is one of our up-and-coming dogs. Her owner, Jan Weis, lives in Woodstock, in McHenry County. She has been in English Setters for quite a while.

“We have two Bouviers (dark shaggy dogs). Jagger here is #3 in the country. After Westminster, he will be retiring. He is five years old and is owned by Drs. William and Penelope Ogden of Minneapolis, Min. Their younger dog, JT, just turned three years old. He was BoB (Best of Breed) specialty winner in 2016. He’s amazing. He is young and just starting. He has earned multiple placements in herding. Bouviers need to have large heavy skulls. They herd cattle and need to be able to take a kick.”

“Crawford is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier,” Kent Meyer said. “He is two and a half years old. He was the winner of his specialty breed in 2017. He defeated 135 other Wheaten terriers that day. His final ranking in 2017 was #4. His owners, Kim Munson and Kim Wright, live in Naperville.

“Laney is also a Soft Coated Wheaten terrier. She is owned by Kathy Clarke, Tucson, Ariz. We bred Laney here and sold her to Kathy. Kathy is an AKC (American Kennel Club) judge. Laney ended 2017 as the #1 female in the country. She is 3 years old and will be retiring after Westminster to have babies.”

Kent Meyer is a third generation dog breeder. His grandmother bred boxers and died at age 96. “I got my first show dog at age eight and took him to Westminster when I was ten or twelve. I don’t remember. I’ve been showing ever since,” he said.

“Jagger, Crawford, and Lanie are going to Westminster by invitation. The dogs need to have an invitation for the show or have won in their national specialty. After that dogs are chosen for the show by a lottery system,” said Gwen.

“We will be leaving Saturday,” Kent said. “We’ll be driving, weather permitting. The show will be held on Monday and Tuesday at Madison Square Garden and will be televised.”

“Even though we have been going to Westminster for many years,” said Gwen, “It is still an honor to show dogs there. It is the most prestigious dog show in the United States. Dogs come from all over the world, many of them from England.”

Westminster is an all-breed/all-champions, limited entry, benched show held in New York City’s Madison Square Garden each February, The Westminster Kennel Club show is legendary. The WKC show is the second oldest sporting event in the United States, younger only than the Kentucky Derby, and that only by one year. It is a major social event as well. “The Garden” is an event every dog lover should attend at least once. It is normally nationally televised over two nights.

On Tuesday, the second day of the show, Kent and Gwen Meyer moved on to the Terrier Group Competition, which was broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Their 3-year-old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier named Laney won Best of Breed in competition earlier in the day. “Laney was competing among 15 other top ranked Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers in the nation, so competition

For complete article, pick up the Feb. 18 Belvidere Daily Republican.