A gathering of dog fanciers, family and friends on Oct. 6, 2025, in Narvon, Pennsylvania, honored Peter Green, the legendary terrier handler whose career began here 62 years ago at the old Poole Forge Kennels.  

The unveiling of a beautifully carved wooden statue of a famous Sealyham Terrier, known to the world as Binny (Ch. Dersade Bobby’s Girl), commemorated the occasion. The winner of Best in Show at Westminster in 1977, Binny (like her extraordinary handler) was a native of Wales.  

Befittingly, the statue and a plaque commemorating their success will reside for perpetuity in the historic Poole Forge park, once an iron forge visited by George Washington. Wildflower meadows, lovely gardens and a covered bridge over the Conestoga Creek are a throwback to when Peter bought Binny while on vacation in Wales for the owners of Poole Forge Kennels, Dorothy and William Wimer III.

“Binny was special in Peter’s heart, partly because of where she came from,” says Beth Sweigert, his longtime partner and co-breeder/co-owner of top-winning dogs.

The honoree, who turned 89 on Nov. 1, 2025, reverently soaked up the moment. Awed by the attention, Peter smiled with a glimmer in his eyes. Although he retired from handling in 2006, Peter continues to frequent dog shows with Beth, always sitting ringside looking for a winner.

Binny, who won 48 Bests in Show, retired as Peter’s beloved housedog. She was the second of four terriers he handled to Best in Show at Westminster.  

A male Lakeland Terrier named Skipper (Ch. Stingray of Derryabah) came before her in 1968. Peter saw the dog in England and asked the owner, Betty Postlethwaite, if he could buy him. She agreed, though first she wanted to show him at Crufts as she thought he had a chance in the breed. Beyond expectations, the Lakeland won Best in Show at Crufts in 1967, and then Peter took him to the states for his clients, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Ferrell Jr.  

In the 1990s, Peter handled two Norwich Terriers to Best in Show at Westminster, the only ones in history to win. An American-bred male named Willum (Ch. Chidley Willum The Conqueror) won in 1994, after back-to-back wins at Montgomery County in 1992 and 1993. A Canadian-bred female named Rocki (Ch. Fairewood Frolic) won at Westminster in 1998, after winning at Montgomery in 1997.

“My father changed the look of Norwich Terriers in this country,” says Andrew Green, a professional handler who worked for his father until he retired. “Before he started trimming them, there was not a lot of extensive grooming and they were just plain brown dogs. After he trimmed them, you had this very showy Norwich Terrier.”

As the handler of nine Best in Show winners at Montgomery County, from 1965 to 2014, Peter holds the record for most wins at “the world’s greatest terrier show.”  

He is one of two handlers to win at both Westminster and Crufts, the latter he won in 2005 with the English-bred female Norfolk Terrier Coco (Ch. Cracknor Cause Celebre).  

During his career, Peter campaigned six No. 1 all-breed show dogs.

“Some people are in dogs their whole life and never get a dog as nice as what Peter showed,” says Ernesto Lara, a professional handler who worked for Peter from 1994 until his retirement and whose 2013 Westminster Best in Show winner, the Affenpinscher Banana Joe (GCH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari), was the great-grandson of Ch. Gerbraes Maid In Splendour, whom Peter and Beth brought from Crufts in 1994.

Even more than the dogs Peter showed to great success and the numerous handler and lifetime achievement awards he received, most agree it is his kindness and gracious sportsmanship in and out of the ring they remember most. 

A Tough Competitor

In October 1963, Peter, and his young family, came to the U.S. from Wales to be kennel manager for Dorothy Wimer at her Poole Forge Kennels in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Two years later, Peter, only 28 years old, handled Dorothy’s Wire Fox Terrier Ch. Rigador Right Again to Best in Show at Montgomery County.

Peter bought a property and opened Greenfield Kennels in 1967 in Bowmansville, Pennsylvania. No longer tied to a private kennel, he was able to handle dogs for multiple clients, plus manage their breeding programs. Countless champions, all-breed and specialty winners came from Greenfield.

A loyalist to Purina Pro Plan dog food, Peter fed the super-premium food to all the dogs at Greenfield Kennels. “Peter attributed his dogs’ healthy skin and coat to Pro Plan nutrition,” Beth says. “Pro Plan was an important part of the conditioning program for his show dogs.”  

David Schaaf, who worked at Greenfield from 1973 to 1977, says, “Peter got many of the old-time terrier people for clients. You had to be wealthy to have a top-winning dog. He had an outgoing personality and was much loved.”

Early clients included Mr. and Mrs. James A. Ferrell Jr., of Darien, Connecticut, who owned an American shipping company, and Mrs. Allen R. Howard Jr., of Rosemont, Pennsylvania, the daughter of a prominent Philadelphia developer. Howard introduced Peter to her friend, Dr. Josephine Deubler, the longtime show chair of Montgomery County and Bucks County kennel clubs, who became Peter’s lifelong supporter and good friend.

Peter’s success as a handler, Ernesto says, was linked to how he “endeared himself to the dogs. He always had time to be nice to them, win or lose.”

“To be really successful, you must fall in love with the dog and the dog falls in love with you.” 
– Peter Green

“To be really successful, you must fall in love with the dog and the dog falls in love with you,” Peter once said in an interview. “You understand how great the dog is, and you want to make everyone think it is as good as you think it is.”

Convincing judges his dog was the best was a strong point of Peter’s.

“He was a tough competitor,” Ernesto says. “It was difficult to defeat him.”  

In 2014, Peter handled the Norfolk Terrier Winston (GCHG Yarrow Venerie Winning Ticket), whom he co-owned with Beth and Pam Beale, to Best in Show at Montgomery County. It was Peter’s ninth time to win the famous terrier show.

Today, 13-year-old Winston is never far from Peter’s side. Affenpinschers Moonie and Katy vie for a spot on his lap, and a black Labrador Retriever, Fizz, is usually at his feet. They fill the kind-hearted dog man’s life with warmth and happiness.

A Welsh gentleman, charming and passionate, Peter Green, we are proud to call you friend. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.