Meyer’s Tails Up Farm is piloted by owner Kent Meyer, third generation dog breeder of the Meyer family. Along with gaining knowledge from his family for decades both Kent and his wife and several team members have trained with John Rogerson of England and the late Lee Mannix and as such is versatile in canine behavior and understanding how dogs think. Kent has consulted with hundreds of dog owners to help them clarify and improve their relationship. As a youngster Kent worked his way up learning every aspect of dog language and behavior with a lot of trial and error. Over the past years Kent and Gwen have had the privilege of showing some of the US’s top show dogs and repeatedly winning top awards at national specialties and the Westminster Dog Show.
Kent Meyer
Lead Dog
Kent is a third generation dog man. Behaviorist, trainer, professional dog handler and the biggest heart for dogs, he’s married to his best friend, Gwen, they have a son Luke. This is the best time of his life watching Luke grow.
Gwen Meyer
Wife Of Lead Dog
Little did she know over 30 years ago when meeting Kent at a dog show the ride she was in for and has been by Kent’s side helping Meyer’s grow to what it is today. Gwen wears a few hats but her greatest accomplishment and joy is being Mom to their son Luke.
Phil Meyers
General Director
Though there is no relation between Phil and Gwen & Kent, we knew that the coincidence in his name must mean that he was destined to be part of our team! Phil makes sure that everything runs smoothly at all three Meyer’s locations!
Donna Anderson
Customer Care
You gotta love that person in the center of the team, the one who you can depend on for help with everything and anything. That’s Donna. She is one of our busiest ”behind the scenes” team members and also one of the most calm, pleasant people you will ever meet. But as much as we depend on her, we know one of her most cherished roles in life is that of GRANDMA to precious little Selah.
Kathleen Carlson
Canine Concierge
You name it, Kathleen had done it here at Meyer’s, including developing a love for Wheaten terriers, she currently has two in her family.) Born and raised in Rockford Kathleen has been with us since 2001 and helps keep the place running smoothly with her humor and in-depth knowledge of all things Meyer’s.
Karen Chapman
Pet Stylist
Karen is proof that a good attitude and a big smile is infectious! She works hard to make sure all of our grooming dogs are squeaky clean and smelling great. Karen is a bundle of joy in our grooming room.
Hannah Cornelius
Media Team
If she isn’t running the trails on weekends, she is running the lodging areas like the pro she is. Another one of our Rockford natives, she’s been whispering to the pets at Meyer’s for about a decade; they love her and she certainly has a gift with them. Her humor is one of the many bright spots here around the farm.
Ellen Edlefsen
Pet Care Tech / Driver
Ellen has a way of speaking to and working with dogs that is simply amazing! She helps us care for all of our lodging dogs, drives our pet taxi for pick up and drop off, and helps Kent with Day Training here at the Farm! She simply is one of those people you can rely on for anything and everything.
Kathy Harmer
Daycare Teacher
The pups in daycare LOVE Kathy and it is mutual. If she is not taking adorable photos of the dogs she is pursuing one of her many other interests from antiques to, of course, her beloved Viszlas.
Autumn Kilgus
Membership Coordinator / First Impressions
When you walk into our shop one of the first smiling faces you’ll always see is Autumn’s! From checking in our guests to ensuring that members of our Wag Club have everything they need, Autumn will get it done!
Stacey Nelson
Daycare Teacher / Pet Care Lead
Many of you have seen Stacey as she leads our doggy daycare students in their daily lessons! She also works hard with our lodging dogs. Stacey loves her pup, Peppa, and is working with her to become one awesome therapy dog!
Jenna Perez
Pet Stylist
Jenna’s talent when it comes to grooming is something that is rarely seen. From the way she holders her scissors to her instincts on the right cut for your dog, Jenna is a natural. Her great attitude and smiling face don’t hurt either!
Alyssa Perkins
Lodging Manager / Hydrotherapist
Sometimes you get a person on your staff that is hard to place in the right position… because they take to EVERYTHING so well! Alyssa quickly moved from driving to daycare and lodging management and enjoys the dogs so much it shows on her smiling face.
Jordan Peterson
Daycare Director
If you have been at Meyer’s a few times you have probably met Jordan. Another MVP team member who has been with us for over a decade. Wise beyond her years, Jordan has a gift for both being very sweet and keeping us all in line. Probably one of the most organized people most of us will ever meet. She runs dog daycare but make no mistake, she loves cats just as much!
Kaitlyn Shaw
Pet Care Lead
Kaitlyn works hard to make sure all of our dogs have a fantastic vacation with us! She’s especially partial to those adorable small dogs that she loves to hang out with during her downtime!
Joyce Soderberg
Training Coordinator / Customer Care
Joyce, a Rockford native, will be there to greet you and will personally help you or be served by one of her amazing team. She keep all those details of your dog’s custom plan, but what we look forward to the most is when Joyce comes in with FOOD! Great cook for us, her family and grandkids.
Sydney Stewart
Communications Director
You won’t see Sydney much when you come to Meyer’s, but she is working hard behind the scenes to make sure our customers have the best experience possible with us! Sydney has a soft spot for all the dogs we work with who just need a good play session and belly rub!
Loretta Swanson
Trainer
When Lori is around, not only are people and dogs learning but they are often laughing as well, never a dull moment with Loretta at the helm. An amazing trainer who excels at teaching nosework, she loves everything from the fundamentals to Trick Training. She is excellent with her classes and encouraging to the children in our Kids and K-9 camp, keeping it positive, as it should be!
Nick Waters
Pet Styling Leader
We are always happy to see Nick’s smiling face at work. Grooming comes so naturally to him and he makes it look effortless. When you meet this friendly guy you may not guess that he is a formidable competitor in the grooming world. Nick earned a place on GroomTeamUSA and is featured in their Hall of Fame as a TOP 10 stylist. His family, including 6 brothers and a sister enjoy the dog world together, cheering each other on.
Ciara Zurfluh
Pet Care Tech
Ciara brings her love of animals to all of our visitors. She one good sport gal too. We have been twice blessed by her family because her older sister worked for us too!