Mr. Channing Sheets

Mr. Sheets grew up with German Shepherd Dogs, a Keeshond, a Great Dane, Beagles, Labrador Retrievers, American Foxhounds, and Treeing Walker Coonhounds. His father was an avid outdoorsman; if it moved, they hunted it. Mr. Sheets used to train his father’s Labradors to work in the field. He procured his first pet German Shepherd in 1986. He went to his first Conformation match in 1987. Mr. Sheets started exhibiting his pet Keeshond in Conformation in 1988. Mr. Sheets began training his mentor’s GSDs in 1989 for Schutzhund, Obedience, and Conformation competitions.

Mr. Sheets studied veterinary technology at Purdue Veterinary Teaching Hospital and worked in the emergency and ICU units. He started showing Doberman Pinschers in graduate school in the early 2000s. He was a professional handler off and on, specializing in herding breeds. Mr. Sheets continues to breed German Shepherd Dogs on a limited basis. He has also showed and owned Portuguese Water Dogs and Pugs.

Mr. Sheets is an approved breeder-judge of German Shepherd Dogs. He has bred or owned 28 GSD champions, three GSDCA National Selects, 10 BISS winners, four ROM producers, performance-titled dogs, and many Regional Futurity/Maturity winners. He is currently a member of Oregon Dog Judges, German Shepherd Dog Fanciers of Northern California, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, and the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. He serves on the GSDCA Awards and Judges Education Committees. Mr. Sheets’ true passion is educating others about the German Shepherd Dog.

He is currently qualified to judge five Working and two Non-Sporting Breeds, and the Herding Group. He is permit for Australian Cattle Dogs, Beauceron, Belgian Laekenois, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdogs, Bergamasco Sheepdogs, Canaan Dogs, Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, Lancashire Heelers, Mudik, Pyrenean Shepherds, and Spanish Water Dogs.

Recently, Mr. Sheetz had the honor of judging six breeds at the 2026 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. It was the highlight of his judging career thus far. He will be judging the Working Group at the 2026 AKC/Royal Canin National Championship Puppy Stakes as well.