MR. CHANNING SHEETS | San Francisco, California. Channing Sheets has been involved in dog sports since the late 1980s, beginning with German Shepherds and Keeshonds before expanding to Dobermans and other herding breeds. A breeder under the Ca She prefix and an active member of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, he has also worked professionally as a veterinary technologist, biosafety expert, and epidemiologist. He began his judging career in 2017, received provisional status for German Shepherd Dogs in 2021, and has judged specialties in both German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers. 2026 marks his first Westminster Kennel Club assignment.
MS. FAYE STRAUSS | Kent, Washington. Faye Strauss entered the sport of dogs when she showed her Doberman, Margo, to a puppy class win, sparking a lifelong passion. For more than 25 years, she has judged three groups— Working, Sporting, and Non‐Sporting— as well as Beagles, Dachshunds, Old English Sheepdogs, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Juniors, and Best in Show. She has officiated at National Specialties and shows around the world, including judging the American Doberman National five times. To her, Westminster is the“ all‐breed national,” and this year marks her fourth judging assignment.
MRS. PATRICIA TROTTER | Carmel, California. Patricia Trotter’ s lifelong devotion to purebred dogs began in 1949 with her first Norwegian Elkhound, the foundation of the famed Vin-Melca line. Every Vin-Melca Elkhound descends from that bitch, including winners of 11 Group Firsts at Westminster from 1970 to 2017. With her husband, Chuck, she judged worldwide, and her distinguished career has included multiple National Specialties and all breed assignments across the United States. A breeder, exhibitor, spectator, and judge at Westminster for decades, she achieved the pinnacle honor of judging Best in Show in 2021 at Lyndhurst Mansion, following earlier assignments judging the Hound Group in 2009 and 2019.
WESTMINSTER. There’ s only one ® 31