Tribute to Jackie Mertens

  • How Topbrass Came To Be

    In 1968 Jackie Mertens bred her show golden,” Ch. Goldenloe's Bronze Lustre, and felt she needed a suitable kennel name for the line of outstanding show dogs she intended to develop.” …."I decided to go with 'Topbrass.' 'Brass' for the color of the dogs. Back then so many kennel names included some variation of the word 'gold,' which I wanted to avoid. 'Top' because I wanted to breed...well, you know...the best, top of the line." With that last statement Jackie gave just a glimpse of her intensely competitive nature...which her gracious, down-to-earth personality usually masks.” And with that Topbrass was born.

  • NARC Topbrass Cotton

    Cotton was a replacement puppy given to Jeff and Bev Finley after their older brother to Cotton died. Jackie became a co owner in 1983. Cotton won his first Amateur at 26 months and was an FC-AFC at three years of age. He has the High Point Record for any Golden with 274.5 All Age points to his credit. He is also the only Golden Retriever to ever win the National Amateur Championship

  • Topbrass Labradors

    Jackie even had a few labradors! FC AFC Topbrass Jordache (Dash) was probably her favorite. She raised several litters hence the name Topbrass Retrievers since she had both Topbrass Goldens and Topbrass Labradors. Something that we have kept.

  • Puppies

    Believe it or not. It was very difficult to find a photo of Jackie with puppies. This shot just happened one day during a photo shoot. Thank you Mark Atwater! (Upclose Photos)

  • Hunt tests

    Jackie never lost her competitive spirit. After she moved to downstate Florida, training groups were harder to come by so she began running AKC and HRC hunt tests. Here she is pictured with her last dog, Cheetah. (Topbrass Chiquita)

  • Note taking

    Always a student. It didn’t matter if Jackie was at a hunt test, field trial or seminar; she always had a notebook and a pen. Making notes about dogs, highlighting pedigrees or how to help you improve your handling skills. Jackie truly studied the breed and sport, always trying to improve.

  • In Memory of Topbrass Founder

    Unfortunately, we lost Jackie October 26th, 2024 after a lengthy health battle. Jackie touched many, many lives through her retrievers over the years. Although we will miss her advice and expertise, we celebrate how she was a driving force of the Golden Retriever breed that we have today and the love and joy that these dogs bring us. Rest easy my mentor and my friend. Allison Sinclair

Quote Source

“I was expecting the call but not so soon. But the call came anyway … Jackie was gone.

At the time I was walking down a dirt road with 5 goldens. For a moment a feeling of loneliness overtook me. I wasn’t sad for Jackie, she had been waiting to be reunited with Joe. I just lost my friend, my mentor, a person that believed in me so much that she entrusted an empire, a reputation that she built, grew and loved. But to be sad for myself would be pure selfishness.

That’s when I heard Jackie’s voice in my head and realized she’s still with me. “Why did you let her do that?” “Don’t be talking to the judges. Pay attention!” “Don’t wear a cap to the line! The bill gets in the way when you’re lining up the dog.” “Look at the pedigree first, then see what the dog has done.. If the pedigree is there it’s worth a look…”

Along with Jackie came a network of people, the best of the best. Some she chose, others chose her. So many have said that they “threw birds for her and Cotton” or that she “took a chance and sold them their first dog”. “Jackie is the reason that I got into this” Smile…. Yes, yes she did do that for so many. .”Let me know what I can do to help, I want to help you like Jackie did for me..” is something that I hear almost daily.

Jackie made me tough. Many people commented on how tough that I must be. She could be relentless. Crying or making excuses wasn’t an option, at least not for me, I knew that she was right and I needed to listen and listen well. She noticed details, took notes and she studied those notes. From everything to position of my feet while on the line to how the microchip stickers were to be placed, I heard about it. It was her way, and who could argue? She had the experience and the track record. Yes. Since 1968, that’s as long as I’ve been alive.

Most importantly Jackie taught me the value of integrity . She wasn’t one to retaliate on social media or hold grudges. Business was business. “Contracts aren’t worth the price of the paper that they are written on.” “Things happen, do what’s right.”

With tears in my eyes, I looked up and watched the dogs, running, hunting and then come back to me. No, I told myself, I’m not alone. Jackie’s voice came into my head again… “I dealt with this for 50 years, now it’s your turn. You got this, I can’t wait to hear your response… now let me tell you about the dance that they had last night. I got everyone dancing and I had 2 glasses of wine!” With that, I took my phone out of my pocket and this time I made the call, “Jackie’s gone.” Allison Sinclair - Topbrass Co-owner