A Glass of Wine and Topbrass Was Born

Written By Jackie Mertens

Since I needed a KENNEL name, and my same Faculty Friend that went to Colorado to pick up Bronze, came over weekly while her husband taught an evening class at the University, she and I would drink Wine and discuss "life’s events”.

I mentioned my need to find a unique Kennel Name and we came up with TOPBRASS. I did not want to use GOLD in the name, since so many others already used it, so our next thought was to use BRASS. The “TOP” was connected to my goal of becoming a successful breeder of Golden Retrievers.

TORCH was a very Dominant, unafraid of anything type of bitch. She ruled the household. After losing her leg, I was still able to earn a Working Certificate Title on her. She loved the Water and retrieving, so it was not difficult to be successful getting her WC.

We earned the WC at the GRCA National Specialty in Michigan. I believe it was Sylvia Donahey’s club that Hosted the event that year? Sylvia has been and still is the EDITOR of the Golden Retriever News. As long as I have been breeding goldens, Sylvia has been the Editor.

The Golden Retriever News is published bimonthly by the Golden Retriever Club of America to help promote and protect the interests of the breed in the field, on the bench, and in obedience, as well as to serve as a means of communication and source of information to breeders and owners. Information on subscribing to the news can be found on The Website: www.grca.org

It is A very worthwhile Source of Articles, Training Tips and other pertinent information for anyone who breeds or plans to breed Golden Retrievers.

As the saying goes for Blog 8 - that’s all she wrote.

To be continued…..

Jackie Mertens

Jackie Mertens is one of the most successful amateur retriever trainers and breeders in North America. She has trained and titled numerous FC/AFC retrievers. She is a six-time finalist at the National Open/National Amateur Retriever Championships. She won the National Amateur championship with her NAFC FC Topbrass Cotton, who is also the all-time high point Golden Retriever in field trial history.

Breeding, training, and campaigning retrievers are a way of life for Mertens. Her Topbrass kennel, established in 1968, consistently produces high-quality performance golden retrievers.

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Valentine Torch of Topbrass