Then came “Mister”

Sep 1

When I tried to breed “Parade” to one of The Clark’s males, she would have nothing to do with him, so we took her home and she bred with my original male Golden – “Chips” who was still alive.

She would not take care of the pups, so I hand raised them from day one, until we placed them with friends and neighbors.

Someone knew of a family in the country wanting a pet cocker, so I gave Parade to them.

The Clark’s felt bad and gave me a deal on a Buff colored Cocker, whom I named (MISTER). I started him in a beginners Obedience class at Humbolt Park in Chicago. It was about a mile from our home, so I walked to class. They did NOT have any advanced classes, so I found a training club on the East side of Chicago that I had to take a bus to get to. It was NOT a very nice neighborhood, so my mom had to come with me.

She also let me go to the International Kennel club DOG Show that was held at the STOCK YARD INN on the South side of Chicago – also not a very nice neighborhood.

I remember watching a Cocker in Obedience that a well known handler named Mary Lea Whiting exhibited and I was in awe & inspired to get some obedience titles on MISTER.

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.

Then came “Mister”

Mister goes to Westminster

Along come Chips and Parade

Topbrass