Meet Topbrass
Allison Sinclair -owner with Jackie Mertens - founder
For the past 50+ years, Jackie Mertens’ “Topbrass” has been the dominant name in field-bred golden retrievers. Within that timeframe, Topbrass goldens have chalked up an amazing record of achievements, including the breed’s one and only National Amateur Field trial Championship (NAFC).
20-plus Field trial and/or Amateur Field trial Championships (FC and AFC).
100-plus “3-star dogs” (Qualified All Age goldens).
100-plus dogs with the highest Hunt Test titles from AKC< UKC/HRC, and NAHRA, and many, many dogs with lower Hunt Test titles and Working Certificates.
Topbrass goldens have also excelled in Obedience, Agility, Dock Diving and any other Sporting Dog event that they participate in.
Then, too, year after year, countless Topbrass goldens, titled and untitled, hunt waterfowl and every type of upland game birds all across America.
Allison grew up on a farm in central Illinois, attended Illinois State University where she majored in Animal Science. They live on a farm in south central Iowa, where they raise cattle and row crops along with operating an agricultural farm chemical business. If they aren’t busy enough, they love to help their 3 grown kids and their spouses with the ever growning bunch of grandkids!
When the kids were grown and gone, Joe began the search for a started golden to hunt with. That lead him to Jackie and Topbrass. They purchased Ruby (pictured above) from Jackie and Sharon Long; Sharon offered to mentor Allison in training and handling. From that moment, things changed… Allison was hooked.
Jackie began mentoring Allison when Allison whelped a litter for Topbrass one winter. Labor and delivery, AKC paperwork, puppy selection was all supervised by Jackie via phone calls. Thus began a friendship. Jackie loved to teach and Allison was a willing student.
In 2016, Allison became a partner in Topbrass. Jackie had her ways of teaching the ins and outs of the business. She slowly turned over responsibilities until her only duties were giving final approval for upcoming breeding match ups as well critiquing field trial set ups and Allison’s dog handling. (smile)
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.
The Topbrass tradition continues on with Allison with the help of her family and Jackie’s many, many friends.
To contact Allison via email: allison@topbrassgoldens.com OR via phone (text or call) 641-799-4091
Our Commitment
Over the past 50 plus years, the name Topbrass has been predominant in all competitive arenas, not only field trials and the obedience rings. You will see that name in hunt test catalogs, at agility trials, barn hunts and dock diving. Topbrass appears somewhere in almost every field golden’s pedigree as breeders count on us to provide them with talented and healthy “breeding stock”.
Jackie and Allison agreed to take Topbrass back to it’s original roots. Back to focusing on HIGH DRIVE COMPETITIVE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS. Our standards for our producing dogs has been set even higher, both in their health and their pedigrees, as well as their performance. This is resulting in healthy and intelligent puppies that are ready to GO!
We at Topbrass have maintained the commitment to produce the best puppy for whatever you choose to do with your dog. If its striving for a blue ribbon or being the best hunting companion , Topbrass dogs are up for the challenge.
We also have a commitment to our puppies. That commitment is to find them the best home possible. These dogs need to stay busy, both mentally and physically. The highly sought after “off switch” can not be guaranteed. Our puppies do best in homes understand the discipline and structure needed for a well rounded dog.
Thank you for your interest in Topbrass! We hope that you enjoy our website!
Left to right: FC AFC Topbrass Mandy, NAFC FC Topbrass Cotton, FC AFC Windbreakers Smokin ZigZag, AFC Topbrass Gatsby, FC AFC Mioak’s Main Event