Meet Topbrass

Jackie Mertens - 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.

For the last 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 also excel in Obedience, Agility, Dock Diving and any other Sporting Dog event 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.

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.

“No other breeder produces such consistent quality in field goldens. A few produce an occasional FC or AFC, but Jackie produces them consistently, year after year,”

In 2016, Jackie found a younger partner with the same Work ethic as herself. Allison Sinclair and Jackie have worked together since that time as Allison continues to take over many “Topbrass” responsibilities.

(Photo by Diane Glassmeyer)

Jackie at the 2021 GRCA National Specialty with Paul Johnson (Libby) and Kaye Fuller (FC AFC Flash)

 

Allison Sinclair

Co-Owner

Partner since 2016, Allison and Owner Jackie Mertens think a lot alike and make great partners. Although Allison is relatively new to the competitive retriever world, her background certainly matched up With Topbrass.

Allison grew up on a farm in central Illinois, attended Illinois State University where she majored in Animal Science. She and her husband Joe, got married in 1989 and have 3 kids, 2 in-law kids and 2 grandchildren.  They live on a farm which adjoins Joe’s parents’ in southern Iowa, where they raise cattle and row crops along with owning an agricultural farm chemical business.

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 from Jackie and Sharon Long, who offered to mentor Allison in training and handling. From that moment, things changed…  Fast forward, now Allison hunts waterfowl and upland with Joe and runs field trials and hunt tests in the off season.

“I like to say that I may not know the answer but I’ll find out.  When I joined Topbrass, I not only became partners with Jackie but I gained access to some of the best in the business… My “team” as I refer to them. I have definitely been blessed and Joe and I are committed to working hard and keeping Topbrass a name to be proud of as well as doing what is best for the breed.”

To contact Allison please email her at allison@topbrassgoldens.com or phone (641)7994091. (Photo by UpClose Photo)

Our Commitment

Fast forward over 50 years, the name Topbrass is still predominant in all competitive arenas except now its 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”.

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