Every time Hatuey Corrie returns home, he is greeted at the gate with a burst of affection from his animals.
Looking all smiley with their mouths open, his dogs express their love by insane licking and jumping on him, while waiting for a rub on the head.
It is that strong feeling of love that made him into the cynophilist (dog lover) he is today.
From childhood, Corrie always had a passion for dogs. He was not only attracted to their cute and adorable faces; their definitive characteristics and features also impressed him. Recently, he decided to take his passion to the next level and started taking dog breeding seriously.
Though he has an appreciation for pit bulls, his favourite breed is the Dobermann Pinscher. During a recent interview at his St Michael residence, Corrie said while Dobermanns were fast, powerful and muscular dogs, they were classy, elegant and graceful animals, with a sleek and glistening coat. He said the Dobermanns were show animals and could be used as work dogs as well. Currently, he owns two Dobermann puppies and their mother.
“I would say I got into breeding dogs through my cousin Jean-Marc Cozier; he always had great-looking dogs, and it was through him I was able to acquire my first purebred,” he said.
“Before that, I bought two pit bulls. So I guess seeing Dobermanns on TV and in movies I got interested in them.”
Corrie said taking care of purebred dogs was a serious endeavour, adding that one of his purebred puppies was valued between $3 000 and $4 000. He said that price was inclusive of official paperwork, shots and the overall physique and characteristics of the animal. He said that a purebred should have good health and eat premium food in order to reach its peak, in terms of physical attributes.
He added that breeding cost around $ 3 000, which was the stud service price he paid for a male Dobermann, owned by registered dog owner Michael Forde, to mate with his dog. Before dogs are bred, however, Corrie said it was important to do background checks on the animals, as genetics were an important factor.
“You have to look at the history as well such as parents and grandparents. Also, you have to check to see if it has any health problems, even mental ones, as you don’t want to breed a dog with any problems as that trait has a higher chance of showing up in the offspring.
“So it’s a lot of research you have to do before you select a dog or the stud. It is easier to find out about your dog’s pedigree from the Barbados Kennel Club, which should have the breeding history and bloodline of the animals. The club also has information on champion dogs and which animals are best suited for show competition or work”.
Recently, Corrie became interested in show competitions and in 2016 he participated in the Barbados Kennel Club’s dog show. He said it was a memorable experience as he got an opportunity to meet new people who shared the same passion for dogs as him.
He added that people from across the world came to Barbados in October to judge the show, noting that the margin for error was slim. He said the judges evaluated almost every attribute of the dogs, including the shape of the head, bone structure, stance, and their grace as they walked around the ring, and other characteristics.
When Corrie competed, he won two prizes.
In the future, the 24-year-old would like to become a member of the Barbados Working Dogs Association and breed dogs for working purposes. Breeding animals is a hobby for now, but, if the opportunity presents itself, he would like to own a kennel.
Though the former Christ Church Foundation student has a busy lifestyle managing a small business in fitness supplements and working at Carter’s Pit Stop automotive store, he enjoys spending quality time with the animals in his care.
