‘Royal’ trainer cleared over boisterous puppy
A DOG-TRAINER favoured by royalty who was sued by the owner of an “out of control” puppy has been vindicated after a judge blamed the pet’s faults on a lack of exercise and discipline.
When Jenny King’s fox terrier Izzy began wreaking havoc in her one-bedroom apartment she called in canine expert Tracey Egan.
The puppy was running riot in the flat in St John’s Wood, northwest London, biting and leaping up at her mistress.
Ms Egan, who has trained the pets of royalty through her business Precious Pooch, agreed to put Izzy through a two-week “boot camp” at her home in a drive to embed new habits in the terrier.
But soon after Izzy’s return, Miss King, 71, said the pet was “back to her old ways”.
In June 2015, she wrote to Ms Egan complaining that she had breached their contract by failing to tame the rowdy terrier.
Miss King claimed the canine guru had pledged to deliver on 10 points, including resolving Izzy’s habits of “nipping, jumping, chewing and barking”. She sued for breach of contract, demanding £2,800 refund plus interest.
Her claim was dismissed in 2016. Miss King, however, appealed the judge’s decision.
But at Central London County Court yesterday, Judge Nigel Gerald ruled she had “insufficient evidence to prove breach of contract”.
“To suggest that, after 14 days, any previous behavioural issues would be, as it were, permanently gone for ever is unreal,” he said.
“That would ignore the fact that we are not dealing with a machine here, but a puppy.
“This was a boisterous puppy, kept in a small one-bedroom flat, who was not properly disciplined and fully exercised.
“That is why it regressed rather than there being any breach of contract.”
Ms Egan, whose website says she helps clients “create the perfect life for your dog in the city of London”, was in court to hear the ruling.
Earlier, Judge Gerald asked if a dog had been smuggled into court after hearing a “squeaking sound”.
However, a rapid investigation pinpointed the source of the noise to be a poorly-oiled door. a