Inappropriate and generally unruly behavior have become synonymous with the word celebrity. And their pets haven’t been any better. Paris Hilton’s dog Tinkerbell had an equally infamous reputation for bad behavior, known to snap and bite at any stranger encountered. Pat McGregor, told the New York Times that he worked extensively with the poorly behaved pets of many celebrities, including Blaine Trump and other high-class Upper East-siders. “The rich are less hands-on,” McGregor said, often expecting trainers to correct learned bad behaviors in a day.”You can’t blame an animal for not behaving like a person. But just like us, every dog has it’s own issues because there are no perfect dogs.”
There are no perfect owners either. Ellen Crowne, Upper East Side mother of three says her problem dog Kiwi was a nightmare. “Kiwi bit people on the street all the time, and I’d be mortified,” she said. “My mother-in-law got bit once. My poor stepfather is the owner of ABC Carpet. He told me that I’m the most expensive stepdaughter he could possibly imagine.” After several failed attempts with trainers, Kiwi was given away, but quickly replaced by an equally badly behaving poodle.
Overly pampered pooches have been acting out all over the country, in doorman buildings and gated homes from Los Angeles to the Hamptons. Samantha Ronson, celebrity D.J. and former girlfriend of well-known bad girl Lindsey Lohan, told the press she was mortified last year when her bulldog, Cadillac, attacked and killed a Maltese at her West Hollywood apartment building. Thakoon Panichgul’s Yorkie, named Stevie Nicks, reportedly snapped at interns during New York’s Fashion Week in February. Panichgul posted on twitter that the allegations were untrue, but bad publicity for the designer and pup still spread. While on the campaign trail in New York last year, Carl Paladino’s pet pit bull attacked and injured another dog, also attracting some bad publicity for supposedly high-end hounds.
Edward Chapman, president of Marchesa, said that his Yorshire Terrier, Lottie, was often the instigator in fights amongst the office dogs. “Sometimes it’s funny, but other times it can get pretty violent,” he commented about the office scuffles between dogs. Real estate broker Robert Browne described the scene during which he was showing a $3 million dollar home in Greenwich Village while a nasty Rottweiler was running loose. “If you’re not a dog lover, it can be very off-putting,” he said. Growling and barking at potential buyers can be very difficult to deal with.
David Reinecker, Beverly Hill dog trainer, for such clients as Maria Shriver and Kirk Douglas, says the unleashed sense of entitlement is a learned behavior. “The elite are extreme personalities,” he said. “Some come home from a day at the office of controlling armies of frightened people and then let their dogs rule their lives. On top of that, the mega-rich and powerful can be very insecure.” Trouble, the infamous Maltese belonging to Leona Helmsley, was known to attack staff members without warning. “Leona wanted everyone to love her. The dog replaced that love,” her housekeeper told the Daily News in 2007.
Some owners turn to high society drugs to solve their problems, slipping a little Valium to their pets before a big opening or event that requires them to be around a lot of strangers or photographers. Others turn to trainers and dog behavior specialists for extra help. But dogs will always be dogs. Constantly carrying a dog causes neurotic behavior, as dog experts have long stated that dogs are naturally happier on their feet. Expecting a dog to know the difference between a fur coat and an intruding animal or an old sneaker toy and an expensive shoe, is perhaps too much to ask. But most importantly, expecting a dog to be well-behaved at all times or act like an accessory for a designer outfit, is beyond the realm of possibility.
Photo by Danny Ghitis for the New York Times
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