ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A Minnesota dog owner has reached a legal settlement with a breeder he claimed vengefully neutered his champion bichon frise without his knowledge.

John Wangsness claimed breeder Vickie Halstead owed him more than $50,000 in damages and about eight vials of frozen semen taken from the dog, Beau Lemon, who was the second best of his breed in the nation before his retirement in 2012. Wangsness alleged Halstead was angry because the dog was taken to another breeder.

Wangsness' attorney, Larry Leventhal, says terms of the settlement reached late Tuesday are confidential.

Halstead said Wednesday she is also bound by the confidential agreement, but expressed relief that the settlement has been reached. Halstead says she didn't act out of vengeance and that the dog's health was always her priority.

The Star Tribune reported the Wangsnesses filed a lawsuit early this year alleging Halstead neutered Beau in retaliation for their attempts to breed him twice without her approval.

In the lawsuit, Wangsness said Halstead should pay damages and return vials of the animal's frozen semen.

According to Halstead's website, Beau was one of the top five bichons in the U.S. in 2011 and 2012 and a winner of two all-breed best of shows.