Vladimir Putin and his dogs. Let's look at the pets

Taigan (Kyrgyz greyhound) Sherkhan

On March 28, 2022, Vladimir Vladimirovich met with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sooronbai Jeenbekov. The latter, as a sign of exceptional respect for the President of the Russian Federation, presented him with a rare gift - a six-month-old Taigan puppy.

The Taigan is an ancient indigenous Kyrgyz breed that belongs to the hunting class. If you literally translate the name from Kyrgyz, you get “catch up and kill.” The first mentions can be found in the Kyrgyz epic. Bogatyr Manas was the owner of a Taigan named Kumayik.

The peculiarity of taigans is their adaptability to hunting at altitudes of more than 2 thousand meters; they reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour. Kyrgyz greyhounds reach 60-70 cm at the withers and are very similar in appearance to Kazakh greyhounds.

Unfortunately, today the Kyrgyz greyhounds are on the verge of extinction. There are no more than a thousand purebred Taigans left in the country; in Kyrgyzstan, the dog is considered national pride. Outside the country, little is known about it; you almost never see it at exhibitions; it is truly exotic. Therefore, Sooronbai Jeenbekov chose this wonderful dog as a gift.

Where to find a dog like Putin's

Many citizens of the Russian Federation would like to have the same dogs as Vladimir Vladimirovich. But you shouldn’t give in to emotions: you need to approach the matter with all seriousness. The pets of the first person of Russia are provided with a permanent canine service at the presidential kennel . All purebred breeds require special nutrition, physical activity, regular training and contact with the owner. Not all puppies are suitable for the conditions of a small house or apartment in the city. If you want to buy a dog breed like Putin's, make your decision wisely.

Labrador dog

Multifunctional Labradors are easy-going and very friendly. They are actively used not only as companions, but also as guides and even caregivers. Not all dogs of this breed are black; there are fawn and chocolate shades. At the withers they reach 57 cm, weight reaches 40 kg.

Official nurseries are located in almost all major cities of Russia, including Moscow: LAETUS, Stanways, Kendi doll, Genesis Lab. Cost - from 20 to 45 thousand rubles.

Bulgarian Shepherd dog breed

The breed is not recognized by the FCI, but is classified and certified. Height - from 63 to 75 cm, weight - from 40 to 60 kg. All her life she is devoted to one owner, loves selflessly, understands him perfectly. Perfect for home guarding, it has a calm and balanced character, is efficient, courageous and responsible, but does not get along well with other animals.

The only official nursery is located in Moscow, it is a branch of the Bulgarian nursery Ticho Elit .

The cost of a baby is from 45 thousand rubles.

Akita Inu breed

Akita Inu became famous throughout the world thanks to the film “Hachiko”, in which the main character of the film belonged to the same Spitz-like breed. In feudal times, they were used in Japan to protect the king and nobility, and are now declared a local natural monument. Akita Inu are distinguished by highly developed intelligence, fearlessness, devotion to their owner, and are also excellent protectors. Height at the withers is 60-70 cm, weight is 40-50 kg.

Official nurseries registered in the RKF are located in many cities of Russia. In Moscow, you can adopt a dog from the Vanko-Biyori .

The cost depends on various factors: a puppy - from 50 thousand rubles, an adult - from 60-70 thousand rubles.

Alabai breed

Central Asian Shepherds have excellent health and irrepressible energy. Therefore, since time immemorial, they have been used by Turkmen shepherds to protect flocks of sheep. And in the 1930s they even wanted to attract them to the civil service of the USSR, but due to their wayward nature this did not work out.

Dogs are distinguished by courage, loyalty and love their owner very much. They require mandatory training and constant supervision. However, this does not prevent them from being vulnerable like children. Their weight is from 40 to 50 kg, height is from 65-70 cm and above.

official nurseries throughout the country. In Moscow, you can buy Alabaev in ALAJA, Sheriff Agha, Sayat Karakum and other cynological organizations.

Cost - from 15-30 thousand rubles and above.

Breed Kyrgyz Greyhound

Taigan (translated as “catch and kill”) is the oldest indigenous Kyrgyz breed of the hunting class. Its mention can be found in the ancient epic: according to the Kyrgyz legend, a Taigan named Kumayik was owned by the hero Manas. The dog reaches 60-70 cm at the withers, is capable of speeds of up to 60 km/h and hunts at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters.

It is on the verge of extinction: there are no more than a thousand of them left in the country. Therefore, they are almost absent from exhibitions, and it is difficult to purchase a dog outside of Kyrgyzstan.

There are only three registered dog kennels in Russia : VASART (Kaliningrad), Iz Dom Casanova (Moscow), Shegodai (Korolev).

Cost - from 50 to 60 thousand rubles.

Sharplanin Shepherd Dog breed

Sharplaninsky were first bred in the Balkans in 1938, a year later they were registered in the FCI under the name of Illyrian Shepherd Dogs (in 1957 - Sharplaninsky). Dogs began to be exported only in 1970, but now they are popular because... They have a calm and balanced character, endurance and highly value the authority of their owner.

The main advantages of shepherd dogs are their ability to guard territory, herd herds and fight back against predatory animals. Height - up to 58-66 cm at the withers, weight - up to 40-45 kg. Designed not for apartments, but for spacious plots and fields.

There are no official nurseries in Russia ; you can buy them in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other Balkan countries.

Cost - from 800 dollars.

Sharplana Shepherd Dog Pasha

And even earlier, on January 17, 2022, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic presented Putin with a Sharplana Shepherd puppy. The baby was named Pasha.

The history of the breed dates back to 1938, when they were first bred in the Balkans. The following year, the breed was already registered by the FCI as the Illyrian Shepherd Dog, and since 1957 as the Sharplaninsky. For many years, dogs of this breed remained a mystery to the whole world, because the Yugoslav authorities simply did not allow shepherd dogs to be exported outside the country. Only in 1970 the first Sharplanin Shepherd Dog was exported abroad. In recent years, Sharplanin Shepherd Dogs have become popular due to their stable nature.

Characteristic features of the breed:

• It has high endurance and can easily survive in cold conditions, thanks to its warm wool;
• They have a calm and balanced character;
• There is an opinion that Sharplanin shepherd dogs are capricious, but in fact the owner is the highest authority for them;

Akita-ino named Yume

In 2012, the president’s dog tribe was replenished with a gift from the grateful Japanese authorities. The three-month-old puppy of the national treasure of the Land of the Rising Sun, Akita Ino, became the gratitude of the Governor of Akita Prefecture Norihiso Satake for Russia’s help in eliminating the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami. No wonder the red-haired kid received the nickname Yume - Dream.

Today Yume is a serious and strict dog, capable of selflessly protecting its owner. She is also a great partner for the Bulgarian Shepherd Buffy in fun games.

The dogs are almost the same age. They especially enjoy infrequent walks with their beloved owner. Despite being very busy with government affairs, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin takes short moments to tinker with his favorites. And recently, an entire photo shoot was dedicated to his walk through the winter forest, which became a hit on the Internet. During the process, the president had a blast riding in the fresh snow with his favorites, throwing snowballs at them and even playing tag.

Alabai Verny

Putin also received his Alabai as a gift. The puppy was presented by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in 2022. Putin liked the dog immediately, he took the little one in his arms and kissed him on the head. After which the puppy hid, but not because he didn’t like his new owner. Alabais are very wary of strangers and Verny needs time to get used to and get to know each other.

This is not an easy gift; in Turkmenistan, alabai are also a national treasure and the pride of the country. The uniqueness of the Alabais is that they were not bred artificially. Since ancient times, they have been used to protect flocks of sheep or for service. According to unconfirmed reports, the breed has existed on the planet for several millennia! It is very difficult to export the Alabai outside of Turkmenistan, since the export of dogs of this breed is prohibited.

An interesting fact is that in the 1930s, they tried to en masse attract Alabaevs to the civil service of the USSR. It was not possible to do this, since dogs have a very capricious character. In terms of care and training, Alabais are difficult dogs, but very strong-willed and strong. Putin definitely liked this gift.

Loyal

Faithful is a gift from V.V. To Putin for his birthday from the head of Turkmenistan in October 2022.

The President of Turkmenistan presented Putin with an Alabai puppy

This thoroughbred dog received his nickname for the devotion and loyalty inherent in the Alabai, to whose breed he belongs. Alabais are smart animals and good guards. Their height can reach 90 cm. The color of the president's dog is white with pale brown spots.

An Alabai puppy will grow into a reliable guard and devoted friend

Akita Inu Yume

Yume is a real exotic star of Vladimir Vladimirovich’s collection of animals. Putin chose the nickname personally, giving it a special meaning: Yume means “Dream” in Japanese. The governor of the Japanese prefecture of Akita, Norihisa Satake, presented the puppy to the president with gratitude for his help in eliminating natural disasters. Putin happily said that the gift was cute, and in response he kindly gave the governor a Siberian cat.

Putin took Yume with him to interviews with Japanese journalists. The animal showed excellent upbringing and a generally healthy and cheerful appearance, as the press representatives themselves noted. Yume is now in her seventh year.

The Akita Inu's appearance is largely the result of nature, not man. During the period of feudal rule, Akita Inu were used to guard the royal family and nobility. From the 16th to the early 19th centuries, Akita Inus were used as fighting dogs, which subsequently affected their behavior in general. That is why Yume requires increased attention and training from Putin, since she is not easy to train.

Interesting Facts:

• Akita Inu is declared a natural monument in Japan;
• “Inu” means dog in Japanese, the name literally translates as “dog from Akita”;
• As Putin himself noted, Yume is a strict dog;
• Akita Inu is quite difficult to train; dogs of this breed are prone to aggression;
• In 2013, Putin had a photo shoot with Yume and Buffy, another pet.

How many dogs does the head have today?

In the spring of this year, the president's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said that today Vladimir Vladimirovich still has pets. However, it is not specified who exactly is in the estate now. The only thing is that there were never cats near the head, but there were always dogs.

The Russian leader prefers dogs as pets, but rarely appears with them in public.

Based on the news, we can remember which tailed creatures should live in Vladimir Putin’s house. Most likely it is:

1. Shepherd named Pasha. In January 2022, the President of Turkmenistan presented the head of state with a puppy. The Sharplanin Shepherd Dog was only 4 months old at that time.
2. Alabai Faithful. Four years ago, the President of Turkmenistan presented Putin with an Alabai baby for his birthday, who grew into a loyal defender.
3. Akita Inu named Dream (Yume, if translated into his native language). The dog was presented by the governor of a Japanese prefecture in 2012 as a sign of gratitude for the assistance provided after the tsunami and earthquake. Yume even visited the Kremlin for an interview with Putin and journalists from Japan.
4. Shepherd Buffy. A little over ten years ago, Vladimir Vladimirovich received a shepherd dog, Yorgo, from the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, but later her name was changed. The Russian leader asked the residents of the country to choose a name for their pet - the boy Dima (he was only 5 years old) won, and he suggested calling the interesting one Buffy.

Putin and his tailed creatures are already known throughout the world. The love for animals was noticed several times during interviews and social events: the president does not miss the opportunity to pet any dogs and even cats.

Bulgarian Shepherd Buffy

Buffy was given to Putin by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria back in 2010. The puppy was bred in the personal kennel of Boyk Borisov, it is not surprising that he chose just such a present. Although the press was surprised by this.

Upon returning to Russia, Putin announced a competition for the best name for a pet. The whole country chose the name for the shepherd dog, and a boy named Dima won. Subsequently, Putin invited him to personally meet the puppy. The meeting took place in December of the same year, and Dima also received a gift from the president - an autographed ball.

Interestingly, the famous Russian poet Orlusha wrote a witty poem about this. In his work, the poet ridicules topical problems.

The Bulgarian Shepherd, or Karakachan dog, is one of the oldest herding breeds in the Balkans. The breed is not recognized by the FCI, but is nevertheless classified and certified. The dog is ideal for protection, has a calm and balanced disposition. They are not friendly to other animals, but get along well with people.

Putin himself is happy with the pet, as he later noted that he loves him very much. To crossbreed Buffy, a request was sent to Bulgaria to obtain a female of the same breed.

All Putin's dogs

We invite you to remember together how the Russian President’s love for his four-legged friends began. It seems that the Labrador named Collie is known to everyone, but besides him, Vladimir Putin had other favorites (and not only dogs!). Each of them has a very interesting story associated with it, since most of the tailed ones were given to the head of state by influential individuals.

How the presidential story began: Connie the Labrador

Of course, in his youth, Putin kept various pets, but we want to start with the first presidential dog. Labrador Connie is the pet who lived side by side with Vladimir Vladimirovich the longest. The story stretches from the moment the president took office.

The first presidential dog was a Labrador.

A small black puppy was presented to Putin by Sergei Shoigu - now he is the current minister of the Russian Federation, but at that time he still held the post of head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation. The puppy was not entirely simple. Shoigu seriously approached the choice of a four-legged animal, which should become a faithful friend and companion. The choice fell on a baby from a retriever club - there he was brought up in the rescue canine center of the department.

Little Connie was distinguished by her intelligence, devotion, and obedience. She often accompanied the head of state to interviews and important meetings. Secret Advisor - this is what people jokingly called their pet, because it was he who stayed with Putin when making the most difficult decisions. And some were ready (more precisely, 40% of voters, according to the survey) to even vote for a dog if they nominated it as a candidate for the presidency.

Despite his special position and his owner as the head of state, Putin’s dog loved the simplest porridge with meat. And yet she didn’t mind begging a piece of something tasty from guests during receptions. And once a Labrador even stole and completely ate a dish that was intended for high-ranking officials.

In honor of the presidential dog Koni, there is a monument on the playground in St. Petersburg, created in 2007. There is no information about who and why erected the monument in this place. However, residents say that it will save the yard and playground from the construction of new houses. The monument is protected by a forged fence, and on the slab there is an inscription: “To the President’s best friend - Connie the dog.” But will this help?

There is also a book written on behalf of a Labrador called “Connie Tells.” It tells not about the life of the dog itself, but its owner. It should be noted that it is suitable for reading by young children and is published in English.

For a dog, she lived a fairly long and, it seems, happy life. Connie passed away in 2014, which was a blow for the Russian representative. Despite the years that have passed, he still does not readily recall this tragic moment.

Connie's offspring

Over the course of her long life, the Labrador Koni left quite good offspring, and most of the puppies were handed over to good hands. Vladimir Vladimirovich himself announced the addition during the direct line, telling listeners that his beloved dog gave birth at night. The President added that the little puppies from Koni will definitely find new families.

On the day of the parliamentary elections, pensioner Alexei Belevets sent a telegram: “Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin! Our family is asking your family to give us a puppy. Our souls are warm and our hands are caring.”

And the head of Russia listened! A couple of months later, the pensioner and his wife were invited to a reception with the president, where they discussed several important issues both about animals and life in general. All this happened on New Year's Eve 2005. Alexey's family considers the story of how they had a daughter, Connie, to be a real miracle. She was given the name Darina.

Soon Darina gave birth to 11 more healthy puppies! A second telegram arrived in the Kremlin, in which the pensioner thanked the president for the gift and said that Connie had become a grandmother. The nice guys went again free of charge into good hands. Some of them settled with friends and family members, one with the governor of the Rostov region, another with the head of the district where Alexey Belevets lived. And again a telegram arrived in the Kremlin. In it, the man invited the head of state to visit, promising a Russian bath, real homemade wine and meat stew.

Let's return to the children of Connie the Labrador. Putin gave two of them to the leader of Austria, and another puppy to schoolgirl Katya from Smolensk. One of the descendants of the presidential dog even went to the City Rescue Service in Vladikavkaz to help people.

Shepherd named Buffy

Giving living beings as gifts has become a tradition. Putin received another furry gift from the Prime Minister of Bulgaria in 2010, when Connie was still alive. Boyko Borisov guessed very well with the gift - Vladimir Vladimirovich’s emotions revealed joy. Not embarrassed by the cameras, he kissed the puppy Yorgo (that was his original name) and promised to take him with him to Moscow - and that’s what happened. The photos quickly went viral, and the shepherd became the second dog in the house.

Putin's second dog was a shepherd.

The puppy in his homeland (and everything happened in Bulgaria) was given the name Yorgo, which translated means “God of War.” Vladimir Putin did not accept such a nickname, but what then should he call his four-legged friend? It was decided to announce an All-Russian competition to choose the most interesting and suitable name.

The competition was won by five-year-old Dima Sokolov from Moscow, who suggested naming his new friend Buffy. Everyone liked the nickname, and after a few weeks the boy and his parents went to the Novo-Ogarevo residence, where Vladimir Vladimirovich personally introduced the family to the puppy. In gratitude, he gave Dima an autographed soccer ball - at that time Russia had just acquired the right to take part in the World Cup.

Despite the impressive size of the dog (an adult pet reaches up to 70 cm), the tailed one is very friendly and obedient. According to the manager, he was only worried about how Connie Polgrave (the full name of his first favorite) would accept the new family member. The Labrador and the shepherd quickly found a common language, although long games with the puppy forced Connie to show who was boss in the house.

Labrador Connie Polgrave (Kony for short)

Perhaps Putin’s most famous and beloved pet remains his first dog, a black Labrador named Koni. It was presented to Putin in 1999 by the former head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the current Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu.

Kony often appeared in photo reports from Vladimir Putin’s meetings with various high-ranking officials. In 2007, Putin took Kony to a meeting with Angela Merkel, who is terribly afraid of dogs. The president subsequently apologized for the animal’s behavior. They joked about this topic in opposition circles, expressing their dissatisfaction with the political regime. On the eve of the elections, an online vote was organized on the future president of the Russian Federation, in which Koni was in the lead (37% of the votes). As a joke, Putin has repeatedly stated that Koni will become his successor. Unfortunately, this did not happen; Koni died in 2014.

The Labrador is a very multifunctional dog. They are used not only as companions, but also as guides and caregivers. It is not surprising that Kony became the president’s favorite, whom he took with him everywhere. Labradors have an easy-going and friendly character. Initially, Labradors were black, like Putin, only then the breed standard began to include fawn and chocolate.

Among other things, Kony became the heroine of the Ogonyok comics, which described Putin’s life through the eyes of a dog.

Favorite Pasha

Vladimir Putin’s pack of dogs includes another shaggy pet – the Sharplana shepherd dog Pasha. In 2022, it was presented to the president by the head of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. The breed originated and developed on the Balkan Peninsula. The image of the Sharplanina Shepherd Dog adorns the reverse of the one Macedonian denar coin.

Another name for the breed is the Yugoslav Shepherd. In her veins flows the blood of Tibetan mastiffs, brought by the soldiers of Alexander the Great himself from campaigns in the East. In Russia, you rarely see the Sharplanin Shepherd Dog, but this is a temporary phenomenon. Dog handlers hope that unpretentious and strong dogs will soon become masters of suburban areas. After all, the Yugoslav Shepherd is not intended for living in a cramped apartment. She is very hardy and, due to her thick coat, is not afraid of severe frosts. Vladimir Putin's residence near Moscow is a place where Pasha will feel absolutely happy.

By the way, regarding the question of the name of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin’s dog, and why Pasha, we can assume that the nickname is a derivative of the Serbian word “pas”, which means “dog”.

Offspring of the Presidential Labrador Connie

Koni gave birth to her offspring on December 7, 2003, just on the day of the parliamentary elections in Russia. 8 healthy puppies were born. Putin stated that he wants to give the puppies to good hands:

• one of her children serves the City Unified Rescue Service in Vladikavkaz;
• another son, Connie, was handed over to pensioner Alexey Belevets;
• the happy owner of another puppy was a girl, Katya Sergeenkova from Smolensk;
• the other two puppies were given as a gift to the former President of Austria, Thomas Klestil.

Alexey named the puppy Darina, and she gave birth to 11 puppies. So, Koni managed to become a grandmother.

Turkmen Alabai Faithful

On the day of his sixty-fifth birthday, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin received another shaggy gift - a Turkmen Alabai puppy, later named Verny. The baby was presented by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The gift should bring countries closer and strengthen their relationships. By the way, dogs of this breed are considered the national treasure of Turkmenistan, and their export outside the state is punishable by law. However, who else but the head of a state should break the laws?

Faithful, like all Alabai, has high intelligence and keen instincts. Great efficiency and endurance make the dog an indispensable guard for its owner. And the dog is a devoted friend. It’s not for nothing that he was given such a nickname – Faithful.

Other Presidential Animals

The former wife of the president also had a dog. Also in 1999, Putin gave his wife a toy poodle, Tosya. In 2013, the couple divorced, and Lyudmila took Tosya with her. The fate of the poodle remains unknown.

Vladimir Vladimirovich is distinguished by his love not only for dogs, but also for all our smaller brothers. In 2003, Putin was symbolically presented with a white goat in honor of the coming year. The goat was named Skazka.

In 2008, on the occasion of the president’s birthday, he was given a little tiger cub Masha. For some time Masha lived in the Novo-Ogarevo residence, and later moved to the zoo in Gelendzhik.

Putin also loves horses. He has quite a lot of them:

1. The first horse was presented to the president in 2000. The Oryol trotter was given to him by Yegor Stroev, the former governor of the Oryol region.
2. In 2001, Putin’s nursery was replenished with an Akhal-Teke stallion, with the help of Murtaza Rakhimov, the then president of Bashkiria.
3. From the King of Jordan, Putin received three “Arabs”: the mare Aizis, the stallions Ibn Maruf and Hakim. Later, Musharraf sent two more Arabian horses.
4. Saparmurat Niyazov, and later Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, both heads of Turkmenistan, presented Putin with Akhal-Teke horses as a present.
5. In Nalchik, Putin received a horse named Kazbich of the Kabardian breed as a gift from Kabardino-Balkaria and others.

The title of the most famous horse of the president is honorably occupied by Vadik. This mini horse is only 54 cm tall. All of Putin’s pets are located at his residence in Novo-Ogarevo.

First dog

The first favorite in the family of Vladimir Vladimirovich appeared 20 years ago, back in 1999. It was then that the future president gave his wife Lyudmila a toy poodle, Tosya. The charming little girl was the favorite of the whole family. Vladimir Vladimirovich often fell asleep after a hard day of work in an embrace with Tosya.

Some time later, the pet gave birth to an equally touching puppy named Rodeo. They decided to keep their son. They delighted the household with their fun games, and after the couple’s divorce they saved Lyudmila Alexandrovna from depression.

Dogs donated by the President

Labrador, Japanese Yume, Alabai Verny and their relatives at different times were and are Putin’s favorites. The name of the dog that will live in the hospitable house of Vladimir Vladimirovich is still unknown. But now we can say with confidence that she will be given an unusual and apt name that reflects the pet’s disposition.

By the way, Putin loves not only to receive shaggy animals as gifts, but also to give them to ordinary citizens of his country and the state’s foreign partners. For example, Vladimir Vladimirovich gave the former President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez a Russian black terrier. A ten-year-old resident of Ossetia, Akhurbek Tsagarev, was delighted when he received a Labrador puppy from Putin. Connie charmed the boy so much that he began to dream of a dog like the President’s. Due to life circumstances, the parents could not fulfill their son’s expensive dream. And then the kid decided to write a letter to Vladimir Vladimirovich. Soon a new member of the Tsagarev family arrived at his home.

What animals have been given to Vladimir Putin over the past 20 years?

Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to receive congratulations on his birthday in just a few hours. On October 7, 2022, the Russian leader will celebrate his 68th birthday. Putin was given many different and strange things both on the occasion of holidays and as part of any visits. In particular, Vladimir Vladimirovich was given animals more than once. On the occasion of the president’s birthday, NEVSKIE NEWS decided to remember which of our smaller brothers was given to Putin over the past 20 years.

The President is prohibited by duty from accepting gifts, so they are all transferred to museums. The head of state could not even keep all the animals. The exception was some fluffy gifts, including the Shiba Inu dog Yume - the president liked the puppy.

Dogs

Vladimir Putin has been given dogs most often over the past two decades. The first such fluffy gift was given to Putin by the head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, Sergei Shoigu, in 2000. He presented a black Labrador puppy, which was raised at the department's rescue canine center. The Labrador received the nickname Connie and often accompanied Vladimir Vladimirovich at business meetings, even with foreign delegations. One day in 2007, Putin took Connie to negotiations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi. But it turned out that Merkel is afraid of dogs, so there was an embarrassment. The president later explained that he did not know about the chancellor's phobia and apologized to her for this incident.

Before the 2003 parliamentary elections, Connie gave birth at night. During the live line, Putin said that he would give the puppies into good hands. One puppy was sent to a pensioner from the Rostov region Alexey Belevets, the second to a six-year-old girl from Smolensk. Putin gave two puppies to the head of Austria, Thomas Klestil.

TASS / Rodionov Vladimir

Connie became the heroine of a comic strip from Ogonyok magazine. In 2004, Irina Borisova, who had a Labrador, even published the book “Connie’s Stories,” which became a guide for children to learn English. The media also often wrote about Connie. The Labrador lived for 15 years and died at the end of 2014.

While serving as Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, in 2010, Putin received a Karakachan Shepherd puppy as a gift. The dog was presented by the head of the Bulgarian government, Boyko Borisov. The pet's name was chosen through a competition. The winner was five-year-old Dima Sokolov from Moscow, and the dog was named Buffy. Later, Putin invited the boy and his parents to his Novo-Ogarevo residence near Moscow, where he showed him that same puppy.

TASS / Maxim Shemetov

In 2012, Putin was given another dog - a three-month-old Akita Inu puppy. It was presented to the president by the governor of the northern Japanese prefecture of Akita, Norihisa Satake, as a sign of gratitude for the assistance Russia provided to Japan in overcoming the consequences of the 2011 tsunami. In response, Putin also gave a furry gift - the Japanese governor took home a Siberian cat nicknamed Mir. The puppy stayed with the president for a long time; he himself gave him the nickname Yume, which means “dream” in Japanese.

TASS / Alexey Druzhinin

Five years later, before the start of the CIS summit in Sochi in 2017, Putin was again given a dog. For his birthday, the head of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov presented the Russian President with an alabai nicknamed Verny.

TASS / Alexey Druzhinin

Another furry pet was presented to the president on January 17, 2019. The Russian President was greeted with such a gift by his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic during the Russian leader’s visit to Belgrade. A four-month-old Yugoslav Sharpalin Shepherd puppy named Pasha set off to conquer Russia.

In March 2022, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov presented Putin with a Kyrgyz greyhound, Taigan, a cross between a greyhound and a wolfhound. The timid puppy was named Sherkhan.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid”: Putin, an Oryol horse with a carrot and a timid puppy Sherkhan pic.twitter.com/Yd0PsZAhaF

— Dmitry Smirnov (@dimsmirnov175) March 28, 2019

Horses

Artiodactyls were also given to Putin as a gift, more than once. In 2000, for the first time, Putin received a horse as a gift - a thoroughbred Oryol trotter from the governor of the Oryol region, Yegor Stroev. A year later, Putin got another stallion. The head of Bashkiria, Murtaza Rakhimov, presented the president with a handsome bay Akhal-Teke breed named Nagara.

TASS / Sergey Zhukov

Later in 2001, the president of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic was given a horse named Kazbich of the Kabardian breed. This happened during Putin's visit to Nalchik. A year later, the head of Kyrgyzstan Askar Akayev presented a stallion of a new Kyrgyz breed named Gyulsary. Putin was also given gifts of Akhal-Teke horses from the heads of Turkmenistan, and Arabian horses from the leaders of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. Some of these gift horses were sent to the stables in Novo-Ogarevo, and some were taken to the Moscow Hippodrome and domestic stud farms.

TASS / Mikhail Metzel

The most famous artiodactyl gift was the pony Chip. In 2005, it was presented to Putin by the head of Nizhnekamsk, Ilsur Metshin, during the opening of the International Equestrian Sports Complex in Kazan. The unique pony belongs to the Falabella breed. They are very compact, their height at the withers does not exceed 75 centimeters. When the pet was brought to the Sochi residence of Bocharov Ruchey, Chip was renamed Semyon, and then again Vadik. The last nickname was invented by Putin's wife Lyudmila. Later the pony was transported to a stable near Moscow in Novo-Ogarevo.

TASS / Vladimir Rodionov

In March 2022, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov presented Putin with an Oryol horse along with a puppy Sherkhan.

The President of Kyrgyzstan presented Putin with an Oryol horse and a puppy of the famous Kyrgyz Taigan greyhound named Sherkhan. pic.twitter.com/cUWxZzfliN

— Kremlin pool RIA (@Kremlinpool_RIA) March 28, 2019

Tigers and leopards

As Prime Minister in 2008, Vladimir Putin received a two-month-old Ussuri tiger cub for his birthday. The tigress was named Masha, she was in Novo-Ogarevo for some time, and then she was transferred to the Safari Park in Gelendzhik.

A year later, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov presented his Russian counterpart with two Central Asian leopards. Note that this is one of the largest subspecies of leopards in the world, which is known as the Caucasian leopard. Foreign predators were sent to a Sochi nursery under the supervision of specialists.

TASS / Vladimir Sayapin

White goat

Another amazing gift was given to the President of Russia in 2003. Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov presented Putin with the symbol of the coming year - a white goat named Skazka. The animal, like other furry gifts, was transported to the residence in Novo-Ogarevo.

NEVSKIE NEWS previously reported that Peskov revealed President Putin’s plans for his 68th birthday. According to the press secretary, the president will be busy with business. But after lunch, “according to tradition,” a meeting with friends and family is planned.