Pets of Vladimir Putin

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Vladimir Putin, the current president of Russia, has owned many dogs over time. His fondness of dogs has led to dogs becoming a notable political gift in Russian diplomatic relations. [1] [2]

Contents

List of dogs

When Putin took office, the Putin family had two poodles, Tosya and Rodeo. They reportedly stayed with his ex-wife Lyudmila after their divorce. [3]

Putin with Konni in 2001. Vladimir Putin and Koni-1.jpg
Putin with Konni in 2001.

Konni (1999–2014)

Konni (1999–2014) was a female black Labrador Retriever. Konni was born in 1999 and presented to Putin in December 2000. Konni was often seen at Putin's side, and was sometimes allowed to attend meetings when he greeted world leaders during visits to Russia.

During a meeting with Angela Merkel, German Chancellor at the time, in 2007 in Putin's home in Sochi, Konni attended the meeting. Merkel, who was bitten by a dog in 1995, was seen freezing up as Konni sniffed her. Merkel later stated of the incident that: "He's afraid of his own weakness. Russia has nothing, no successful politics or economy. All they have is this." [4] Putin himself said in 2016 to the German newspaper Bild , that he had no intention of scaring Merkel and that he had apologized to her. [5]

Putin was being updated on the progress of the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) in 2007 when he inquired whether he would be able to buy a device hooked into GLONASS that would allow him to keep track of his dog, Konni. The collar was demonstrated on Konni on 17 October 2008, thus making Konni the first recipient of a GLONASS-enabled pet collar. [6] [7]

Buffy (2010–present)

Buffy, a caramel and white Bulgarian male 10-week-old shepherd Karakachan dog, was given to President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Bulgaria in November 2010 by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. [8] [9] The name 'Buffy' was chosen by a five-year-old boy during a nationwide competition. [10]

Yume (2012–present)

Yume, a 3-month-old female Akita puppy, arrived in Moscow from Tokyo, Japan, in July 2012, as the Akita Prefecture's gift to show gratitude for assistance from Russia after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. 'Yume' means 'dream' in Japanese. [11] [12] [13]

In 2016, the Japanese government offered Putin a male Akita puppy as a companion for Yume, but this gift was declined. [14] [15]

Verny (2017–present)

Verny was a 65th birthday gift from Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, President of Turkmenistan, during a meeting in Sochi in October 2017. The puppy is an Alabai, a top Turkmen-bred variety of the Central Asia shepherd dog. 'Verny' means 'faithful' or 'loyal' in Russian. [16]

Pasha (2019–present)

Pasha (Serbian Cyrillic : Паша) is a Šarplaninac puppy that was given to Vladimir Putin from Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić during an official visit in January 2019. [17] [18]

Unknown (2024-present)

Two seemingly adult dogs of the North Korean Pungsan breed were given to Vladimir Putin by Kim Jong Un on a visit Putin made to Pyongyang in June 2024. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vladimir Putin</span> President of Russia (1999–2008, 2012–present)

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who is the president of Russia. Putin has held continuous positions as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012, and as president from 2000 to 2008 and since 2012. He is the longest-serving Russian or Soviet leader since Joseph Stalin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puppy mill</span> Type of commercial dog breeding facility

A puppy mill, also known as a puppy farm, is a commercial dog breeding facility characterized by quick breeding and poor conditions. Although no standardized legal definition for "puppy mill" exists, a definition was established in Avenson v. Zegart in 1984 as "a dog breeding operation in which the health of the mill’s dogs is disregarded to maintain a low overhead and maximize profits". They are cited as being a result of increased demand for household pets, especially after World War II. The Veterinary Medical Association of the Humane Society of the United States defines the main characteristics of a puppy mill as "emphasis on quantity over quality, indiscriminate breeding, continuous confinement, lack of human contact and environmental enrichment, poor husbandry, and minimal to no veterinary care."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States presidential pets</span> Companion animals of American presidents

Most United States presidents have kept pets while in office, or pets have been part of their families. Only James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, and Donald Trump did not have any presidential pets while in office. However, Johnson did take care of some mice he found in his bedroom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spitz</span> Dog type

A spitz is a type of domestic dog consisting of between 50 and 70 breeds depending on classification. There is no precise definition of 'spitz' but typically most spitz breeds have pricked ears, almond shaped eyes, a pointed muzzle, a double coat, and a tail that curves over the back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hachikō</span> Akita Inu dog known for his loyalty (1923–1935)

Hachikō was a Japanese Akita dog remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, for whom he continued to wait for over nine years following Ueno's death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belka and Strelka</span> Soviet animals sent to space

Belka and Strelka are dogs that spent a day in space aboard Korabl-Sputnik 2 on 19 August 1960 before safely returning to Earth. They were the first higher living organisms to survive an orbital trip in outer space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Asian Shepherd Dog</span> Dog breed

The Central Asian Shepherd Dog, also known as the Alabay, Alabai and Turkmen Wolf-Hound, is a livestock guardian dog breed. Traditionally, the breed was used for guarding sheep and goat herds, as well as to protect and for guard duty. In 1990, the State Agroindustrial Committee of Turkmenistan approved the standard of the Turkmen Wolf-Hound dog breed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Siberian Laika</span> Dog breed

The West Siberian Laika or WSL, is a breed of spitz–type hunting dog. Russian publications indicate that the term West Siberian Laika loosely applied to hunting dogs originating with the Mansi and Khanty people in Ural and West Siberia, but there were no standards or registrations of WSL as such until 1930. Then WWII disrupted it for a while, but systematic breeding with registrations resumed after the war ended, in 1946. This was the time the breed began taking modern shape. Before that hunters only knew of Mansi Laika and Khanty Laika. In early 1960 many hunters in Ural still preferred the term Mansi Laika, when speaking of West Siberian Laika. In Russian language, the term Laika originated from the word layat that means to bark. The word Laika simply means barker. Any hunting Laika is a bark pointer. It is a versatile dog depending on use and environment, but in certain parts of the country they have become more specialized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dogs Trust</span> Largest dog welfare charity in the United Kingdom (started in 1891)

Dogs Trust, known until 2003 as the National Canine Defence League, is a British animal welfare charity and humane society which specialises in the well-being of dogs. It is the largest dog welfare charity in the United Kingdom, caring for over 15,000 animals each year. Dogs Trust's primary objective is to protect all dogs in the UK and elsewhere from maltreatment, cruelty and suffering. It focuses on the rehabilitation and rehoming of dogs which have been either abandoned or given up by their owners through rehoming services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pungsan dog</span> Korean dog breed

The Pungsandog (Korean: 풍산개) is a breed of hunting dog from Korea, named for originating in Kimhyonggwon County, formerly Pungsan County. They are also called Phungsan, Korean Phungsan, or Poongsan dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karakachan dog</span> Bulgarian dog breed

The Karakachan dog is a breed that originated from Bulgaria. It is related to the livestock guardian dogs of the surrounding countries: Romania to the north, North Macedonia and Serbia to the west, and Greece, and Turkey to the south. The dog is named after the Karakachans, Greek nomadic shepherds. Due to their conservative stock-breeding traditions, they have preserved some of the oldest breeds of domestic animals in Europe: the Karakachan sheep, Karakachan horse and the Karakachan dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Konni (dog)</span> Labrador Retriever owned by Vladimir Putin

Connie Paulgrave, also known as Konni, was a female black Labrador Retriever belonging to Vladimir Putin. She was often at his side, including at meetings between him and various world leaders during their visits to Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bo (dog)</span> Pet dog of the Obama family (2008–2021)

Bo was a pet dog of the Obama family, the first family of the United States from 2009 until 2017. President Barack Obama and his family were given the male Portuguese Water Dog as a gift after months of speculation about the breed and identity of their future pet. The final choice was made in part because elder daughter Malia's allergies dictated a need for a hypoallergenic breed. Bo was occasionally called "First Dog". In August 2013, Bo was joined by Sunny, a female dog of the same breed.

Dorofei (2004–2014) was a rare Neva Masquerade cat with blue eyes belonging to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana Medvedeva. Dorofei took over the title of First Pet from Vladimir Putin's black labrador Koni, when Medvedev was inaugurated on 7 May 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of GLONASS</span>

The satellite navigation system GLONASS was conceived in the late 1960s, and formal requirements were completed in 1970. The government of the Soviet Union made a decision to develop the system in 1976. Design work was carried out by specialists led by Vladimir Cheremisin at NPO PM in Krasnoyarsk-26. The first launch took place in 1982. Until its dissolution in 1991, the Soviet Union launched 43 GLONASS-related satellites. Work on the system was continued by the Russian Federation which brought it its full operational capability in 1995. In the following years, the system fell into disrepair due to the economic crisis in the country and diminished space funding. Starting from 2000, the government under President Vladimir Putin made the restoration of GLONASS a top priority; its funding was doubled and after a lull of several years, launches were restarted again. In 2003, a new satellite design, GLONASS-M, was introduced. By early 2011, GLONASS had 22 operational satellites, two short of the required constellation of 24 to provide global coverage. The latest and significantly improved satellite type, GLONASS-K, was launched in February 2011.

Susan was a Pembroke Corgi dog owned by Queen Elizabeth II that was given to her on her eighteenth birthday. Following the dog's death in 1959, the Queen personally designed a headstone for her grave at Sandringham House. Susan was the first of a long line of Corgis and Dorgis owned by the Queen, all of them descended from Susan. The dogs often accompanied the Queen in her public appearances, and thus came to feature prominently in her public image.

Dookie or Rozavel Golden Eagle was a Pembroke Welsh Corgi bought in 1933 by King George VI and was the first of many Welsh Corgis to join the Royal Family. The dog was especially popular with Queen Elizabeth II, who from then on owned over thirty corgis in her lifetime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pushinka</span> Dog given to John F. Kennedy by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev

Pushinka, a dog, was given by the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, in 1961. Pushinka was the daughter of Strelka, who had travelled into space aboard Korabl-Sputnik 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Normandy Format</span> Informal group of four states to resolve the War in Donbas

The Normandy Format, also known as the Normandy contact group, is a grouping of states who met in an effort to resolve the war in Donbas and the wider Russo-Ukrainian War. The four countries who make up the group—Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and France—first met informally in 2014 during the 70th anniversary of D-Day celebrations in Normandy, France.

References

  1. "What's with world leaders giving Vladimir Putin puppies as gifts?". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  2. "What Putin's dogs teach us about the man". Dallas News. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. "Сколько собак у Путина?" [How many dogs does Putin have?]. aif.ru (in Russian). 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  4. "That time Putin brought his dog to a meeting to scare Angela Merkel". Business Insider. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  5. "Exklusives BILD-Interview mit dem russischen Präsidenten Wladimir Putin". bild.de (in German). Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. Shchedrov, Oleg (24 December 2007). "Can the Russian GPS System Track My Dog?". Reuters, New York, USA. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  7. Powell, Lee (18 October 2008). "Russia's Putin Tests Tracking Device on Dog, Konni". YouTube.com. The Associated Press, USA. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  8. Lodge, Elspeth (17 December 2010). "Putin loves new dog Buffy, except for 'puddles' and 'piles'". National Post. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  9. "Vladimir Putin .... the Buffy slayer?". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  10. Osborn, Andrew (10 December 2010). "Vladimir Putin names puppy Buffy". The Telegraph. Moscow. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  11. "Interview by President Vladimir Putin to Nippon TV and Yomiuri Shimbun Newspaper in Japan". The Kremlin, Moscow, Russia. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  12. Amos, Howard (13 December 2016). "Putin Tries Dog Diplomacy Before Japan Talks Over Islands". U.S. News & World Report, L.P. The Associated Press, USA. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  13. "Video of President Putin With Yume Revives Akita Boom in Russia". THE JAPAN TIMES, LTD. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  14. "Putin turns down Japanese dog gift, MP says". BBC News. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  15. Connolly, Amy R. (10 December 2016). "Russia's Vladimir Putin declines Japan's diplomatic dog gift". United Press International. Moscow. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  16. Lister, Tim (12 October 2017). "Pup-lover Putin Gifted New Dog for 65th Birthday". CNN, US. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  17. "Putin gets puppy and hero's welcome on Serbia trip". The Guardian. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  18. "Aleksandar Vucic gave Vladimir Putin a Sarplaninac puppy". Twitter, US. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  19. The Telegraph (20 June 2024). Putin and Kim laugh and chat in front seat footage from limo drive in Pyongyang . Retrieved 20 June 2024 via YouTube.