page_title: Konni (dog)
section_title: Russian foreign affairs
hierarchical_section_title: Konni (dog) / Russian foreign affairs
caption_attribution_description: English: BOCHAROV RUCHEI, SOCHI. During the meeting with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.Русский: СОЧИ, БОЧАРОВ РУЧЕЙ. Перед началом беседы с Федеральным канцлером ФРГ Ангелой Меркель.
context_page_description: Konni, full name Connie Leod Paulgrave, also known as Connie, was a female black Labrador Retriever belonging to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. Konni was often seen at the President's side, including at staff meetings, and when Putin greeted world leaders during their visits to Russia.
context_section_description: Konni became a symbol of friendly meetings between the Russian President and various world leaders, and was allowed to attend official government meetings.
  A popular anecdote was when the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, met President Vladimir Putin, Putin brought Konni to their meetings. On 21 January 2007, the two leaders met at Bocharov Ruchei, the President's summer residence in Sochi, and at the beginning of their meeting Konni wandered into the room, leading Putin to ask Merkel, who reportedly has a "deep-seated fear of dogs", "The dog does not bother you, does she? She's a friendly dog and I'm sure she will behave herself." Merkel responded in Russian, a language in which she is fluent, "She doesn't eat journalists, after all." Konni then proceeded to sniff the German Chancellor, and sat at her feet. Merkel was reported to have shown "apparent discomfort". Putin later said that, after learning of Merkel's fear of dogs, he apologized to her.
  When US President George W. Bush visited Putin's residence at Novo-Ogaryovo, Konni was there to greet both leaders. Putin was reported to have remarked to the visiting President that Konni is "bigger, tougher, stronger, faster, meaner – than Barney," which aides to Bush said was "a mark of a friendship strengthened by a little needling." Stephen Harper later "drolly noted [to Bush], 'You're lucky he only showed you his dog.'"
  At a meeting with Putin in Sochi in March 2003, and again in April 2005, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, who regarded Konni as a "friend", attempted to call the dog to him; however, Konni did not respond, except for yawning at the Belarusian President on several occasions, before getting up and instead going over to the journalists who had gathered to cover the meeting.
caption: Konni at a meeting with Putin and Angela Merkel.
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