Konni (dog)

Konni (russian: Конни, 1999 – 2014), 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.

Family

Konni, full name Connie Paulgrave, was born in 1999 at a cynology centre located at the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Noginsk, where she was to be trained as a search and rescue dog. Konni's parents were Henrietta Bush (mother) and Alkor Ross Bradford (father).

In December 2000, Konni was presented to President Vladimir Putin as a gift by Sergei Shoigu.

On 7 December 2003, the day of the 2003 legislative election, Konni gave birth to eight puppies. One pup named Darina was given to a pensioner in Novozolotovka, Neklinovsky District of Rostov Oblast. Another pup, named Oscar, was given to a six-year-old girl in Smolensk. Two pups were given to the President of Austria, Thomas Klestil, as a symbol of Austrian-Russian friendship. When Klestil's widow, diplomat Margot Klestil-Löffler, was appointed Austrian Ambassador to Russia in December 2009, the two dogsnamed Olya and Orhireturned to Moscow with her; Klestil-Löffler stated that the dogs helped her deal with her husband's death. Another of Konni's pups was employed by rescue services in Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia-Alania.

Relationship with Vladimir Putin

Since Konni became part of the Putin family, she was featured largely in the life of the President, and was regularly at her master's side. In 2007, organisers of the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, which is a regional meeting of the World Economic Forum, wrote to the Presidential Administration requesting a photograph of the President for his accreditation badge, and the Putin Administration sent back to the organisers a photograph of Putin sitting in an armchair next to a fireplace with Konni lying at his feet.

Answering a question at a press conference, Putin stated that, like everyone else, he too has occasional bad moods, and explained:

"In those situations I try to consult with my dog Konni, who gives me good advice."

Konni responded to simple commands given to her by Putin, including "down!" (''lezhat''!), "sit!" ( ''Sidet'!''), "heel!" (''Ryadom!''), "go!" (''Fas!'') and "bark!" (''Golos!''), in addition to shaking hands.

Although Konni was, for the most part, allowed to attend meetings with Putin, on occasion she was kept away from such functions. '' Rossiyskaya Gazeta'' recalled an incident in 2003, when journalists travelled to Sochi to discuss various issues with the President. Upon arrival at Bocharov Ruchei, Konni, who was described as cheerful and inquisitive, greeted the journalists. When it came time to start the meeting, Putin's security detail stopped Konni from following him. As the journalists and Putin started walking down the staircase, Konni rushed towards them and began to bark loudly at Putin. As a result, Irena Lesnevskaya, the President of REN TV, asked "So who else here can so bark at the President?". Konni, in what appeared to be an expression of dissatisfaction for not being allowed to "participate" in the meeting, then continued barking, and refused several orders by Putin to come to him, leading Lesnevskaya to ask, "So who else can disobey the President?".

In the public eye

In December 2004, Konni was taken to a children's New Year's Eve party at the State Kremlin Palace by Putin. While Putin was on stage giving a speech to the media, politicians and the public, Konni managed to escape from her holdings and joined her owner on stage.

Konni gained fame when Detskaya Literatura, one of the oldest publishing houses and the largest publisher of children's books, published a book in 2004, entitled ''Connie's Stories''. The 60-page book written by Irina Borisova in English, chronicles the life and adventures of a Black Labrador named "Connie"; at the end it is revealed that Connie (Konni) is the President's dog.

Konni gained additional public exposure when she was present at an April meeting with Putin and President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, in Sochi. Konni's visibility in the meetings of Putin with world leaders led to the publication by '' Ogoniok'' of a satirical series of comic strips that features Konni as an advisor to Putin on matters relating to the foreign relations of Russia.

In July 2006, in an online conference organised by Yandex and the BBC
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