Russian president Vladimir Putin received a puppy as a belated birthday president from Turkmenistan’s president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

The Alabai puppy, dubbed Verni, ‘faithful’ in Russian, by Putin, was held by the Russian president, who gave him a kiss before putting him back down on the ground, where he started sniffing the shoes of officials.

Putin has two other dogs living with him, Yume and Buffy.

Konni, one of Putin’s dogs, a black labrador retriever, was often seen at the President's side, including at staff meetings, and when Putin greeted world leaders during their visits to Russia, until her death in 2014.