Russian President Vladimir Putin Denies Rumor Of Using Pet Labrador To Scare German Chancellor Angela Merkel; ‘I Showed Her My Dog Because I Thought She Would Like It’

Russian leader Vladimir Putin shut down allegations that he used his pet Labrador to intimidate German Chancellor Angela Merkel during their first meeting in Sochi back in 2007.

Merkel refused to comment on the incident. However, the German leader was photographed looking uncomfortable around Putin's black Labrador, as per Independent Monday.

According to reports, Merkel is known to have cynophobia or fear of dogs. Daily Mail reported Tuesday that the Russian president was told before the meeting about Merkel's fear of dogs, and that he reportedly brought the dog into the meeting purposely.

"The dog does not bother you, does she?" Putin reportedly said during the meeting. "She's a friendly dog and I'm sure she will behave herself."

Merkel replied, "No, she doesn't eat journalists after all."

Nine years after the incident, Putin said he did not intend to frighten the German chancellor.

"I did not know anything about that," he told German journalists, as noted by SMH Wednesday.

In an interview with "Bild," the Russian leader said that he apologized to Merkel after learning that she is afraid of dogs.

"I showed her my dog because I thought she would like it. I told her so later and apologized," he said in the interview.

He went on, "She is very sincere and highly professional. In any case, I think the level of trust between us is very high."

"I trust her. She's a very open person. She is also subject to certain pressures and limitations. But she is making an honest effort to resolve the crises, also in south-west Ukraine."

Reports revealed that Merkel was attacked by a dog in 1995. After the traumatic experience, the German chancellor has become fearful of dogs.

Meanwhile, the 61-year-old leader was appointed as the first female chancellor of Germany in 2005. She is also the head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 2000.