Vladimir Putin and Shinzo Abe hail cordial Japan-Russia relations

Perhaps it was a sign of just how far relations have improved between Japan and Russia. Vladimir Putin brought along his pet dog Yume for a reunion meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as both leaders greeted each other warmly and hailed the speed at which relations between their countries were improving - in contrast to Tokyo's strained ties with Beijing.

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When called to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Akita initially defied her master's orders, pulling hard on her lead and snarling.

Published: 4:45am, 10 Feb 2014Updated: 6:33am, 10 Feb 2014

Perhaps it was a sign of just how far relations have improved between Japan and Russia. Vladimir Putin brought along his pet dog Yume for a reunion meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as both leaders greeted each other warmly and hailed the speed at which relations between their countries were improving - in contrast to Tokyo's strained ties with Beijing.

Yume the dog stays inside, away from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Yume, a two year-old Akita, was given to Putin by Abe in 2012 as a sign of thanks for Russia's assistance after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan in 2011. Her name means "Dream" in Japanese.

Putin stood outside with Yume, when a motorcade carrying the Japanese premier approached the presidential residence. But at first the dog appeared to defy her master's orders, pulling hard on her lead and snarling grumpily at the camera, before calming down.

Abe stroked Yume and said "good dog" in Russian.

"Yes, but she can bite sometimes," Putin replied.

The talks focused mainly on economic co-operation as Putin and Abe decided to leave a controversial territorial dispute over the Kuril islands to experts, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.