Can Russian GPS system track my dog? Putin asks

Russia's President Vladimir Putin is followed by his dog Koni at the presidential country residence in Zavidovo, northwest of Moscow, July 24, 2007. Putin said on Monday he was keen to use Russia's planned global positioning system GLONASS to look after his black Labrador Koni.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he was keen to use Russia's planned global positioning system GLONASS to look after his black Labrador Koni.

"When can I buy hardware to equip my dog with so that she won't run away too far?" Putin was quoted as asking First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov during a briefing on progress towards developing a competitor to the U.S. GPS system.

Russia is working to expand GLONASS, a system which locates objects on the ground using orbital satellites, and make it available for civilian use. The project is part of the Kremlin's attempts to boost hi-tech sectors of the Russian economy.

"Producers will be able to offer collars for dogs and cats of commercial users in mid-2008," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Ivanov as replying.

(Writing by Oleg Shchedrov; Editing by Ibon Villelabeitia)