I have head a similar story from Angela Merkel.

Putin found out she was afraid of dogs, so of course he had his “I am a short man who wants to be seen as imposing” huge dog present in a private meeting with her.

Bush has had some pretty weird Putin run-ins.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/11/06/the-seduction-of-george-w-bush/

Then as later, Bush would attribute Putin’s demands or paranoia to those around him, essentially exonerating the Russian president himself. During a trade dispute when Russia cut off imports of American chicken drumsticks (known colloquially within Russia as “Bush legs”), Putin in a private conversation with Bush asserted that Americans deliberately sent bad poultry to Russia.

“I know you have separate plants for chickens for America and chickens for Russia,” Putin told Bush.

Bush was astonished. “Vladimir, you’re wrong.”

“My people have told me this is true,” Putin insisted.

“The US may advise, but not impose its idea of peace.”

“And finally, I have something else to say. Glory to Ukraine! And stay strong,”

Nice sentiments.

But Dubya still belongs in the Hague.