Paris - Even presidential pets show the occasional disdain for pomp and protocol.
Nemo, the young dog adopted this year by France's Emmanuel Macron, was caught on camera relieving himself on a gilded fireplace in the Elysee Palace behind a group of junior ministers meeting with the president.
The footage, captured by French TV channel TF1, showed Nemo interrupting the gathering as the sound of him peeing caused those present to turn around before they started giggling.
"He's doing something quite exceptional," a laughing Macron said.
🆘‼️😂🐶 #France: #Macron's (Jupiter) dog #Nemo peed during a meeting at the fireplace of the #Elysee Palace. pic.twitter.com/iaSMbspp5r
— Onlinemagazin (@OnlineMagazin) October 23, 2017
Asked by junior minister for housing Julien Denormandie whether it was something that happened often, Macron added: "No ... you've triggered some completely unusual behaviour in my dog, sorry."
Nemo, a black labrador-griffon cross, was adopted by Macron and his wife Brigitte from a shelter home in August.
The footage caused much hilarity on social media sites, where it circulated widely.