Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has never raised his voice at his beloved dog Toto, joining the growing public discussion triggered by Barnaby Joyce’s now-viral television outburst at his farm dog Stella.

Asked whether he had ever shouted at Toto, Albanese replied that he had not.

“I certainly have not. And I think Toto is pretty spoiled, frankly… How could anyone yell at Toto?” the Prime Minister said while responding to questions about the controversy that has dominated Australian political conversation over recent days.

The comments came after One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce found himself at the centre of unexpected international attention during a live interview on the ABC’s 7.30 program.

As Joyce answered questions from host Sarah Ferguson about One Nation and recent political controversies, his farm dog Stella began barking repeatedly beneath the deck at his rural New South Wales property. Mid-interview, Joyce abruptly shouted “Sit down!” at the dog before apologising and continuing the conversation. The clip quickly spread across social media and international news outlets.

Joyce later defended his actions, insisting the incident had nothing to do with political pressure or frustration over the interview itself.

He explained that Stella had been barking continuously, making it difficult for him to hear Ferguson’s questions, and said loud verbal commands are common when handling working farm dogs.

“She was trying to protect me,” Joyce said afterwards, adding that there was no mistreatment involved and that Stella remained a well-loved member of the family.

The explanation has not prevented the episode becoming a political talking point.

During the Australian Labor Party National Conference, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas joked that “if you can’t govern your dog, you can’t govern the country,” drawing laughter from delegates while using the incident to criticise conservative political opponents.

However, Malinauskas also cautioned against dismissing Australians considering voting for One Nation, arguing that many voters had genuine concerns that deserved to be heard rather than simply being labelled or ridiculed.

The exchange has highlighted the unusual role that personal moments increasingly play in modern political campaigning.

While the original ABC interview focused on questions surrounding One Nation’s direction and Pauline Hanson’s recent overseas activities, the discussion quickly shifted away from policy and towards Joyce’s interaction with Stella. Within hours, the clip had generated thousands of memes, parody videos and online reactions, with many Australians debating not only Joyce’s behaviour but also broader attitudes towards pet ownership.

Animal behaviour experts have also entered the conversation.

Several canine trainers interviewed by the ABC noted that shouting may interrupt barking temporarily but is generally not regarded as the most effective long-term training technique. Modern behavioural approaches instead encourage owners to identify the reason a dog is barking and reinforce calm behaviour through consistent positive training methods. At the same time, experts acknowledged that many owners occasionally react instinctively in unexpected situations, particularly when a dog suddenly interrupts an important activity.

The distinction between companion pets and working dogs has also featured prominently in the debate.

Joyce has argued that Stella is a farm dog accustomed to responding to loud commands across large rural properties, whereas Albanese’s cavoodle Toto lives primarily as a household companion in a very different environment.

Dog trainers say expectations and communication styles can vary considerably depending on a dog’s role, although they generally recommend calm, consistent handling regardless of breed or occupation.

Toto has become something of a political celebrity since Albanese entered office.

The cavoodle regularly appears alongside the Prime Minister and his fiancée Jodie Haydon at public events and has featured in numerous official photographs and social media posts. Albanese has frequently spoken about Toto’s popularity, often joking that the dog receives more attention than politicians themselves.

Joyce, meanwhile, has attempted to downplay the significance of the incident.

He later appeared alongside Stella during television interviews, saying there were far more important issues facing Australians than a brief exchange with his dog. Pauline Hanson likewise defended her colleague, describing the viral moment as simply a glimpse of everyday life on a working farm rather than evidence of poor treatment.

The episode nevertheless illustrates how quickly seemingly ordinary moments can become major political stories.

What began as a brief interruption during a policy interview evolved into days of headlines, political jokes and public discussion about leadership, personality and even dog training. While opinions remain divided over whether Joyce’s response was justified, the incident has undoubtedly overshadowed much of the substantive political debate that originally prompted the interview.

For Albanese, the exchange offered an opportunity to present a lighter side of political life by talking about Toto, a dog that has become almost as recognisable to many Australians as the Prime Minister himself. For Joyce, it served as another reminder that, in the era of viral clips and social media, even a few unscripted seconds can sometimes attract more attention than the political message politicians intended to deliver.