A pet dog was perplexed when it saw a surprisingly life-like robot dog while strolling at a mall with owners.

Footage shows the eight-year-old Dachshund and Chihuahua mixed-breed named Pringle trying to back away with a shocked facial expression when it encountered the robotic pet in Davao del Sur, the Philippines, on October 8.

Pringle was being held by its owner, who was trying to make it greet the machine made by Chinese firm Tecno, which mimicked canine movements on the floor.

The pet pooch eventually turned friendly with the robot dog but still did not touch it.

Pet owner Janea Castro said: ‘Pringle met the Tecno guard dog. We thought Pringle would be angry at the robot but was silent.'

Tecno's robot dog is an AI-powered model called Dynamic 1, inspired by a German Shepherd breed. It can climb stairs, bow, shake hands, and respond to voice commands.

It can also respond to a smartphone app and remote using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.