A dog owner walking his pet on an icy coast came across an adorable newborn seal pup.

Dramatic footage shows the man's curious pooch barking at the baby seal, which growls back, scaring it away.

The rare encounter happened on Juehua Island, Huludao, Liaoning Province, China, on February 10.

Local media reported that the man, Mr Wang, filmed the marine mammal and then contacted local authorities.

The animal was identified as a spotted seal (Phoca largha), with Mr Wang saying the cub had returned home.

Spotted seals are generally solitary creatures, with pups weaned off their mothers after six weeks, after which they learn to dive and forage for food on their own.

Also known as the larga seal or largha seal, the spotted seal inhabits the ice floes and waters of the North Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas.