This is the amusing moment a pet dog joined a group of youngsters playing football.

Five athletes were practising when Shanker, the Golden Retriever, excitedly ran onto the field to participate in their training session in Inner Mongolia, China.

Footage shows the players passing the ball back and forth to each other using their feet while the six-year-old spirited canine chases it around on June 21.

The pooch can be seen sprinting after the ball as the men rally it in the air, performing various football tricks to practise their agility and flexibility.

The pet owner said: 'Shanker loves football, and I always bring him to practices as part of our exercise routine. It actually helps the team a lot.'

Golden Retrievers are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and trainability. They are commonly used as service dogs and excel at tasks like fetching objects and following commands.