This is the dramatic moment a territorial Akita attacked a man for using its bowl to water plants.

Mr Li and his friend were about to water orchids in his backyard when the pet dog suddenly charged at his mate in Ningxia, China.

CCTV footage shows the man holding the aluminium water bowl filled with water amid hot weather on July 11.

Moments later, the pet dog followed him as he held the container, triggering an aggressive response.

The enraged canine, standing on its hind legs, mauled the man's hand after being cornered, causing him to scream and frantically flee from the dog.

It continued to bite his waist and buttocks, ripping his clothes in the process as the homeowner struggled to pull the dog away.

Mr Li eventually struck the Akita on the head with the metal bowl while his friend, in visible and excruciating pain, retreated into the house.

The pooch immediately sat on the floor as if nothing happened.

Local media reported that the victim was immediately brought to a hospital to treat bite wounds on his buttocks, thighs, lower back, and arm. He also received a rabies shot.

Li said he had kept the Akita for six years, and that it had previously bitten three people, including the same friend involved in this incident.

'My dog is generally docile, but it has proven to be very possessive over its food and belongings. I decided to give it away as I could no longer keep it.'

The Akita is a powerful Japanese breed known for its loyalty and independence. Originally bred for hunting and guarding, it can be highly territorial and may react aggressively when it feels its space or belongings are threatened.