DOGNAPPERS bit off more than they could chew when they tried to snatch a dog called Milo.

Two hooded men attempted to steal the eurasier, a rare breed pedigree, after attacking his owner, David Todner, in Murton, County Durham, on Tuesday.

But Milo, who is worth £3,000, sunk his teeth into one of the pair and held on for dear life - even when the other assailant hit him over the head with a brick.

The attack happened at Sea View Walk in the town just before 5.30pm.

Father-of-three Mr Todner, 24, who took Milo in from a rescue centre, said one of the men shouted to him twice to hand over his dog.

When he ignored the demand and continued walking his pet, he felt a blow to the back of the head.

"I am not sure whether I was punched with his fist or with a weapon, but the blow made me fall a few feet into a beck," he said.

As Mr Todner looked back, he saw his faithful pet sinking his teeth into the arm of the man who had called out.

As Milo clung on, the second man hit the pet over the head with a brick.

But Milo continued his attack until his victim managed to free himself and the pair ran off.

One of the men had dark hair and a boxer's nose and was dressed in a white top with a Nike logo. The other was stocky with ginger hair and a ginger goatee beard.

The skirmish left Mr Todner with no long lasting ill-effects. Two-year-old Milo escaped with a cut on his head.

Detective Constable Ian Morrison, of Peterlee CID, said: "We have to assume the two men knew the dog was a potentially valuable breed - there is no other obvious explanation for their actions."

He appealed for anyone with information to call Peterlee CID on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

* The eurasier is believed to have been originally bred in Germany from a wolf and a husky to pull sleds and fight off predators, including polar bears.