Australian man charged for biting police dog

New South Wales cops have charged a man after he allegedly bit the police dog while being arrested in the Illawarra region on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old is accused of trying to bite the dog, named Dexter, on the neck on Saturday at about 11pm (AEDT).

Dexter retaliated by biting the man on his arm.

Police say the incident happened when they were called to the man's house after reports of an apprehended violence order (AVO) breach.

The man was charged with destroy, damage property, commit an act of cruelty upon an animal, resist police, possess prescribed restricted substance and contravene an apprehended violence order.

He has been refused bail and will appear in Wollongong Local Court on Monday.