THIS is the moment a dog picked a fight with a swan - and lost.

It plunged into the water at Mudeford Quay and chased the huge bird in front of horrified onlookers.

Bournemouth Echo:

The dog leaps towards the unsuspecting swan. All pictures by Jennie Franklin

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The swan realises it is under attack and tries to swim away

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But when it finally reached its prey the bird swung round and threatened it, sending it paddling off with its tail between its legs.

Bournemouth Echo:

The drama was captured on camera by photographer Jennie Franklin who had been enjoying the spring sunshine on Tuesday afternoon.

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Unable to escape the dog, the swan decides to turn and fight

Bournemouth Echo:

Bournemouth Echo:

Faced with the swan's impressive wingspan, the dog decides to back off.

Jennie, who also owns Salon on the Grove in Southbourne Grove, said: “It was lovely weather so I'd been out taking photographs when suddenly I heard a dog barking and people started shouting.

“The dog was getting closer and closer to the swan and I'm not sure if it was playing or trying to hurt it.

“At one point it was nearly on top of the swan when it suddenly swung round and flapped its wings.”

Jennie said by this point the dog's owner was also in the water and he managed to grab it and leave.

“The dog had backed off because swans can be nasty and quite frightening” she added.

“There were a lot of people around so I would have been mortified if it was my dog. Its owner had to jump into the water in front of everyone else.”

Both the dog and the swan escaped from the incident unhurt.

*A swan probably can't actually break a man's arm with its wing.  See?