The police watchdog has ruled against a would be burglar who complained over the way a police dog was set on him.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has ruled an Upper Hutt officer was justified using his dog to apprehend the man who was hospitalised with dog bites for eight days.

The man and a co-offender took off, after police caught them trying to burgle the Brown Owl shops in the early hours of June 5.

The Authority says the officer had control over his dog at all times and releasing the dog to chase the pair was the only realistic way to catch them