Police are considering laying charges against a man for reportedly shooting a police dog yesterday in Tangowahine, north of Dargaville

Police were pursing a man wanted for drug and firearm charges - and shot him three times after the dog was fired on.

The dog, which has name suppression, was rushed to a vet in Auckland's Mt Albert, with critical injuries to its jaw.

It will have further assessments by specialists.

The man remains in a stable condition in Auckland City Hospital.