A crafty puppy worked its charms on a tender-hearted butcher after blitzing him with its puppy dog eyes to get a free meal.

The pup had given its owner Ms Sun the slip at a farmers’ market in the city of Xi’an, in Shaanxi province, north-western China.

Ms Sun told local media that was distracted buying vegetables and her clever pup seized the opportunity to visit the meat stand they often passed.

In a video of the scene, the black and white pup is seen up on its hind legs begging with its front paws while the stall owner slices off a piece of meat and throws it to the pooch.

After wolfing it down, the pup tries again and is rewarded with a second piece of meat before the video comes to an end.

Ms Sun said her dog’s begging is completely self-taught just from observing others.

She added that she now avoids the butcher’s shops when out buying food with her mischievous pup.