Mare Tahau, 29, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday after earlier pleading guilty to one count of ill treating an animal.

The court heard the dog had been barking for about 30 minutes and was locked in a laundry when Tahau went to check on it in May 2017.

Tahau was bitten by the 5.5 kilogram terrier, which led him to punch it in the head.

He was bitten a second time and threw another punch before realising the dog was fatally injured.

"The death of the dog was violent, probably very frightening for the dog and possibly painful," RSPCA prosecutor Damon Ind told the court.

Mr Ind said a post-mortem revealed the dog, named Rover, died of blunt force injuries, similar to those inflicted when a dog is hit by a car.

Tahau contacted the dog's owner - a friend whose Woodville house he had been staying at - who instructed him to bring the dog into the city to meet him.

The court heard Tahau was on his way to a veterinary clinic when he was pulled over by the police for drink driving.

Lawyer Craig Fabbian, for Tahau, told the court his client was remorseful and ashamed of the incident.

He said Tahau had gone into the room with the intention of calming the dog down, and the killing was unintentional.

"He reacted poorly in the circumstances of being bitten," he said.

Magistrate Simon Smart continued Tahau's bail and will sentence him next week.

Tahau made no comment to media as he left the court.

Australian Associated Press