A former military sniper turned strong man competitor has pleaded guilty in court to kicking a drug sniffer dog at Gold Coast Airport.

Ian Ronald Crowden pleaded guilty to kicking a customs dog at Gold Coast airport. ( ABC: Tom Forbes )

Ian Ronald Crowden, 39, was charged with animal cruelty and obstructing a Commonwealth officer after an incident inside the terminal in May.

The Southport Magistrates Court heard Crowden was standing with his son and girlfriend when he was approached by the drug sniffing dog Katana.

CCTV footage shows the 160-kilogram Crowden kicking the Labrador in the ribs.

Defence lawyer Jason Jacobson told the Southport Magistrates Court his client suffered from cynophobio - or a fear of dogs - after he was attacked as a 17-year-old in Sydney.

Crowden pleaded guilty to both charges and was convicted and fined a total of $1,000.