A former bank manager has been sentenced to six months' jail in Victoria for stealing and causing the death of a pedigree dog that was found hanging from a tree.

Barry Patrick Rochford, 49, was sentenced in the Bendigo Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to causing the dog's death.

Rochford, a keen dog breeder, stole two Irish wolfhounds from a property near Ballarat two years ago. One has never been found.

Magistrate William Gibb said Rochford's crimes "beggared belief".

He will serve three months for animal cruelty and three months for stealing the dogs. The sentences will be served cumulatively.

A passer-by found an Irish wolfhound hanging from a tree at Lake Eppalock, south-east of Bendigo, on Christmas Day in 2007.

It is unclear how long the dog had been there.

His six-month sentence is on top of a jail term he is currently serving for arson offences, also committed two years ago.

He will be eligible for parole in February 2011.

Rochford appeared in court via video link from jail.