A south coast man with mental health issues who was denied entry to his local RSL because of his companion animal has won a human rights case against the club.

Federal Court judge Brigitte Markovic found Club Jervis Bay discriminated against Vincentia resident Peter Reurich on eight occasions in 2014 and 2015 by not allowing him to enter the club or ride the courtesy bus while in the company of his bearded collie, Boofhead.

Peter Reurich with his companion dog Boofhead.

"The old saying goes that a dog is a man’s best friend but, as this case demonstrates, sometimes a dog can be more than that,” Justice Markovic said in her ruling on Friday.

“Boofhead, sometimes referred to as ‘Boofy’ or ‘Boof’, has been with Mr Reurich since his birth in 2007.