A family's pet chihuahua has scared off a man during an aggravated burglary in Melbourne's south-east, by waking up the owners with its growling, police say.

The intruder disturbed the dog, named Taco, as he broke into the home in Maple Court, Doveton around 3:30am.

Police say the chihuahua's growling woke the home's owner, a 31-year-old woman, who woke her 43-year-old partner, who chased the man out of the house.

Three children in the house slept through the incident, police said.

The thief escaped with an iPad, stolen from the dining room table.

"Investigators believe the unknown man, wearing a black hooded top, entered the house through the back door," police said.

"The offender jumped the back fence and ran away."

No-one was injured.