The Winter Olympics have already delivered their usual mix of breathtaking triumphs and heartbreaking near-misses as the world’s top athletes compete for gold in Italy, but on Wednesday morning, an unexpected four-legged intruder added a fresh dose of entertainment and intrigue to the tournament.

The spectacle occurred during the women's team cross country qualifiers in Tesero, when a wolf-like dog appeared on the track and began chasing after some of the contestants during their event.

Footage showed the lively hound seemingly excited by the camera and chasing after it. 

Two passing skiers then appears to catch its eye, and it then runs after the pair from Croatia and Greece as they cross the finish line, much to the entertainment of those watching on from the sidelines.

A couple of the athletes reacted to the charismatic canine's presence on the course after the race, with top-qualifier Swede Jonna Sundling saying she thought 'it was cute' as she walked past the press zone.

Her competitor, Norwegian Astrid Oyre Slind, who finished in fifth place, jokingly added: 'A dog is my least problem, a Swede is my biggest.'

Others were more alarmed by the dog's sudden introduction, with Nahiara Gonzalez Diaz from Argentina saying 'I thought: What on earth is a dog doing here?' and last-placed Greece contestant Konstantina Charalampido saying that she feared it was a wolf. 

Meanwhile cross-country skiing expert Fredrik Aukland said that the dog's interference 'could have been a disaster'.

The two-year-old dog's owner came forward after the race, revealing that his name is 'Nazgul' and suggesting he had escaped from their home.

'He just disappeared, ran away from home. He is a very kind dog. Very stubborn, very sweet and very social. He always seeks contact with people. He doesn't hurt people,' he told Norwegian outlet VG.

The name Nazgul is taken from the ringwraiths in The Lord of the Rings. Nazgul is a Czech wolfhound.

Dogs have been a common fixture at this year's Winter Olympics, with one seen to be sitting on the sidelines sporting a Team USA jersey watching the figure skating.

Earlier in the week, a video of a playful hound went viral after it interrupted the downhill ski race, slipping and sliding through the ice as it evaded its captor.

Spectators in the crowd and some of the athletes were pictured sporting wide grins as the dog ran a large portion of the course himself.

Perhaps the presence of Snoop Dogg at this year’s event has stirred up a little extra excitement among the local canines.