Dog tore present (7)
I believe the answer is:
current
'present' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'dog tore' is the wordplay.
'dog' becomes 'cur' (a cur is an aggressive or scruffy dog).
'tore' becomes 'rent' (rending is a kind of tearing).
'cur'+'rent'='CURRENT'
(Other definitions for current that I've seen before include "Present - tide" , "Source of power" , "In general use; flow" , "In vogue" , "moving mass" .)