Washington:
A 'hero' dog in the US has been credited with saving its owner's life after the canine nudged the man awake when his house was on fire.
Buddy, a chocolate Labrador, alerted its owner in Sacramento, California, to a fire in his home that apparently had no working smoke alarm.
The man when awakened discovered a fire burning in a bedroom at the rear of the house.
Sacramento Fire Department spokesman Roberto Padilla said fire crews were called to the home at about 6:30 pm local time on Thursday.
Padilla said the man suffered some smoke inhalation and had soot on his face.
He was treated but declined to be taken to a hospital, 'The Sacramento Bee' reported.
Padilla said the man did not recall hearing a smoke alarm, and firefighters had found no evidence of a working smoke detector in the house.
He said the home suffered significant damage.