Mike and Caroline Jenner feared their pet Quila had drowned after she was swept out to sea by the tide at Sea Palling, Norfolk.
And the couple were thrilled when the eight-year-old animal was dramatically saved by Happisburgh, Norfolk Lifeboat crew - who found her cowering on a reef.
Mr Jenner, 71, of Stalham, said: 'It was going to be a terrible, miserable Christmas - but that was swept away and everything is wonderful now.'
Mr Jenner had taken Quila for her regular stroll on Sea Palling beach with the dog's daughter Sunni early on Sunday morning.
The two dogs got excited after spotting a seal pup in the water and leapt in after it.
Despite frantically whistling and shouting, the dog owner could not get them back.
'I managed to get Sunni back, I was waist high in water by then. I tied her up and then tried to get Quila, who was getting further and further out and totally ignoring me.'
Mr Jenner managed to get two kayakers to try to bring the stricken dog in. But terrified Quila was dragged out to sea - and quickly vanished out of sight.
The coast guard was alerted and lifeboats sent out a search party.
But Mr Jenner admitted he had 'given up hope' as he returned home to tell his wife Caroline the heartbreaking news.
'I told her I'd lost Quila at sea and feared she was drowned,' said Mr Jenner. 'There was no easy way of saying it - it was horrible.'
But then a neighbour spotted a sign on the beach saying a golden Labrador had been rescued.
Mike contacted the coastguard and was put in touch with Sea Palling lifeboat.
A crew member had taken frozen Quila - who had lost her name tag with her owners' phone number on during her nightmare ordeal - home to get her warm after she suffered hypothermia.
'I didn't think I'd ever see our Quila again,' said Mr Jenner. 'It ended happily ever after.'
Mrs Jenner, 61, added: 'We're over the moon. We really can't thank Happisburgh and Sea Palling rescue enough, they were absolutely fantastic.'
(Daily Mail - Dec 24, 2013)
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