Two swimmers who had gotten caught in the riptide at a Southern California beach while their small children watched from shore found aid arriving in the form of a helpful Bernese mountain dog . It was late Thursday afternoon at a beach in Ventura when three-year-old Nico raced into the water after a woman who had become trapped by the current began calling for help . The dog 's owner , Dan Clarke , himself a former lifeguard , told KTLA about watching as Nico paddled out to the struggling woman . Scroll down for video . Hero dog : Three-year-old Nico paddled out to rescue a woman who had gotten caught in the current at Ventura Beach in California . 'He went right out to her , right up to the side of the boogie board and he swum his body around while he was swimming , ' Clarke told the network . ' I just said , `` Grab him anywhere you can . '' ' The woman grabbed onto Nico 's chest and held her boogie board with the other hand , allowing Nico to guide her to shore . The woman 's husband had tried to swim the 100 yards out to his wife , but he had also become taken by the current and could n't reach her . ' I know how treacherous it is out here and what a false sense of security it is , ' said Clarke 's wife Vivian . 'To be not that far off shore and just get caught out and nobody around to help you . ' It was only a few months ago the Clarkes had adopted Nico , who was now paying it forward by rescuing the couple caught in the water . Grateful : The couple joined their children back on the beach , grateful to Nico for coming to their rescue while in the water . Amazed : Dan Clarke , Nico 's owner and a former lifeguard , said he had never seen his newly adopted dog perform a feat like the one he saw on the beach . Warning : Signs warn swimmers at the Ventura beach not to swim into the water , as the riptide can pull beachgoers out to see . 'The woman and the gentleman they were just exhausted , ' said Dan Clarke about the unidentified couple . 'They just looked and said `` Is that like a trained life-saving dog ? '' ' 'That 's the first time I 've seen him doing something like that , ' Clarke says he told them .
fourteen - year - old Nico heard a woman cry for help and jumped into the water to guide her to shore . Signs at the Ventura beach warn visitors about venturing into the waters . Nico 's parents died and sandy Clarke had only just adopted him . The owners of Nico had no aquatic training and they did n't know he was capable of such a feat .