A dog helped to “rescue” himself during a house fire after making an incredible gesture to a police officer. The dog was home alone when a fire broke out, filling the house with smoke and drawing the attention of emergency services.

When a police officer arrived at the scene to investigate, bodycam footage captured the situation unfolding in real time. The video begins when the front door is kicked open by an officer who then shouts: “Hello, police, anybody in here?” before heading inside. A fire alarm or smoke detector can be heard bleeping throughout the video.

Once inside the home, the officer soon finds the dog and tells him, “Hey buddy, come here”. The dog - a blue Staffordshire bull terrier - initially flees and heads further into the property.

The officer follows the dog in a bid to lead him to safety and this is when the animal’s intentions become clear - he was showing the location of his lead.

The lead was hanging up on a hook near the back door. The officer attaches the lead to the dog’s collar and they head back outside together. The officer can then be heard coughing from the smoke.

The incident happened in Aurora, Illinois in the US, and was subsequently shared across social media.

ABC News shared the bodycam footage on TikTok and captioned it: “A dog helped assist in its own rescue after an Illinois family's home caught fire last week.

“Bodycam footage shows police entering a smoke-filled home to save the family pet — with the dog leading the officer to its leash before being led out the door.

“No one was inside the home at the time of the fire besides the dog, according to police."

In the comments section, people were keen to share their thoughts. One person joked: “He wasn’t about to break leash laws in front of an officer!”

Another said: “That baby is so scared but still was 100% good dog,” while a third shared: “I love that the officer actually listened to the dog."

A fourth commented: “HE’S A GOOD BOY HE KNOWS HE CAN’T GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT HIS LEASH I’M SOBBING.”

Someone else said: “As soon as he had that leash he was like ‘We gotta go man! The house is on fire!’”

Another said: “So innocent man. You cannot beat a STAFFY… one of the best dog breeds you can get.”

Staffordshire bull terriers are known for their friendly, loyal natures. According to PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals), they are “lively and energetic dogs” who “love company and cuddles from their owner (once they’ve tired themselves out)."

The organisation adds: “They love to be at the centre of anything going on in the home.

“Staffies are stocky and solid dogs with seemingly boundless energy, which makes them the perfect pet for active households. They do best when there is someone around the home all the time to keep them company – otherwise you might find your furniture pays the price!”