This little dog takes being man’s best friend to a whole new level.

Australian ultra-marathoner Dion Leonard met Gobi, an adorable blonde stray mutt with short legs and pointy ears, back in June during a 250-kilometre race through the northern Chinese desert he later named her after.

The pair stuck together through blistering heat, river crossings and kilometres of punishing strides in the Gobi March, a seven-day desert foot race.

Gobi galloped an incredible 126 kilometres with Leonard, sometimes lagging behind and sometimes encouraging him from in front. The pair won one leg of the six-stage race together and Leonard finished second overall.

“I was amazed. I was amazed that such a small dog had such a big heart and could actually run as quick as she could,” Leonard told CTV News Channel Saturday from his home in Edinburgh.

“She was inspirational. She just didn’t stop running all day.”

There were 100 other runners in the race and Leonard, 41, says it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why Gobi, a terrier cross who Leonard believes is under two years old, chose him to be her running mate.

She ran with an American competitor on the first day but took up with Leonard on the second. She crawled into his tent that night, ate with him and slept by his side. Gobi stayed with him the rest of the week and the new friends were never separated again, he said.

“I don’t exactly know what it was but it was an absolutely a fantastic part of the race for me.”

Photos from the event show Leonard and Gobi running side by side, cuddling during rest times and celebrating at the finish line with matching medals and smiles.

On days four and five, temperatures in the heart of the desert reached of 52 C and it was just too hot for Gobi to run so she was transported to the finish line.

“She would actually sit there though and she would wait for me in the shade and as soon as I would coming running toward the finish line, she would get up and come running back out to greet me, which was great after two hot days of running.”

Leonard fell so in love with Gobi that he set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to take her home. It was initially intended just for other runners and race crew and organizers to pitch in. But the campaign went global and raised close to $30,000.

Leonard says that’s much more than what he needs and he’ll donate the remainder to dog charities.

“It’s been more than we expected and we’re truly grateful to everyone who helped out with the cause.”

Gobi’s story now has its own Facebook page and Instagram account @bringgobihome.

Gobi remains with a race organizer in China and will travel to Beijing in the next week or two to begin the four-month quarantine process before she can be reunited with Leonard in Scotland.

“Fingers crossed we can have her in time for Christmas, which would be an amazing Christmas present.”