Man's best friend found himself up against the ultimate alpha dog-- a 7-foot gator.

>>Video shows dog save fellow canine from drowning

The Naples Daily News reported that Carbon, a black lab, was cooling off in a lake when he bumped into trouble with the gator. Lucky for him, Donald C. Copps, who was watching Carbon for a friend, jumped in to help.

Carbon’s left thigh was bit before getting away, the Daily News reported.

>>‘Florida Normal’: Massive gator sightings and a viral gator-python duel

“For whatever reason, alligators seem to have a fondness for dogs and will go after them,” Dr. Lon Miyahira, the veterinarian who treated Carbon, told the Daily News.

As for Cobbs, he told the Daily News, “By the time I gathered my senses, the dog was out of the water and I’m in it up to my chest, just feet from the gator.”

Carbon is said to be making a full recovery. Cobbs may still be rattled.

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Read more at the Naples Daily News.

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Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com