Russell Waters is over the moon after finally being reunited with best mate Roger.

After a hard seven days thinking he might have lost his best mate forever, Russell Waters is "overwhelmingly happy" to be reunited with his chocolate labrador Roger.

Waters had spent his free time since Roger went missing searching for him. He chartered a helicopter to search the Waimakariri River and briefly offered his boat as a reward.

Roger was found about 300 metres from his West Melton house, beside an irrigation ditch. The labrador is recovering from a dislocated right leg and damaged knee at Vetlife in Rangiora.

MATTHEW SALMONS/STUFF West Melton man Russell Waters had gone to extraordinary lengths to try and find Roger.

Waters said he believed Roger had been there from at least Tuesday night, as he thought he had heard a bark from that direction while he stood outside.

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"I waited for a while but never heard another. I'd say he had heard me talking, I was only 300/400m away and he was trying to get my attention."

SUPPLIED/FACEBOOK Russell Waters is over the moon after finally being reunited with best mate Roger.

On Wednesday night, Waters' partner Nicki Wyllie called him to say she had been contacted by Kathryn Meyers, who had heard whimpering near a water race and found a dog.

Waters said his neighbour Mike had gone down to check if it was Roger while he was on the phone with Meyers.

"When I heard him say he could see Roger, that was it for me. I was in the car and racing."

SUPPLIED/RUSSELL WATERS Roger had been missing now for a week and is now recovering in Rangiora.

He said while he was overwhelmingly happy to see his best mate again, he felt guilty that Roger got out of the property and been hurt.

"I feel like I let a good dog down by not being there for him," Waters said.

It could be a while before Roger could come home, Waters said, but he was willing to wait "as long as it takes" for his mate to be healthy.

"It's a happy end to the last seven days. I still can't believe it really.

"I think I'm exhausted too, worn out."

He said he wanted to thank everyone who had spent so much time helping in the search and for the effort put in by Vetlife.

"Kathryn and Mike, they're my biggest heroes right now."