A loyal family dog stayed by the side of a three-year-old girl for 15 hours after she got lost in bushland in Australia.

Elderly dog Max, who is deaf and partially blind, led police to Aurora after she spent an entire night in Queensland's Southern Downs, ABC News reported.

The toddler wandered out of her home and was reported missing about 3pm on Friday after a search of woodlands and hills on the rural property found no trace of her.

More than 100 emergency services volunteers, police and members of the public resumed the search on Saturday morning and found the girl safe and well with Max at 8am.

Leisa Bennett, Aurora's grandmother, shouted out to her granddaughter and faintly heard her responding.

"When I heard her yell 'Grammy' I knew it was her," she said.

"I shot up the mountain and when I got to the top, the dog came to me and led me straight to her."

State Emergency Services area controller Ian Phipps said Aurora and Max were found about two kilometres from the house, still on the family property.

He said: "The area around the house is quite mountainous and is very inhospitable terrain to go walking in, so she'd travelled quite a distance with her dog that was quite loyal to her.

"With the weather last night it's quite lucky she is well because it was cold, it was cold and raining.

"She's a very hardy young lass to survive that without any ill effects and everyone, all the volunteers are extremely happy."

Max, a 14-year-old Australian cattle dog, has now been declared an honorary police dog by Queensland Police.