From living rough on the streets to daily swims with local dolphins, a former stray dog is now loving life on land and in the water.

Erin Cummings and her two-year-old rescue dog Kuta are regulars on the white sand beaches of the isolated Western Australian coastal town of Esperance.

But for Kuta, it is not just the invigorating southern Australian water she enjoys — she has also made friends with pods of local dolphins.

"The dolphins play with her and swim around her and come up and say hello," Ms Cummings said.

Not long ago, Kuta was rescued by Ms Cummings' boyfriend who found the young dog in poor condition and wandering the streets.

Now part of a beach-loving family, the lucky dog joins Ms Cummings on her paddleboard each morning.

Ms Cummings said that Kuta usually prefers to swim alongside rather than join her on the paddleboard. ( Supplied: Erin Cummings )

Pods of dolphins are common along the Esperance coast, and Ms Cummings said Kuta could not resist jumping into the water to investigate.

"She doesn't get to see the whole thing, she just wants to know what these little fins are," she said.

"They've brushed her, they've touched her, they've given her a little nudge."

Ms Cummings said the number of dolphins usually ranged from just a couple to 30 or 40 in a group, but it is not just dolphins — Kuta has also had a run-in with a local seal.

Kuta had been riding on a friend's paddleboard when a seal suddenly appeared and began swimming around the board, she said.

"The seal popped its head onto the board where Kuta was [and] she just loved it," Ms Cummings said.

After at first being apprehensive about allowing Kuta to follow her natural instincts, soon enough the dog had joined her seal friend in the water.

"They ended up being best friends," Ms Cummings said.

"The seal would swim one way, go under her and swim the other way, so they were playing with each other."

Ms Cummings said Kuta's fascination is with the fins of the dolphins that seems to hook her attention. ( Supplied: Erin Cummings )

The Esperance region is also home to a healthy population of sharks, and sightings are not uncommon.

Last month, a snorkelling diver was circled by a large shark, and in October 2014, a surfer had one arm, and his other hand taken in a shark attack while surfing at an Esperance beach.

Ms Cummings said sharks were always a consideration for her but the presence of dolphins made her feel safer, and while she felt it was safe, she and Kuta would continue to enjoy the water.

"We're in the ocean, we're in their area, so it's always a worry, but it's so beautiful," she said.

"I don't think about it too much."