Buba Ahmed of Belbelo village, near the northeastern city of Maiduguri, said guests are grateful that the dog sacrificed itself to save their lives.
He said the bomber was on the outskirts of a gathering where most villagers were attending a wedding ceremony when the dog pounced on her on Sunday morning.
Police spokesman Victor Isuku confirmed that the dog had intervened to save the wedding party.
A multinational force has driven Boko Haram Islamic extremists out of most towns and villages in northeastern Nigeria, but the extremists have resorted to attacking soft targets with suicide bombers.
Meanwhile, Nigerian police confirmed that three suicide bombers blew themselves up attempting to get into Maiduguri on Sunday morning.
Isuku said two men detonated explosive vests when security agents challenged them near an entry to the city, which has sustained several attacks. He said the bombers killed only themselves.
He added that a lone bomber at a different location also blew himself up, injuring a civilian.
Dozens have died recently in such attacks blamed on Boko Haram, but many other bombers have been stopped by soldiers and civilian self-defence militia.
Some 20,000 people have died in Nigeria’s seven-year Islamic uprising
