my step fathers dog recently passed, he had to have been at least 18. The day before my mom said she knew it was coming because her little Cocker Spaniel kept going over to him and licking his face and sunggling up next to him. My youngest son has Epilepsy and when he gets sick I have to watch him. Its usually the dog that tells me he is sick because if hes laying on the couch she will find a spot to lay next to him and she stays there with him. Animals are amazing.