I have not has the experience of losing a pet yet....My mom has A Bichon, which we got when I was 12. She is now 14 and starting to show signs of aging, but switches from aging to puppy mode still. My dad and his wife also have a Bichon and he is 7. I live with my two guys, O&W. They are 1 1/2 or so. So - so far, no losses. I know Mercedes (the 14 yr old dog) - her time will come some time within the next few years, and it makes me really upset, but animals like humans; some are here only for a short time, cause God needs them to come home and others are here for a lengthy time as God wants them to finish up some things on Earth.