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My previous dog was an eight-pound Brussels Griffon - I grew up with a cocker spaniel and called about an eight-year-old cocker, but that dog had been placed, so I ended up with a nine-year-old BG whose owner had died. He was my little sweetheart from day one - I took him everywhere and he was so good, he must have been used to always being taken, people often didn't notice that I had a dog with me, LOL. And he turned me into a little dog person... 
A vet tech who worked for my vet - and knew my dog - was helping to foster a Brussels Griffon puppy so she contacted me. So I now have a second one - and I agree, I love dogs and would be lost without dogs in my life... 
My Dad grew up with a cocker spaniel - and so did I. That was my first puppy - and the dog I have now was my second. In between I've adopted older dogs, like my little 8-pound wonder. Two of my dogs have lived past 18, but that doesn't make it any easier, it never does. 
And two of my dogs have also had seizures. My little cocker Samantha who I adopted at age 8 - I found out that's why she had been given up - by people who had had her since she was a puppy! I have done a lot of research on seizures over the years. After I lost Sam, I adopted another 8-year-old cocker whose owner had died - and I found out when I went to pick her up that she had been to the vet for "suspected seizures." So of course she had one the night that I brought her home. I know, it's heartbreaking. I have also been to a lot of vets. 
And my second "puppy?" He turned 11 in March and I know what you mean. I intend to have him forever...
I cannot imagine a life w/o a dog....they love so unconditionaly. Right now I am sitting in my recliner, watching TV, reading an ebook mystery, and Fajita is curled up next to me sound asleep. When I say "nite, nite" she is out of the recliner and heads for the bed because she knows itis sleeping time. She will not leave my side until it is bedtime....then she hops into bed anf curls up in my bed.
My little guy was much like that - he was happy just to be with me. My Jack is a little more rambunctious, LOL, but then he's still pretty young - at age 11 I still think of him as my puppy... 
Although agreeing with MLAA above (I love all puppies and kittens), this one's story does make him special.
