There are many famous accounts of dogs understanding the passing of their friends. There's one famous account of the dog seeming to not knowing and continuing to look for its owner. Hachiko, an Akita, came to his owner in 1924 and lost his owner in 1925. Apparently, his daily routine was to follow his owner to the train station every morning and greet him later in the day. One day, the owner died and didn't return. The dog continued to come to the station everyday at the time of the train arrival for nine years.
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachik%C5%8D][/url]
They made a movie about that story, Chuck. Very good flick.
Yes, "Hachi, a Dog's Tale" Richared Gere played Hachito's owner & the movie was set in New England in recent times, whereas it actually took place in Japan in the 1920s. It Is A True Story.
Best Regards, George
SRH