At 12 years she lost a puppy, and found it in time to bury it. Her loyalty is to be commended, but the dog does not know her.
You couldn’t be more wrong about the dog not knowing her owner after 12 yrs.
Dogs remember by association and that association is made by their sense of smell which is a 100,000 times more sensitive than ours.
Not sure about that.
Pets can remember their care givers years after they have been separated.