PORTLAND, Ore. -- A Portland family's dog was credited Wednesday with helping save a seizure victim's life recently.

Rick Buck said he fell to the floor unconscious in his room when he suffered the seizure two weeks ago. The rest of his family had been in the living room and had no idea what happened.

"The seizures that I have are so serious that I could have died and nobody would have known about it," Buck said.

The family said Coco, their pet German Shepherd mix, started causing a ruckus, barking furiously and trying to get their attention. They followed the dog into Buck's room, where Coco ran in three circles and then played dead.

The family realized something was wrong and found Buck on the floor. The family called 911 immediately and an ambulance took Buck to the hospital to be treated.

Mai Pham, Buck's granddaughter, said the dog has always kept an eye on the family.

"Every night before bed, she walks around the house and makes sure everybody is OK," Pham said. "She'll wait for us and lay by the door."

Buck's family said he may have died if not for their dog. They've since rewarded Coco with plenty of doggie treats and said they have treated her like royalty.

Dog Helps Save Man's Life After Seizure