It has always been known that a dog’s years are shorter than a human’s. However, some are blessed with good health and longevity, inspiring so many people around the world. A few lucky dogs have entered the prestigious Guinness World Records for holding a record of being the oldest living dog of their time. Still, the title has been passed on to the next dog who has had the longer years.
The most recent record holder was a 23-year-old Chihuahua Spike. However, a new titleholder has emerged and is not only the oldest living dog but the oldest dog ever!
Learn more about how we verified Bobi here 👇https://t.co/gSF6JfYk5A
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) February 2, 2023
Bobi, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Saturday, May 13, 2023, was declared as both the oldest dog living and oldest dog ever by the Guinness World Records, breaking the titles of both Spike and Bluey, who lived to be 29 years and 5 months old. Bluey passed away in 1939 and it has been decades since the world record has been broken.
Bobi’s birth date has been confirmed by the Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria, which registered Bobi in 1992. His age also has been verified by a pet database authorized by the Portuguese government.
According to Guinness World Records, Bobi is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of Portuguese livestock guardian dog. He lived all his life with his family in the Portuguese village of Conqueiros in Portugal. Bobi has lived an extraordinarily long life, surpassing the ages of even the oldest dog on record and living more than double the life expectancy of his breed.
you're not allowed to scroll past Bobi without saying hello and calling him a good boi 🥰️
he's the oldest dog ever! pic.twitter.com/aOMumBX3HK
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) February 2, 2023
When Bobi was born, he almost did not make it past infancy. His owner, Leonel Costa, recalled that he was almost put down together with his siblings. Leonel’s father was a hunter, and the family had too many dogs in the house. One of the dogs, Gira, gave birth to 4 puppies. His parents decided to put them down since they already had too many dogs.
It was common for people to bury unwanted animals in a hole, which was usually the fate of newborn puppies. However, Bobi managed to evade being caught and was raised by his mother.
Leonel and his siblings kept Bobi a secret for weeks, assuming that their parents would not kill the dog if he was bigger. “We knew that when the dog opened its eyes, my parents would no longer bury it,” Leonel told Guinness. However, nobody realized that Bobi would live longer than any other dog in history.
“I confess that when they found out that we already knew, they screamed a lot and punished us, but it was worth it, and for a good reason!”
Leonel is now 38 years old, and he had Bobi since he was only 8. He could not explain why Bobi had lived a longer life than usual. “One reason could be the calm, peaceful environment of rural life far from the cities,” Leonel claims. He lives the good life eating “human food” and roams around the farmland and forests. Unfortunately, Bobi has been less adventurous as of late due to his old age.
Bobi is doing quite well for a dog his exceptional age. He rests more since his eyesight has been deteriorating, but the vet claims he is “doing well for his advanced age” after examining the elderly dog.
“Bobi is special because looking at him is like remembering the people who were part of our family and unfortunately are no longer here, like my father, my brother, or my grandparents who have already left this world,” Leonel told Guinness World Records. “Bobi represents those generations.”
Congratulations to the world record title holder for being the oldest dog that ever lived! Bobi, you have made an incredible achievement by breaking a decades-old record. May you celebrate more birthdays and even more years to come!
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YouTube video credits: © Guinness World Records
