There’s a new reigning titleholder for World’s Oldest Dog. Bobi, a 30-year-old purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, claimed the spot only weeks after the Guinness World Records crowned a 23-year old Chihuahua-Mix from Ohio.
Oldest Dog Ever Recorded
Just weeks ago, a 23-year-old named Spike earned the title with a certificate verifying he was “at least 23 years and 7 days old.” Thus, the crowning of Bobi from the village of Conqueiros in Portugal breaks the previous verified record. In fact, Bobi is the oldest dog ever recorded at 30 years and 266 days old.
An Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey, who lived for 29 years and 5 months between 1910 and 1939, previously held the record. Although another Australian Cattle Dog may have lived to the age of 32 years, no verification exists for this claim. Having been registered with the Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria in 1992, Bobi’s age is verified. The SIAC, a government authorized pet database, also verified his age.
“Bobi has been a warrior for all these years, only he knows how he’s been holding on,” Bobi’s dog parent Leonel Costa states. “It must not be easy because the average dog’s life span is not that high and if he spoke only he could explain this success.”
A livestock guardian dog, Bobi has lived over twice his breed’s life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. While certainly remarkable, Costa’s family has a history of long-lived dogs. Bobi’s mother lived to 18, and another family dog lived to 22.
A Tale of Luck
Without a doubt, Bobi’s story is nothing short of miraculous. According to a post on the GWR website, he was born as one of four pups. Because of the number of animals his family owned, Costa’s father determined they couldn’t keep the newborn dogs and removed them from the outbuilding where they were kept. In his hurry, he didn’t notice Bobi hidden away in a woodpile. Upon the discovery of the newborn safely tucked away, the pup immediately became part of the family.
Bobi, who is “very sociable,” grew up in a “calm, peaceful environment, far from the cities” and surrounded by animals. Costa contributes this environment, along with the pup’s diet of “human food,” to the record-breaking lifespan.
Bobi is taking it easy in his old age and enjoys spending time in the backyard with his feline friends. His 31st birthday is in May.
