You won't believe this paw-some news. 🐶
Just two weeks after meeting Spike and announcing him as the world’s oldest dog living, we have received evidence of an even older dog!
But this pooch is not just the oldest dog living right now...
He is the oldest dog ever - as in the oldest dog to have ever lived! 🤯
His name is Bobi, and he was born on 11 May 1992.
That makes Bobi 30 years 266 days old as of 1 February 2023.
Bobi's story
Bobi is a Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of livestock guardian dog who has lived his entire life in a village of Conqueiros, in Leiria, Portugal.
The record for the oldest dog ever hasn't been broken in almost a hundred years! The previous record holder was Bluey, who lived to be 29 years 5 months old.
Bobi's age has been confirmed by Leiria's Veterinary Medical Service and by SIAC, an official pet database.
Bobi has lived with the Costa family his whole life. When he was born, his owner Leonel Costa was 8 years old.
According to Leonel, Bobi has lived to be this old thanks to the calm, peaceful environment in which he grew up, and the freedom to run around exploring the forests and farmland around the house. 🏡
Also, he is very sociable and lives with many other animals, so he is never lonely!
Everyday life
Bobi is an old dog now, so he needs more time to rest and he is less adventurous than he used to be. He has difficulty walking long distances and his eyesight isn't as good as it used to be.
However, he is still very happy and loved by his family.
So what is his everyday life like these days?
- He likes spending most of his time hanging out in the backyard with his four cat friends. 🐈
- He relaxes in bed after his meals.💤
- On cold days, he loves taking naps by the fire. 🔥
- He prefers to eat whatever his family is eating rather than dog food, and drinks lots of water! 🍝
As Leonel explained: “Between a can of animal food or a piece of meat, Bobi doesn’t hesitate and chooses our food.
“We have regular [vet] appointments with him and the exams have always shown that he is doing well for his advanced age”.
But Bobi is not the only dog in the Costa family who has lived a long life. In fact, his mother Gira lived to the age of 18, while his friend, Chicote, lived to be 22!
So, when we asked Leonel how he feels about Bobi being a record-breaking dog, he said he was very surprised, as he “never thought of registering Bobi to break the record because fortunately our animals have always lasted for many years. We see situations like this as a normal result of the life that they have, but Bobi is one of a kind!".
He really is. ❤️
We look forward to Bobi's 31st birthday in May. In the meantime, we hope he keeps living a happy life, with lots of cuddles, naps by the fireplace, and delicious 'human food'! 🤤
