Bobi has never been chained up or attached to a leash.
A farm dog called Bobi has been crowned the oldest living dog – just two weeks Guinness World Records gave the title to a 23-year-old dog called Spike.
Bobi, who lives in the Leira district of Portugal, is 30 years and 267 days old and his record was recognised on February 1 as the oldest dog ever. He is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, which is a breed of livestock guardian dog with an average life expectancy of 12-14 years.
Spike, of Ohio, was announced as the record holder in December. The previous oldest dog was Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who lived to 29 years and 5 months.
Bobi stays on the family-run farm where he was born in the village of Conqueiros, and, despite his age, is still healthy enough to play with the family’s four cats.
In 1992, Bobi was registered with Serviço Medico-Veterinário do Município de Leiria (Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria), who have confirmed Bobi’s birth date and it has also been verified by SIAC, a pet database authorised by the Portuguese government and managed by the SNMV (Sindicato Nacional dos Médicos Veterinários; National Union of Veterinarians).
Bobi was born in an outbuilding where the Costa family stored food, along with three other pups.
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Leonel thinks that one of the biggest contributing factors to the dog’s long life is the “calm, peaceful environment, far from cities” that Bobi lives in.
Bobi has never been chained up nor attached to a leash, and has always enjoyed free roam of the forests and farmland surrounding the Costa family house.
Leonel describes Bobi as “very sociable” as he grew up with many other animals. Bobi is less adventurous now in his old age; walking is difficult so he mostly spends his time hanging out in the backyard with his four feline friends.
Bobi’s eyesight has worsened too; Leonel often notices him colliding with obstacles when he walks. As for his diet, Bobi has always eaten “human food.” He believes that this has contributed greatly to Bobi’s longevity.
Leonel never considered that Bobi might be the world’s oldest dog until recently. In fact, when he sent in Bobi’s application for the title of oldest dog living, he didn’t even realise that Bobi would also be the oldest dog ever.
“I never thought of registering Bobi to break the record because fortunately our animals have always lasted for many years,” he explained.
Leonel said that Bobi’s mother, Gira, lived to the age of 18, and another one of their dogs, Chicote, lived to be 22.
“We see situations like this as a normal result of the life that they have, but Bobi is one of a kind.”
Bobi turns 31 in May.
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