Guinness World Records: Meet Bobi, world’s oldest dog ever

A 30-year-old Portuguese dog has been named the world’s oldest dog by Guinness World Records. This beats a record that had been in place for 100 years. The oldest dog ever was Bluey, who lived in Australia and died in 1939 at the age of 29 years and 5 months.

Bobi is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed with a 12- to 14-year lifespan on average.

As of February 1, the dog was 30 years and 226 days old. The BBC said that he was in good health for his age.

The pet database of the Portuguese government, which is run by the National Union of Veterinarians, has confirmed his old age, according to the Guinness World Records.

He was born with three siblings in an outbuilding and has spent his entire childhood with the Costa family in the village of Conqueiros, close to Portugal’s west coast.

In 2022, Bobi and one of the cats he hangs out with.

— Guinness World Records
Bobi and one of his cat companions in 2022.
— Guinness World Records
Leonel Costa, who is eight years old, said that Bobi got away even though his parents had to put the puppies to sleep because they had too many pets.

The dog was kept hidden from Leonel and his brothers’ parents until he was eventually found and adopted by the family, who feed him the same food they do.

“Bobi doesn’t hesitate and chooses our food over a can of animal food or a piece of meat,” said Costa, who always soaks the food in water to remove the seasoning.

Costa says that Bobi’s life has been mostly trouble-free, except for a scare in 2018 when he was taken to the hospital after suddenly collapsing from breathing problems. Costa thinks that living in a “quiet, pleasant environment” is the key to his long life.

Since Bobi’s mother lived to be 18, it could be a family trait.

But time has taken its toll on Bobi, and now he has trouble walking and his eyesight is getting worse.

Bobi, the dog of the Costa family, is the “last of a long line of animals,” says Costa, who also calls him “one of a kind.”

Spike the Chihuahua, who is 23 years old, was named the oldest living dog by Guinness World Records just two weeks ago. Bobi is the oldest dog that has ever lived.

Since then, Guinness has updated its records and said that Bobi is both the oldest dog ever and the oldest dog to ever live.