Move on over, Spike! Just two weeks ago, yeah you heard me, two weeks ago, a 23 year-old Chihuahua named Spike was officially named the World’s Oldest Dog (living).
Meet Bobi! He is the oldest living dog currently, as well as being the oldest to ever live (according to records, that is). According to the Guinness World Records, Bobi is being recorded as 30 years and 268 days old! Let’s find out more about him and his story!
There is a new World’s Oldest Dog in town! Meet Bobi and learn his story!
Bobi is a Portuguese purebred Rafiero de Alentejo, which is actually a breed of livestock guardian dogs! His life expectancy was initially 12 – 14 years; however, that has since been doubled and them some!
Bobi has spent his whole entire life living in the same place, same country, same everything almost. He officially broke a nearly century-old record that was previously held by an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey (any correlation to the kid’s TV show at all?) who lived from 1910-1939.
Leonel Costa is Bobi’s owner, and he was actually just 8 years old himself when Bobi was born (Bobi was born on May 11, 1992 to be exact). Here’s what Costa had to say about his furry (legit) lifelong pal, Bobi:
"“Bobi has been a warrior for all these years, only he knows how he’s been holding on, 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.”"
The Costa family is actually a long-living dog sort of family, with a previous dog living to be 22 years old several years back.
Costa hopes that one day, Bobi still has a chance to father some of his own pups one day!
Bobi actually has a secret that makes his long life even that much more heroic.
- Bobi nearly didn’t make it past puppyhood
- Him and his three brothers were actually born out in the family’s woodshed out back
- Costa’s father had already decided that they had enough pups
- Costa and his brother had thought that their parents had taken all of the other puppies away to be destroyed
- A few days later, Bobi was spotted and rescued alive
- He was safely hidden in a pile of logs
- Costa and his brother ended up keeping Bobi’s birth and existence a secret until he could officially open his eyes on his own
- They just knew that once the puppy (Bobi) opened its eyes, that here parents could no longer bury him
- To them, “it was worth it” (keeping Bobi’s existence a secret, that is)
While Bobi grew up very sociable and alongside many other animals, he’s definitely become a whole heck of a lot less in his old age. He is and has always grown up in a very “calm, peaceful environment”, which owner Costa thinks has helped with the longevity of his life thus far!
Bobi has basically only had one (and thank God that it’s only been just one) “big scare” back in 2018 when he collapsed due to breathing difficulties. His vets have always stated that he is “doing well for his advanced age”.
In closing thoughts, owner Leonel Costa had this to say:
"“We are very happy and grateful to life for allowing us, after 30 years, to have Bobi in our daily lives.”"What are your thoughts on Bobi’s life? Do you know an older dog much like Bobi himself? Let’s share some heartwarming stories down below and help keep our chats super positive! And as always…Woof, Woof!
- They just knew that once the puppy (Bobi) opened its eyes, that here parents could no longer bury him