'30 Years Old' Oldest Dog Ever Recorded in Portugal Emerges

Average Lifespan 12 Years for 'Hafeiro do Alentejo' Breed
Previous Longest-Lived Dog Lived Up to 29 Years and 5 Months

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] A Portuguese dog, who will turn 31 years old in 100 days, has claimed the two crowns of the Guinness World Records (GWR) for the oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever recorded.

On the 2nd (local time), GWR announced that as of the 1st, 'Bobby,' a Portuguese dog born on May 11, 1992, aged 30 years and 266 days, holds the records for the oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever. Bobby is a male of the 'Hafeiro do Alentejo' breed, which is used for herding livestock, and the average life expectancy of this breed is known to be 12 to 14 years.

'Bobby', introduced as the oldest dog ever on Guinness World Records (GWR) Twitter.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Bobby's birth record is registered in the Portuguese government-certified pet database (SIAC), so there is no room for dispute. SIAC is managed by the National Veterinary Association under the approval of the Portuguese government.

Bobby, who has lived his entire life with the Costa family in the rural village of Conqueiros in Leiria, Portugal, faced a near-death experience of being buried alive right after birth. Leonel Costa, Bobby’s owner who is now 38 years old, clearly remembers the time when Bobby was born; Bobby was one of four male puppies born in a woodshed used for storing firewood.

Costa said, "I was 8 years old when Bobby was born. My father was a hunter, and we always raised many dogs." At that time, the Costa family already had many animals, so following the custom, they buried the newborn puppies in a hole. However, for some reason, even though the puppies disappeared, the mother dog kept going in and out of the woodshed. Leonel and his siblings soon realized Bobby’s existence and kept it a secret from their parents until Bobby opened his eyes. They knew that if a puppy opened its eyes after 1 to 2 weeks, it would not be buried. As Leonel predicted, Bobby safely became part of the Costa family and has been with them for 30 years since.

Eating Human Food All His Life and Never Tied with a Leash

Leonel believes Bobby’s longevity secret is the quiet and peaceful environment far from the city. Bobby has never been chained or tied with a leash and enjoyed freely roaming the nearby forests and farmland. He also has a unique eating habit. Bobby has eaten human food all his life instead of dog food. However, to remove seasoning, the food is soaked in water before he eats it.

Now, due to old age, Bobby’s eyesight has deteriorated and he has leg problems, but he spends a comfortable old age relaxing in the backyard with his four cat friends or by the fireplace. Leonel said, "Watching Bobby, the 'last animal generation' of the Costa family, is special because it reminds us of the past times and family members who have passed away before us."

According to Guinness World Records, the previous oldest dog ever was 'Bluey,' an Australian cattle dog who died in 1939 at the age of 29 years and 5 months. The previous record holder for the oldest living dog was Spike, a Chihuahua from the United States, who claimed the title in December last year at a minimum age of 23 years and 7 days. However, Spike lost his title to Bobby, who is over 7 years older, in less than two months.