A 30-year-old Portuguese dog has been the world’s oldest by Guinness World Records announced on Thursday – beating a record that stood for a century.
Bobi is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo breed with an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
Born on May 11, 1992, Bobi is now 30 years and 267 days old, the Guinness World Records said. According to the American Kennel Club, he is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed known for protecting livestock. Rafeiro do Alentejo dogs have an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, Guinness said.
Guinness said Bobi’s age was verified by SIAC, a pet database approved by the Portuguese government.
Bobi is very calm and friendly, his family told Guinness, adding that he loves to be pet, enjoys playing with his four cat siblings, and likes to walk around the family’s farm. Bobi can also be found relaxing by the fireplace on colder days.
Due to Bobi’s old age, walking is tough; his family told Guinness. In addition, they say his eyesight has worsened, and he often bumps into various things.
“Bobi is special because looking at him is like remembering the people who were part of our family and unfortunately are no longer here, like my father, brother, or grandparents who have already left this world. So Bobi represents those generations,” the Costa family told Guinness.
Guinness said that the previous record-holder for the oldest dog was Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who lived to be 29 years and five months old.
