30-year-old dog breaks record for oldest canine ever 

A 30–year-old dog from Portugal has been named the world’s oldest dog, the Guinness Book of World Records announced on Thursday. 

Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of livestock guardian dog, was verified to be 30 years old and 266 days on February 1. Bobi has exceeded the life expectancy for his breed, which usually lived around 12 to 14 years. Bobi’s age has been verified by SIAC, a pet database authorized by the Portuguese government. 

Bobi was born on May 11, 1992, on a farm in the rural village of Conqueiros in Leiria, Portugal. He was born as one of four male pups on the Costa family farm. 

“I was eight years old,” Leonel Costa, who was eight years old when Bobi joined the family. “My father was a hunter, and we always had many dogs. ” 

At the time of Bobi’s death, Leonel’s father decided that he couldn't keep the newborn puppies. But luck ended up saving Bobi and keeping them alive. 

Previously, the title of the world’s oldest dog had gone to a 22-year-old Los Angeles Chihuahua named Gino in November. However, the record was quickly given away in December to another Chihuahua named Spike, who was 23 years old. 

The Portuguese dog also broke an almost century-old record for the oldest dog ever. The previous oldest dog ever, Bluey, an Australian cattle dog lived from 1910 to 1939, a total of 29 years and 5 months old. 

“I never thought of registering Bobi to break the record because fortunately, our animals have always lasted for many years,” Costa told Guinness. “We see situations like this as a normal result of the life that they have, but Bobi is one of a kind.”