Guinness World Records certified Bobi — who is 30 years and 266 days old as of February 1, 2023 — as the new record holder.
The previous oldest dog ever was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey who lived to be 29 years and 5 months old. He lived from 1910 to 1939 — meaning Bobi broke an almost century-old record.
Bobi’s birth date has been confirmed by Serviço Medico-Veterinário do Município de Leiria (Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria), as well as SIAC, a pet database authorized by the Portuguese government.
Bobi’s human, Leonel Costa, never even thought his dog could be the oldest dog living, let alone the oldest dog ever.
Bobi, on the other hand, was 30 years 266 days as of February 1 when the record was set.
According to Guinness, Bobi is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, which is a breed of livestock guardian dog with an average life expectancy of 12-14 years.
He has lived his entire life with his Costa family in the rural village of Conqueiros, in Leiria.
Apart from his age, Bobi has an incredible story. He was born as one of four male pups in a barn where the Costa family stored wood.
"I was eight years old,” said Leonel Costa, who is now 38 years old.
"My father was a hunter and we always had many dogs.”
Due to the number of animals they already had, Costa’s father decided not to keep the newborn puppies.
"Unfortunately, at that time it was considered normal by older people - who could not have more animals at home - to bury the animals in a hole so they would not survive,” said Costa.
The day after the puppies were born, Costa’s parents entered the room and quickly took them whilst their mother, Gira, was absent.
However, in their haste, one of the pups was unintentionally left behind.
Costa said he and his brothers were very sad over the following days, but, they noticed that Gira continued to visit the barn where her puppies were born.
"We found the situation strange, because if the animals were no longer there, why would she go there?”
After following Gira on one of her trips to the barn, the brothers discovered Bobi.
They decided to keep the little pup’s existence a secret until he was slightly bigger.
"We knew that when the dog opened its eyes, my parents would no longer bury it,” said Costa.
When Costa’s parents eventually discovered Bobi, it was too late as he had already opened his eyes.
"I confess that when they found out that we already knew, they screamed a lot and punished us, but it was worth it and for a good reason.”
“I was eight years old,” Costa, who is now 38, said. “My father was a hunter, and we always had many dogs.”
Costa’s father decided they couldn’t have any more animals around, and his parents took the puppies out of the room the day after they were born while the pups’ mom, Gira, was not in there.
“Unfortunately, at that time it was considered normal by older people who could not have more animals at home […] to bury the animals in a hole so that they would not survive,” Costa explained“I was eight years old,” Costa, who is now 38, said. “My father was a hunter, and we always had many dogs.”
Costa’s father decided they couldn’t have any more animals around, and his parents took the puppies out of the room the day after they were born while the pups’ mom, Gira, was not in there.
“Unfortunately, at that time it was considered normal by older people who could not have more animals at home […] to bury the animals in a hole so that they would not survive,” Costa explained.
Once the secret of Bobi’s existence was out to Costa’s family, it was too late — he had opened his eyes and was part of the family.
“I confess that when they found out that we already knew, they screamed a lot and punished us, but it was worth it and for a good reason,” Costa admitted.
Costa said that only Bobi could speak to his secret to a long life — if he could talk.
However, he does think that one of the biggest factors to his longevity is being in a “calm, peaceful environment” away from the cities.
“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.”
The pooch is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, which is a breed of livestock watchdog with an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, according to American Kennel Club.
Bobi has spent his whole life in the rural village of Conqueiros, in Leiria, Portugal, with the Costa family.
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