12 Feb, 2023 @ 11:15
1 min read

The oldest dog in the world, Bobi, lives in the Iberian Peninsula

The oldest dog in the world, Bobi, lives in the Iberian Peninsula
The oldest dog in the world, Bobi, lives in the Iberian Peninsula

A NEW Guinness World Record has been broken in the animal world.

Bobi, a mastiff from Alentejo—an area that spans from the Tagus River down to the Algarve and East all the way to the Spanish border—has recently been declared by the Guinness World Records (GWR), as the world’s oldest living dog.

Born on May 11 1992, Bobi is a whopping 30 years and 277 days old, a remarkable age for a dog.

In fact, according to the Guinness World Records, these dogs, the Rafeiro do Alentejo also called the Portuguese Mastiff and known for protecting livestock, usually have an average life expectancy of 13 years.

Not only has Bobi more than doubled the average life expectancy for his species, he has also broken an almost century-old record, per GWR.

The previous ‘oldest dog in the world’ titleholder was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey who was born in 1910 and lived for 29 years and 5 months.

https://twitter.com/GWR/status/1621162524996472834

Ironically enough, Bobi nearly didn’t survive infancy. He was due to be put down as a puppy along with the rest of his siblings. A frequent practice considered normal back in the 90s, and earlier, by older people in the area.

However, Bobi’s current owner, Leonel Costa (who was eight years old at the time), hid the puppy and eventually convinced his father to make the pup part of the family.

Costa attributes Bobi’s longevity to the dog’s diet of unseasoned human food, the canine’s freedom to roam unleashed through the forests and farmland close to home and the calm countryside in which he grew up.

Bobi is also ‘very sociable’ with other animals, and spends time among his furry pals, even cats!

The SIAC, a pet database authorised by the Portuguese government, has been in charge of verifying the animal’s age.

According to official records, Bobi was registered at a vet in Leiria, Portugal in 1992.

READ MORE:

Cristina Hodgson

Half English, half Spanish animal person. Cristina loves writing about all things fitness, travel and culture, she is also a script writer and novelist. When she's not typing away, you can find her enjoying outdoor sports somewhere off the beaten track in Andalucia. If you have a story get in touch! newsdesk@theolivepress.es

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Fachada De Casa Vicens
Previous Story

A little Gaudi glory: Discover the house that was the first designed by the Catalan Architect

Next Story

Doom or boom?: A look at prospects for the Real Estate market in Spain

Latest from Health

Go toTop

More From The Olive Press

WATCH: Major fire tears through popular water park on Spain’s Costa del Sol – ahead of planned renovations

A DRAMATIC fire today caused serious damage at a popular

Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital among the best-reputed hospitals in Spain

ONCE again Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital has been ranked among the