Guinness World Records reexamines Bobi's 'world's oldest dog' title
Bobi (guinnessworldrecords.com)
Bobi, the Portuguese mastiff, was known as the oldest dog ever when he passed away at 31 last October. However, doubts about his age are causing officials at Guinness World Records (GWR) to take a second look, according to The Guardian and BBC.
GWR marked Bobi in February 2023, declaring him both the world’s oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever. Bobi belonged to the purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed with an average lifespan ranging from 12 to 14 years.
Bobi, entitled as world's oldest dog (Guinness World Records)
After Bobi's death, some people questioned the accuracy of his age, equivalent to over 200 human years. Doubts arose about the authenticity of the pet's age when looking at old photos that displayed distinct markings on its fur. Some even speculated that it might be an entirely different dog. Observers noted differences in his appearance in 1999 photos compared to the dog that died in 2023.
Vets pointed out that age entries in the national pet database were often based on owners' self-certification. Genetic testing confirmed he was old but couldn't determine his precise age.
Veterinary experts, like Danny Chambers, expressed skepticism, saying “Not a single one of my veterinary colleagues believe Bobi was actually 31 years old”.
GWR is now conducting a formal review, temporarily pausing applications for the oldest dog titles until the findings are shared. They clarify that Bobi has not been stripped of his title yet.
Bobi spent his entire life in Conqueiros, a village near Portugal's west coast. Leonel Costa, his owner, stated that "an elite within the veterinary world... tried to give people the idea that Bobi's life story was not true".
Before Bobi, Bluey, an Australian cattle dog, held the record, passing away at 29 years and five months in 1939.
