When Leonel Costa’s beloved dog was born three decades ago in a small village in central Portugal, he was just 8 years old. Little did he know that one day, his cherished Bobi would have the chance to be recorded in the Guinness World Records as the oldest dog in the world.
Bobi the dog.
Leonel Costa walking with Bobi – his oldest dog in the world. (Photo: Reuters)
The title of the world’s oldest dog has just been awarded to Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo. Bobi’s resilience and vibrant life have astonished many, as as of February 4, he has lived for 30 years and 269 days, far surpassing the previous record set in 1939 by an Australian cattle dog that lived for 29 years and 5 months. Bobi’s longevity is quite surprising, as Rafeiro do Alentejo dogs typically have an average lifespan of only 12 to 14 years.
The owner of Bobi shared: “It’s a feeling of pride that we can’t quite explain. We believe there are three to four factors that contribute to Bobi’s remarkable lifespan, one of which is living in the countryside, immersed in nature, which is certainly one of the main reasons. In fact, Bobi has never been chained or confined to a kennel. I believe this sense of freedom is also an important reason. And of course, a small part of it is the love and affection we have for our beloved dog.”
Despite his old age, Bobi still enjoys going for walks, although his health has declined and his vision is significantly impaired. Leonel Costa hopes Bobi will live many more years and is very grateful to his dog for putting the remote village of Conqueiros on the “map.”
