Wauwau veteran
“Oldest dog of all time” dies at 31
Bobi, a Portuguese dog of the Rafeiro do Alentejo breed, is considered the “oldest dog of all time.” photo
© Jorge Jeronimo/AP
Dogs live on average between ten and 15 years. But Bobi made it into the Guinness Book of Records in Portugal with over 31. His owner and many fans and friends are now mourning because the sociable shepherd dog is dead. No descendants are known.
“It was a tough fight and only a fighter like him could last so long,” owner Costa was quoted as saying by the newspaper Correio da Manhã on Tuesday. “What remains are the best memories of a long life in which he was happy and, above all, made many people happy. Especially his family, which now feels that one of its pillars has collapsed.” Bobi was always “very sociable” and enjoyed playing with cats in his 300-inhabitant village of Conqueiros (Leiria), about 150 kilometers north of Lisbon.
According to the Guinness announcement, the dog’s death was confirmed on site in Portugal by veterinarian Karen Becker, who had previously met Bobi several times. “This sweet boy has earned his wings,” she wrote on social media.
The secrets of a long dog life
If Bobi had been human, he would have celebrated his 200th birthday a long time ago – as we know that dog years count seven times. On average, dogs only live ten to 15 years. The lifespan depends on the breed and size as well as on living conditions and genetics. Small dogs generally live longer; dachshunds, for example, can reach 20 years in rare cases. Larger dogs live significantly shorter lives.
The owner revealed the possible reasons for such a long (dog) life at the beginning of the year when the record was announced. The opportunities for exercise in the countryside, the care provided by the family, the environment and nutrition would certainly have played a major role. Bobi never got dog food from the supermarket. “Bobi only gets to eat what we eat. Everything is homemade. We avoid giving him too spicy food,” Costa said at the time. The dog also received a lot of affection and was never chained. According to his owner, on cold days he was allowed to sit in front of the fireplace with the whole family. And on his 31st birthday on May 11th, Costa revealed in “Correio da Manhã” that he received his favorite dish, grilled sea bream.
As far as we know, the light brown and white dog of the Portuguese breed Rafeiro do Alentejo has no offspring – “which is a real shame because of the good genes,” said his owner Costa. By the way, Bobi retained his distinction as the “oldest dog of all time” even after his death. But it was not initially known who would inherit the title of “oldest living dog” from him.