Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo from Conqueiros, Leiria, Portugal, is the oldest dog ever recorded.
Born on May 11, 1992, he is 30 years 266 days old as of February 1, 2023, breaking the previous record held by Bluey (1910-1939), an Australian cattle-dog who lived to be 29 years 5 months old.
Bobi’s birth date has been confirmed by the Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria and verified by a pet database authorized by the Portuguese government.
Bobi was one of four male pups born in an outbuilding where the Costa family stored wood, but he was the only one to escape being buried alive due to the family’s inability to keep all the puppies.
“I was eight years old. My father was a hunter, and we always had many dogs,” Guinness World Record reported Leonel Costa, who is now aged 38 saying. “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,”
Leonel Costa, who was 8 years old at the time, and his brothers kept Bobi’s existence a secret until it was too late for their parents to bury him.
“We knew that when the dog opened its eyes, my parents would no longer bury it,” Leonel explained. “It was popular knowledge that this act could not or should be done. 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!”
Leonel believes that Bobi’s longevity is due to the calm, peaceful environment he lives in far from the cities, where he has never been chained up or attached to a leash, and has always enjoyed free roam of the forests and farmland surrounding the family house.
Bobi has always eaten human food, which Leonel soaks in water to remove most of the seasonings, and he is a very sociable dog, having grown up with many other animals.
“What we ate, they ate too,” Leonel said. “Between a can of animal food or a piece of meat, Bobi doesn’t hesitate and chooses our food.”
Bobi’s health has been relatively trouble-free throughout his life, with only one scare in 2018 when he was hospitalized for breathing difficulties.
“We have regular [vet] appointments with him and the exams have always shown that he is doing well for his advanced age,” Leonel revealed.
Despite his age, Bobi is still active and spends his time lying in bed, by the fire, or hanging out in the backyard with his four feline friends. However, his eyesight has worsened and he rests more often.
Bobi’s story is a miraculous one, from being condemned at birth to being the oldest verified dog ever.
“I never thought of registering Bobi to break the record because fortunately our animals have always lasted for many years,” he explained.
If Bobi could speak, Leonel says, he could explain his longevity, but for now, his story is a testament to the love and care of the Costa family, and to the joy that pets bring into our lives.