31-year-old Bobi is ‘oldest dog ever on Earth’

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – A 31-year-old Portuguese dog, Bobi, made it to the Guinness World Records as the “oldest dog ever on Earth.”

Bobi is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of livestock guard dog with an average life expectancy of only 12-14 years. He has now managed to outlive more than twice the average life.

With a birth date of May 11, 1992, the Guinness World Records on Thursday described him as “not just the oldest dog living; he’s the oldest dog ever.”

“He has lived his entire life with the Costa family in the rural village of Conqueiros, in Leiria, Portugal,” added the statement.

Meanwhile, his owner Leonel Costa said one of the important reasons for his beloved dog’s longevity is that he has lived his entire life far away from the city in a calm and peaceful environment.

Bobi, who was never leashed, has always been free to discover nearby forests and farms, noted Costa.

“The Portuguese pooch has broken an almost century-old record; the previous oldest dog ever, Bluey (1910-1939), was an Australian Cattle Dog who was 29 years and 5 months old,” according to the Guinness World Records.