Puppy Left To Die 30 Years Ago Is Now The Oldest Living Dog EVER!

The title for “oldest living dog” has changed several times throughout the past year. Every time one is announced, someone else realizes that their dog is older. But the most recent winner surpassed all the other senior dogs by a long shot. Not only is he the oldest living dog, but he’s also the oldest dog ever!
As of February 1st, 2023, Bobi broke the record at 30 years and 266 days old. Bobi is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, which is a Portuguese livestock guardian dog, and he was born on May 11th, 1992. Bobi almost didn’t survive his first week of life, but his human is grateful he did!
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A Heartbreaking Start to Life
Bobi was one of four puppies born in the building his family stored wood in. His owner, Leonel Costa, was only eight years old at the time. Leonel said his parents always had many dogs on the property, so when their dog named Gira gave birth, the family had no room for extra dogs.
Instead of finding someone else to care for the puppies, Leonel’s parents made the horrific decision to bury the puppies alive a day after their birth. According to Leonel, those horrific actions were common for people not wanting dogs at the time. Leonel and his brothers were devastated, but then they noticed that Gira kept returning to the building where the puppies were.
So, Leonel and his brothers followed Gira and found that their parents had forgotten one puppy (Bobi). The boys kept Bobi a secret from their parents.
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“We knew that when the dog opened its eyes, my parents would no longer bury it,” Leonel said. “It was popular knowledge that this act could not or should not be done.”
The boys kept Bobi a secret for about two weeks until his eyes opened. When their parents found out the boys had been hiding the puppy, they were furious, but Leonel doesn’t regret it because it saved Bobi’s life.
A New Record Holder!
Bobi is now older than the previous “oldest dog ever,” an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey, who lived for 29 years and 5 months. Bluey was alive almost a century ago, from 1910 to 1939.
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The Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria registered Bobi in 1992, so they confirmed his age for the world record. SIAC, a pet database authorized by the Portuguese government, also verified Bobi’s age. A few families have claimed to have dogs older than Bobi in the past, but they didn’t have any proof to back it up.
Leonel submitted Bobi for the oldest living dog, but he never considered that Bobi could also be the oldest dog ever. In the past year, TobyKeith, Pebbles, Gino, and Spike were all named the oldest living dog at some point, but they were all in their early 20s. None of them were close to passing Bobi or Bluey.
What is Bobi’s Secret to a Long, Healthy Life?
Leonel has a history of caring for long-lived dogs. Bobi’s mom, Gira, lived to be 18 years old, and another one of the family’s dogs, Chicote, lived to be 22. According to the AKC, Rafeiro do Alentejos normally live to be only 12 to 14.
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No one knows the exact reason Bobi lived so long, but Leonel believes it has to do with his peaceful lifestyle. He has free roam of the family’s large property, so he has never been tied up. He has grown up around many animals, especially cats, so he’s very social. He’s also primarily fed human meals with the seasoning removed.
Due to his age, Bobi doesn’t have quite as much energy as he used to. He spends most of his time relaxing now. Overall, he has had very few health problems throughout his life. He had a scare in 2018 where he had difficulties breathing, but he survived and kept going strong. Like most old dogs, he faces some vision and joint issues, but Leonel takes him in for regular health checkups.
Bobi’s 31st birthday is coming up in May, but he has no idea what a big accomplishment his birthday is. Despite his age, he continues to be playful and lively. If only he could share the secret to his success with everyone!

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