Two weeks after announcing Spike as the world's oldest dog, we have a new record holder! And, to the surprise of many, he's not just the oldest dog alive today - a title that changes somewhat frequently - but the oldest dog ever. Bobi was announced on February 1, 2023 by the Guinness Book as the oldest dog in existence and that has ever existed, withExactly 30 years and 266 days old. Are you curious to know more about this story? See below other curiosities about the oldest dog in the world.

What is the oldest dog in the world?

Currently, the title of the world's oldest dog belongs to Bobi, a Rafeiro do Alentejo breed dog born in Portugal on May 11, 1992. At over 30 years old, he broke the world record for the oldest dog that ever existed. That title belonged to Bluey, an Australian Cattleman who lived 29 years and 5 months between 1910 and 1939.

Check out the Guinness Book publication below:

And what is Bobi's story, anyway? For those who don't know how many years a dog lives, the Rafeiro de Alentejo breed has an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. This means that the little dog has greatly exceeded the statistics, having more than double the expected longevity. The explanation for this feat, according to his owner Leonel Costa, is that Bobi lives away from the hustle and bustle of big cities,in a rural village in Leiria, Portugal.

What's even more surprising is that the world's oldest dog comes from a long-lived family. According to Leonel's reports to the Guinness Book, the pooch wasn't the first to live long years: Bobi's mother, named Gira, lived to be 18 and another family dog, named Chico, made it to 22.

On a daily basis, Bobi doesn't have the same disposition as before, but he maintains a quiet routine filled with naps, good meals and relaxed moments alongside other pets. Although the dog's locomotion and vision are no longer the same, Bobi is an elderly dog who lives in a cozy environment and receives all the care he needs.

Why does the title of world's oldest dog always change?

The Guinness Book has two different titles: the oldest dog in the world alive and the oldest dog of all time. The former changes frequently because it always takes into account dogs that are still alive, and the latter remained unchanged for a long time until Bobi broke this record in February 2023.

So, when we talk about which dog was the oldest in the world, that title will remain Bobi's until some other dog surpasses his 30 years and 266 days. The nomination of oldest dog in the world changes as soon as the record holder passes away or when another living dog breaks the record of the current record holder.