Bobi, the Longest-Lived Dog in History, Passes Away at 31 Years of Age

The world’s oldest dog on record, Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, has peacefully passed away at the remarkable age of 31 and 165 days in his home in Portugal. The Guinness World Records officially recognized his incredible longevity, a title he held with pride.

Dr. Karen Becker, a veterinarian who had the privilege of meeting Bobi several times, took to social media to announce the news of his passing. She expressed the collective sentiment of all who loved the record-breaking canine, stating, “Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough for those who loved him.”

Bobi’s journey to becoming the world’s oldest living dog and, subsequently, the oldest dog ever achieved a historic milestone in February. He surpassed the nearly century-old record for the latter title, previously held by Australia’s Bluey, who passed away in 1939 at 29 years and five months old.

The validation of Bobi’s grand old age was substantiated by the Portuguese government’s pet database, meticulously managed by the National Union of Veterinarians.

While Bobi has left an indelible mark in the annals of dog history, his successor to the title of the world’s oldest living dog is yet to be unveiled.

Bobi’s extraordinary life story unfolded in the Conqueiros village near Portugal’s west coast. He was born with three siblings in an outbuilding and narrowly escaped being put down when the Costa family, who already had a surplus of animals, discovered him. Young Leonel Costa, only eight years old then, shared the secret of Bobi’s existence with his brothers until their parents eventually found out. Bobi became a cherished member of the Costa family, sharing their love and food.

Apart from a health scare in 2018, when Bobi was hospitalized due to sudden breathing difficulties, his life was relatively trouble-free. Leonel Costa attributed his beloved pet’s exceptional longevity to the “calm, peaceful environment” he lived in. In his final years, Bobi experienced difficulty walking and worsening eyesight, but his spirit remained undiminished.

Remarkably, Bobi was not the only long-lived dog in the Costa family. His mother lived to 18, and another of the family’s dogs reached the impressive age of 22 before passing away.