The World's Oldest Dog Ever, Bobi, Dies at 31

Bobi, a Portuguese dog who Guinness World Records determined as the oldest dog ever, has died at age 31.

Born May 11, 1992, Bobi lived exactly 31 years, 165 days, according to Guinness. He passed away Oct. 21 in Conqueiros, the Portuguese village where he spend his entire life.

"Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough for those who loved him," veterinarian Karen Becker, who met Bobi several times, wrote on Facebook.

Guinness World Records verified Bobi's exact age—30 years, 266 days at the time—on Feb. 1. That set the records for both oldest living dog and oldest dog ever. The previous oldest dog ever, Australian cattle dog Bluey, lived to be 29 years and 5 months old.

That record had stood since 1939.

It's a bit of a miracle Bobi even made it to 1 year old, let alone 31. Bobi was one of four male Rafeiro do Alentejo puppies, but Costa's parents had decided they couldn't care for any additional dogs. They collected the puppies to dispose of them—a normal practice at the time, according to Costa—though they forgot Bobi.

He'd hid in the outbuilding at the Costa home in Conqueiros, and his mother dog had returned again and again to care for him. Costa and his brothers found Bobi but kept his presence a secret at first. Of course, their parents eventually found out, but Bobi was too old to be thrown away.

"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!" Costa told Guinness.

That was 31 years ago, when Costa was 8. Bobi then enjoyed a quiet life in the village. He was never been put on a leash or chain, and his diet consisted of what his humans eat. (This was OK for Bobi, but it's probably not good for your dog.)

As he aged, Bobi didn't roam around the nearby forest or farmland as much as he used to, according to Guinness. His eyesight suffered, too, and he took longer rests, including after meals or in front of the fire.

"We have regular [vet] appointments with him and the exams have always shown that he is doing well for his advanced age," Costa says.

The average lifespan for a Rafeiro do Alentejo—a livestock guardian dog native to Portugal—is 12 to 14 years, according to the American Kennel Club. But Bobi's mother, Gira, lived to 18, and another dog belonging to the Costas, Chicote, made it to 22.

Guiness consulted the Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria to verify Bobi's age, and they confirmed his birthdate: May 11, 1992.

"Bobi is special because looking at him is like remembering the people who were part of our family and unfortunately are no longer here, like my father, my brother, or my grandparents who have already left this world," Costa told Guinness. "Bobi represents those generations."

Rest in peace, buddy.

What a good boy.