Guinness World Records Suspends World's ‘Oldest Dog Ever’ Title Amid Formal Review

Guinness World Records (GWR) announced on Tuesday that it is undertaking an 'formal review' of the title it awarded to a Portuguese dog named Bobi as the "world's oldest dog." This decision comes in response to concerns raised by veterinarians regarding Bobi's claimed age.

Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro Alentejano, resided in a central Portuguese village throughout his life. Initially, Guinness World Records (GWR) stated that this remarkable canine lived for 31 years and 165 days, surpassing a record set in 1939 by an Australian cattle-dog that lived to the age of 29 years and five months.

Bobi, who sadly passed away in October of the previous year, had been officially recognized as the world's oldest dog back in February. It's worth noting that Bobi's breed, which traditionally serves as sheepdogs, typically has a life expectancy of 12-14 years.

A representative from Guinness World Records (GWR) confirmed that the examination of Bobi's record is currently underway. This process involves a comprehensive review of existing evidence, the search for new supporting evidence, consultation with experts, and communication with individuals connected to the original application.

The spokesperson stated, "While our review is ongoing, we have decided to temporarily pause applications on both the record titles for oldest dog living and (oldest dog) ever until all of our findings are in place and have been communicated."

After Bobi's death, Spike, a 23-year-old Chihuahua, claimed the title of the world's oldest living dog, according to the Guinness World Records.

Leonel Costa, the owner of Bobi, expressed in a statement on Tuesday that following his dog's passing, "an elite within the veterinary world ... tried to give people the idea that Bobi's life story was not true."

Costa mentioned that certain veterinarians were upset because he credited Bobi's long life to factors such as a consistent consumption of "human food" rather than the more commonly recommended pet food within the industry.

Costa remarked, "Everything would be different if we had said he (Bobi) ate pet food for three decades." He emphasized that they had fulfilled all the requirements set by GWR. Costa also noted that GWR had not made any contact with him yet. 

No action has yet been taken regarding any record holders, GWR said. It added that any decisions would be contingent upon the outcome of the review.

Before his passing, Bobi still enjoyed going for walks, but he had become less adventurous, as Costa had previously conveyed to Reuters. Bobi's fur had started thinning, his eyesight had deteriorated, and he required more rest compared to his earlier years.