"There is no evidence"

“Oldest dog in the world” (31) wasn’t really that old

The title of "oldest dog of all time" has been revoked following a review. The dog in question was the Rafeiro and shepherd dog "Bobi", who died in Portugal in October 2023 at the alleged age of 31 years and 165 days (see video above). 

Microchip data from the Portuguese pet register Siac plays a crucial role in verifying the age. However, when "Bobi" was chipped in 2022, no proof of age was required for dogs born before 2008.

The Guinness Book of Records stated that there is no convincing evidence to support this claim. "Relying on this microchip data, we have no conclusive evidence to definitively prove Bobi's date of birth," said Guinness director Mark McKinley.

Doubts during his lifetime
The investigation was launched after vets and other experts raised concerns both privately and publicly. Various media outlets joined in, and research raised further doubts. 

Pictures of "Bobi":

As a result, the Guinness title was temporarily withdrawn in January. "We are of course prepared, as with any record, to examine any new evidence we receive," says McKinley.

"Bobi" lived in the 300-inhabitant village of Conqueiros, around 150 kilometers north of Lisbon. He had "made many people happy, especially his family", said his owner Leonel Costa after his dog's death.

Record holder wanted
Finding a new record holder could prove difficult. "It will be a long time before the spread of microchipping in pet ownership worldwide, especially among older pets, can keep pace."

Until then, the Guinness Book of Records requires documentary evidence of all the years of a pet's life. "We will continue to ask for statements from vets and witnesses and will also consider microchip data where available," he said.