World’s Oldest Dog, Bobi, Stripped of His Title: Bluey Reinstated

Back in 2023, Bobi, a Rafeiro do Alentejo from Portugal, stepped into global stardom after being crowned the world's oldest dog by Guinness World Records (GWR). His 31st birthday bash was widely covered in the press, as well as his passing just a few months later in October 2023.

Here at Roch, we covered Bobi in a spotlight piece on canine longevity, marveling, like most dog owners, about this truly inconceivable age milestone (equivalent to around 220 in canine years).

However, last year, Guinness World Records launched a formal review into Bobi’s age after concerns were raised about the verification process. It was found that the primary documentation supporting Bobi’s birthdate came from a Portuguese pet database that "did not require proof of age for dogs born before 2008." As such, they concluded that they did not have sufficient evidence to prove that Bobi was, in fact, born in May 1992, as his owner claimed.

In journalistic pursuit of the truth about the GWR debacle, Matt Reynolds, a senior writer at WIRED, consulted experts in dog-aging and coat color, who likewise expressed doubts about Bobi's extremely old age (more than doubling his breed's average life expectancy of 12-14 years).

Reynolds also caught wind of a potential conspiracy brewing concerning lobbying groups tied to the pet food industry looking to undermine the dog's record-breaking status, after news outlets routinely amplified that Bobi, by his owner's estimation, lived as long as he did because he ate human food, not the usual shelf-stable dog food. (If you're interested in that whole can of worms, check out Reynolds' full article, which is a great read for those who fancy a little online sleuthing).

Bottom line: "Genetic testing established that Bobi was old, but not exactly how old." Subsequently, in the wake of the GWR review results in February 2024, the title of the 'oldest dog ever' reverted back to Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog who lived 29 years and five months before passing away in 1939. Bluey’s age was confirmed through veterinary records.

As for the other record of the oldest living dog today, GWR has yet to officially recognize a new titleholder. Previously, a Chihuahua mix named Spike from Ohio, USA, was crowned the oldest living dog in early 2023 at 23 years old.

It's unclear whether Spike is still alive as of 2025 (Wikipedia's list of longest-living dogs still has him marked as living). Born in November 1999, he would be turning 26 this year!

In other words, the jury is out on the certificate lending of these time-defying world records. Given the renewed scrutiny surrounding longevity claims, GWR is likely exercising more caution moving forward in verifying future record-holders.

Case in point, the ongoing trouble with getting the supposed oldest dog in the UK certified. Sasha the Staffordshire Terrier is 22 years old, according to her owner, Linzi. However, Sasha was found as a stray and, therefore, her exact age cannot be 100% verified. Since GWR changed their certification process last year, now requiring proof (such as microchip data) for all the years of a dog's life – that is, from birth to present day – Sasha is unlikely to be officially recognized by GWR.

While the organization has long prided itself as a trustworthy catalog of record-breaking achievements, cases like Bobi’s (and Sasha's) highlight the difficulties in confirming the extraordinary and unusual with ironclad documentation.

Other Canine Record-Holders

Age is just one pocket of GWR's canine highlights. The full showcase of GWR dog titleholders includes many different feats of canine athleticism (from surfing to frisbee catching). My personal favorite niche skill is "most steps walked down by a dog facing forwards balancing a glass of water." (If you're curious, the record is 10 steps while balancing 5 oz of water, set by a Border Collie named Sweet Pea).

Of course, when it comes to longevity, many a dog has made headlines for defying the odds without being officially crowned by Guinness World Records. Here are a few super senior stand-outs:

Maverick (United States) – The Hollywood Luminary

Dermot Mulroney may be best known for his roles in My Best Friend’s Wedding and Shameless, but his Chihuahua, Maverick, became a star in his own right due to his incredible longevity. Maverick, who passed in 2017, lived to 22 years old – a remarkable age for any dog but particularly impressive for a Chihuahua, a breed already known for its long lifespan.

Adjutant (Yorkshire, UK) – The Oldest Retriever

Adjutant, a Black Labrador Retriever mix from England, "lived in luxury on the Revesby Estate" and reached 27 years and 98 days old before passing in 1963. Unlike some of the other super senior pups, Adjutant’s age was well-documented, as he worked as a gamekeeper’s dog, making him one of the oldest recorded retrievers in history. Adjutant was recognized by GWR.

Buksi (Hungary) – The Mystery Mutt

Buksi, a mixed-breed dog from Hungary, reportedly lived to 27 years old before passing away in 2017. Though unverified by GWR, Hungarian news outlets reaffirmed him as a beloved figure in his home country.

Susie (Connecticut, United States) - The Fashionista

I couldn't help but do some digging into the oldest canine in my home state of Connecticut, and found a local newspaper story from 2022 on a terrier-poodle named Susie from Hebron about to turn 21 (meaning she was born the same year as me!). According to the newspaper article, Susie's secret sauce to aging is lots of walks and lots of sleep. Sounds about right to me.

Also, surely having a wardrobe of cute outfits and costumes for every season certainly can't hurt when it comes to looking fab and feeling fresh. Such is to say, I hope Susie is still kicking so I can potentially meet her!

For more celebrity dogs, check out Roch's list of canine influencers.