Dogged by Controversy: Why Portuguese pooch Bobi lost the title of 'world's oldest dog'

The pooch that was crowned the oldest dog in history has had his title revoked as a result of an investigation into the dog’s background. According to reports, Portuguese dog Bobi was 30 years old when he was awarded the distinction in February last year. He passed away in October at the reported age of 31 years and 163 days. But now that some vets have questioned his age, Guinness World Records has announced that it is reviewing the record. Let’s take a look. The world’s oldest dog title suspended Guinness World Records told The Associated Press by email on Tuesday, “While our review is ongoing we have decided to temporarily pause both the record titles for the oldest dog living and ever just until all of our findings are in place.” A spokesperson told CNN that GWR’s formal review takes place if a record title is challenged and entails examining the information at hand, seeking fresh data, and contacting experts and individuals connected to the initial application. Bobi was a Portuguese breed of livestock guard dog that was purebred to the Rafeiro breed, which typically lives up to 12 and 14. According to The Independent, in addition to being the oldest dog alive at the time, Bobi was also the oldest dog in history, surpassing the 29-year-and-five-month-old Australian cattle dog Bluey, who passed away in 1939. Before his Portuguese opponent entered the record books, a small contender by the name of Spike had the title of the oldest living dog in the world for a brief period, as per The Guardian. On 7 December 2022, the chihuahua, who stands 22.86 centimetres (nine inches) tall and weighs 5.85 kilogrammes (12.9 lbs), became the oldest living dog in the world at 23 years and 7 days. Bobi’s age under scrutiny The world record books claimed to have received mail from certain vets who questioned the dog’s age. It took into account remarks made in public by vets and other experts. Soon after Bobi was crowned by Guinness World Records, many questioned how much his paws had changed over the years. Genetic tests revealed that the pup was elderly, but it was unable to pinpoint his exact age. Lisbon vet Miguel Figuereido told AFP last year, “He doesn’t look like a very old dog… with mobility problems… or with an old dog’s muscle mass.” The rumour regarding Bobi’s true age—which is equal to 200 human years—was reignited in December by an investigative piece published in Wired that revealed details about official documents. As per the Wired report, Bobi’s records are actually registered in SIAC, a Portuguese government database that facilitates the registration of cats, dogs, and ferrets. Bobi’s owners claimed he was born in 1992, but an official stated they lacked any “registration or data that can confirm or deny this statement.” In a prior interview with The Guardian, veterinarian Danny Chambers, a council member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, said “not a single of my veterinary colleagues believe Bobi was actually 31 years old.” The investigative article by Wired also consulted several veterinarians, one of whom claimed that Bobi’s coat appeared to be different colours in certain photos and another of whom questioned how he had managed to survive for such a long time given his apparent weight. His history Bobi’s owner, Leonel Costa, who claimed to have been eight years old when his dog was born in 1992, revealed to GWR in February that the dog’s extraordinary lifespan was the result of several factors. According to him, Bobi always wandered freely without a chain or leash, lived in a “calm, peaceful environment,” and consumed human food that had been soaked in water to remove flavours, reported Reuters. The dog lived his entire life in Conqueiros, a tiny Portuguese village located roughly 150 kilometres (93 miles) north of Lisbon. He frequently went on walks with cats. When Bobi was given his title, people said he was a calm and sociable pet who liked to unwind by the fireplace on especially chilly days. The Independent quoted Costa, as saying, “Bobi has been a warrior for all these years, only he knows how he’s been holding on – it must not be easy because the average dog’s life span is not that high. If he spoke only he could explain this success.” With inputs from agencies