Pets are one of the best things that could happen to you. Whether you enjoy the elusive yet cuddly kitten or the energetic and kind-hearted puppy, pets can put a smile on your face as soon as you see them. The cruelest fate of owning a pet is not having them for all of our lives.
But that doesn’t mean some pets don’t stick it out as long as they can to truly spend every second of their lives with us. Which begs the question, what is the oldest dog to ever live? Dogs are man’s best friend and have proven their loyalty and intelligence throughout the centuries.
Since their domestication in the Early Neolithic, which is around 8500 BCE, dogs have stayed with us to offer support, protection, and just overall excitement. So what is the oldest dog to ever live, and what’s their story like?
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What’s the Average Lifespan of a Dog?
Before jumping into the astonishing length of the oldest dog to ever live, let’s first figure out the average lifespan. While it definitely varies on the size of the animal and the breed, along with several other factors like health, the general lifespan is between 10 to 13 years. Smaller breeds tend to live a bit longer, ranging around 12 to 16, while larger breeds go for around 7 to 10.
Breed Examples
Have a breed in mind that you want to know the length of? You can check the lifespan here where it breaks down the average length of every single breed. Below are a few of the most common breeds and their lifespan:
- Labrador Retriever: 10 to 12 years
- Golden Retriever: 10 to 13 years
- German Shepherd: 10 to 12 years
- Boston Terrier: 14 years
- Mastiff: 9 to 11 years
- Pit Bull: 12 to 14 years
- Rottweiler: 8 to 11 years
- Saint Bernard: 8 to 10 years
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi: 12 to 14 years
Common Signs of Aging in Dogs
Understanding the signs of your dog when they start aging can be vital. Not only can you start watching out for any health issues that may come with old age, but you can start working on special supplements, or navigate a new exercise routine to benefit them. This can also help you plan more veterinary visits to make sure they’re comfortable as they get older. Here are some of the most common signs to understand if you’re dog is beginning to age.
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Cloudy Eyes
Like with many animals, including humans, vision doesn’t always work the best. The older we get, the more our eyes start getting out of focus. If your dog is starting to get vision problems or has a cloudy haze over their eyes, this is a sign of aging.
More Frequent Bathroom Breaks
Similar to humans once again, it can be hard to hold our bladder. If your puppy needs more bathroom breaks than it used to, then it’s often an indication of kidney-related health issues, which affects elderly dogs the most.
Confusion
A change in behavior when it comes to their temper or attitude can be a sign of dementia or just confusion. As your dog gets older, it’s important to keep an eye on them and see if there is any behavior change that’s concerning.
Difficult Getting Up
Dogs have a lot of energy, which means they’ve put their body to good use throughout their younger years. As they get older, if they’re having trouble getting up and moving around, it might be time to get it checked out as it might be arthritis or even hip dysplasia, which is pretty common around elderly dogs.
Weight Fluctuation
Of course with the change of behavior and the lack of desire to be active, weight will fluctuate. You dog might gain some weight as all they want is to sleep all day, or they might lose weight if they don’t feel the need to eat, or their diet is suitable. Having good supplements for their dietary needs is crucial to keep them at the right weight and happy through their old age.
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Fatty Lumps
If your dog is aging, one of the most important things to keep in mind is to give lots of pets. Not only to keep them happy but to check for fatty lumps. These lumps affect elderly dogs and are usually begin and painless tumors. While it usually isn’t a major concern, some might be more serious than others and should always be checked out.
Deep Sleeper and Lethargic
Fitting into the same category of a change in behavior as well as lack of energy, your dog might very well want to sleep more, and they might find it harder to wake up during sounds. This usually doesn’t mean anything negative, they’re bodies are just more tired and they would prefer to rest than be disturbed.
The Oldest Dog to Ever Live
Now that we know the ins and outs of the average length of a puppy’s life, as well as what you might see when your dog starts to age, let’s learn about the oldest dog to ever live. Bluey was a female Australian Cattle Dog owned by Les and Rosalie Hall of Rochester, Victoria.
She currently holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest dog to ever live, having 29 years and 5 months before having to be euthanized. Bluey spends most of her time in the backyard and is incredibly loyal to her owners. In fact, Bluey would often travel with her owner’s wife up the street, sitting outside while she shopped, and then they would walk home together.
The Oldest Dog With a Revoked Title
That’s not all, though. While Bluey was one of the oldest dogs to ever live, there was another contender. A Portuguese canine, Bobi, broke two world records for being 31 years old. The farm dog was still decently active as he roamed around the farm and played with his feline friend. He was born in 1992 and passed away in October 2023.
The farm dog was originally certified by Guinness World Records and was confirmed to be the oldest dog, but since his passing, his certification was actually revoked for further investigation. As of 2024, his certification was removed entirely as there was never enough proof showing when Bobi was actually born, with many believing that the proof originally given were images of two different dogs.
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Conclusion
It’s unfortunate that dogs don’t live as long as we do, but even so, the small time they’re with us means the world to us. From exploring the world with a puppy by your side to lounging in the backyard and tossing the ball, dogs love humans unconditionally, which might be the reason why some dogs live a bit longer than others.
While there are various reasons why dogs have longer or shorter lifespans, it’s hard to say how the oldest dog ever really stayed for almost 30 years. Either way, it’s important to keep your dog healthy and keep watch on them as they begin to age. And we can only hope that more dogs like Bluey have a fortunate life of spending more time with their owners.
