A Chihuahua in Florida named TobyKeith has been dubbed the “world’s oldest dog living” at the age of 21 years and 66 days, according to the Guinness World Records.
Meet the oldest living dog
In their latest post, Guinness World Records shared the news of a 21-year-old Chihuahua with the title of ‘oldest dog living’. According to Gisela Shore, the owner of the dog, TobyKeith is a “sweet, gentle, loving and my little bodyguard”. Born on Jan 9, 2001, the dog was 21 years and 66 days old on March 16 when the news came out. “People can’t believe how good he looks for his age. I was introduced to a tiny tan Chihuahua. They had named him Peanut Butter. I later changed his name to TobyKeith,” said Shore.
TobyKeith has been with Shore from the shelter when he was a puppy. She met him after an elderly couple surrendered him to a shelter as they could not take care of the pup. Two decades later, Shore’s friends and family started wondering if TobyKeith was the oldest living dog. The average life expectancy of a chihuahua is between 12 to 18 years. However, TobyKeith has surpassed the average expectancy.
The secret to TobyKeith’s long life
According to Shore, a combination of a healthy diet, a loving home is the secret to a long dog life. TobyKeith’s day starts with a morning walk, followed by a slice of turkey, his favorite snack. Additionally, he goes on short walks or lies next to Shore when she works. However, despite having a heart condition, it is not bothering him a lot. “The thought that my little guy has reached such a milestone is fantastic! I am thrilled,” she stated. The previous holder of the record was an Australian cattle dog who lived for a total of 29 years and 5 months. However, Bluey died back in 1939.
