Otto, a 21-year-old dachshund/terrier mix, has been confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest living dog, reports the Associated Press. He's not as big on going for walks, admits owner Lynn Jones, but she says he's "still sprightly."
And he truly is. The video above shows the geriatric little pooch hopping up on the couch!
Jones credits Otto's good health and long life to quality food, lots of love and regular vet visits. Otto also sticks to a self-imposed bedtime of 8 p.m., at which point he whines until Jones or her husband, Peter, puts him into bed (head on a pillow and body under the comforter, of course). "Within 10 minutes, he's snoring away," Lynn says in the AP video.
According to USA Today, Lynn has had Otto since he was just six weeks old, and this February, he'll turn 21. The former oldest living dog, Chanel, died this August at the age of 21. The oldest dog ever on record was Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog who died in 1939 at the age of 29 years and five months.
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I owned daschunds for a very long time and if a Vet ever saw that video they would cringe at the sight of a daschund jumping up on a couch. They have long spines and the first thing you need to know about owning a daschund is that they should not be allowed to jump up on anything. The daschunds I have had - longest one lived to be almost 18 so this is a pretty normal age for a smaller dog to live.
Bev, the dog's 21 it's a little late to be worried about jumping on a sofa!
precisely what i was thining!!!
the dog i own is older then him...my husband got me a pomeranian puppy june 16th 1983,,,and i still have him...and he still goes to the same vet...after all these years...he is healthy...have all his papers from the first day and all vet records...so that makes my sweet boy is..26 years 4 months 13 days since i got him...
If you have all the documentation from 1983 you should contact Guiness. Your pup would definitely get the record.
What have you done to keep your dog alive so long?
It's not that uncommon for small dogs to live longer than normal. I had a lab/pointer mix and he was pushing 21. Still got up on his own and went to the bathroom outside. He ate and drank on his own. Finally one day he just couldn't get up and that was the saddest day of my life being that I have hade him since i was 4 and we put him down when I was 25. I was there when my mom, veterinarian, put him down. I know he is up there somwhere chasing chickens :)
Absolutely NOT the oldest!!! I had a Dachshund mix that I aquired in 1988 and had to put down due to cancer in 2008! I had her for 22 years! Vet bills can prove it!
I will say Dachshunds have a great personality and are some of the best dogs to have!
Read the story....it says OLDEST LIVING DOG, not oldest dog to ever live.
I thought Bill Clinton was the world's oldest dog?
I am the owner of Jeannines et Taxi from Chicago Ill. This was the very first of it.s kind in the world. I took 2 beagles to Elm lawn Pet cemetary. This was two different owners at different times. Both of these dog's were 22 years old. I also took a 28 years old cat. These were the oldest animals I ever transported in the 20 years of my business
God bless him, and his owners too. May he live many more
He's adorable.
One more refutation to the 'oldest' (lol) dog in the world: we've got a pug in my apartment building that is 22. Sweet thing just had a slight stroke, but I hear he's on the mend. I wish people would be honest & just say that the dog is 'reputedly' the oldest dog. That would be a bit more honest.
I don't know why people don't do their homework before they put information on the internet!! I had a poodle that lived till 21. I checked with Guinness World Record at CRM@guinnessworldrecords.com in 2003 and was told that the oldest dog at that time was Butch 27 yrs. old owned by Gregory Duncan of Keswick, Virginia, USA! By now I'm sure Butch is chasing chickens also!! This proves you can't always believe what you see on the Internet!!
oldest LIVING dog, not oldest dog ever!
My dog was 24 when he died 2 years ago. If I had known he was the world's oldest dog at the time I would have registered him.
However, no awards and records can replace his loving company.
I'm 64. But I'm not a dog. Is that disqualifying?
I'm 69 1/2 and I am a dog! At least my wife thinks so. Can I claim the record?
This is such a nice lighthearted story. Thankyou for sharing a good sotry a nice one! Long live that pup!
I am convinced food quality makes all the difference. When the dog food scare started a few years ago, I went online to find the highest quality food I could find. We used it for two years. Our Jack stopped having seizures while on it. Both dogs became lean and muscular. I decided to save a little money and started using a good quality national brand. First, we noticed our Jack started having seizures again, worse than before. Both dogs lost their muscle tone and looked pudgy. Then, the Jack's muzzle started turning white. He's only 8 years old! I went back to the high quality, yes expensive, food. The Jack hasn't had a seizure since going back on the high quality food. His muzzle has turned brown. Both dogs are back to sleek, muscular bodies. Food really does make a difference.