Posts tagged "oldest dog"

Uncle Chichi, unofficially the world's oldest dog, has died at (around) the age of 25 after a long bout with cancer, according to the New York Times.

We say "unofficially" and "around" because Uncle Chichi's exact age is uncertain. What is certain is that Uncle Chichi, a toy poodle, was adopted in the late 1980s and was somewhere around 25 years old--give or a take a year--which is a remarkably advanced age for a dog no matter how you slice it. For a dog of Uncle Chichi's size, that's the equivalent of about 120 human years.

Uncle Chichi had been suffering for age-related health problems for many years, but he soldiered on through the resulting blindness and deafness to reach an age that very, very few other dogs achieve. And of course, through it all he remained a source of joy to his owners, Frank Pavich and Janet Puhalovic of New York.

"That little 10-pound guy fills up not just your apartment, but your life," said Pavich.

Uncle Chichi lived not only a long life, but a full one. Pavich, a television producer, brought his dog with him on trips all over the world, including France, Italy, and Germany. In his later years, Uncle Chichi's notable age even earned him an appearance on "Good Morning America."

Rest in peace, Uncle Chichi. You earned it.

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.