The World's Oldest Dogs
Posted on August 4th, 2010 by Lost and Fond
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Lots of stories appear in the newspapers from time to time about pets credited with living record-breaking long lives.
As far as dogs are concerned, some tales date back so long that they can not really be verified. These days the Guinness Book of Records takes proof and sits in judgement on the title of the world's oldest dog. Back in the 1920s and 1930s it was a bit more down to the owner's memory and honesty.
However, most people like to believe that the title of the oldest dog that ever lived sits with Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog who herded cattle and sheep in his native land for nearly 20 years before retiring. The dog is believed to have lived for 29 years and five months and was owned by Les and Esma Hall.
Bluey, who finally died on November 14, 1939 in Rochester, Victoria, Australia is said to have enjoyed meals of kangaroo and emu, and his owner Esma Hall lived to the age of 103 too.
In England, a contender for the oldest-ever dog is Adjutant, a black Labrador gun dog who was whelped on August 14, 1936, and died on November 20, 1963, aged 27 years and three months. He belonged to James Hawkes, a gamekeeper at the Revesby Estate, near Boston, Lincolnshire.
Far more recently, a vegetarian diet of rice, lentils and organic vegetables, coupled with good exercise, was credited with helping Bramble the Collie into her 28th year.
Bramble, from Bridgewater, in Somerset, was recognised for her longevity by the Guinness Book of Records, before her death in 2003.
But owner Anne Heritage told the Sunday Telegraph - at the time that Bramble celebrated her 27th birthday - that she had a lucky escape back in February 1977.
Bramble was re-homed from a shelter in Wales. Ms Heritage explained: "The day after we brought her home, the kennels flooded and the other dogs drowned. So she's been incredibly lucky."
Following a back injury, Bramble began taking swimming lessons at a canine hydrotherapy pool and enjoyed a weekly dip after that.
In September 2008, Bella, a Labrador cross died at the age of 29 according to her devoted owners.
Mr David Richardson, from Clay Cross, Derbyshire, said he bought Bella from the RSPCA when she was three years old – but his claims could not be officially verified by the Guinness Book of Records because the RSPCA did not hold detailed records back to when Bella was bought from them.
Bella died of a heart attack in Lincolnshire where Mr Richardson had gone on holiday.
He told the Daily Mail: “We had just come up to Mablethorpe - we always go to the same place on holiday because we can take the dogs.
“We had barely been here for an hour when Bella started panting and yelping and collapsed in front of the sofa.
“We took Bella to the vet but she was so ill she had to be put to sleep.It was very upsetting. We will miss her a lot.”
The Guinness World Records said at the time that the most recent officially-verified record for the oldest dog was held by Butch, a 28-year-old Beagle from America born in 1975 who died in 2003.
After Butch's death there was a void for the title of Woirld's Oldest Dog in the Guinness Book of Records until Denice and Karl Shaughnessy of New York nominated their Dachshund Cross, Chanel for the title.
Officials presented the dog with a certificate recognising her as the world’s oldest living canine at a ceremony in Manhattan in May 2009.
Chanel reputedly kept herself in shape with a regime of daily exercise and ate home-cooked chicken with her dog food. She also loved peanut butter, her owners said.
She died in September 2009 aged 21.
The Shaughnessys described her as “one of God’s angels”.
After Chanel came Otto, another Dachshund cross who had to be put to sleep in January 2010 just a month short of his 21st birthday. He had been recognised by the Guinness Book of Records in October 2009 as the record-holder.
Sadly he developed stomach cancer.
His owners Lynn and Peter Jones from Shropshire said he was a "lovable, affectionate rogue". Otto was born on February 14, 1989, and joined the Jones' family when he was six months old.
Mr Jones said Otto’s long life was down to "plenty of love, plenty of good food and regular check-ups at the vets."