A 1995-Born Dog Older Than Its Owner... Will It Become the World’s Oldest Dog?

Confirmed Born in December 1995 According to Microchip Records
Over 200 Years Old in Human Age

An elderly dog in France, estimated to be over 200 years old in human years, is currently under review for the world’s oldest dog record.

According to international media outlets such as the New York Post on May 3 (local time), a Continental Toy Spaniel named Lazar, who was brought to an animal shelter in Annecy, France, is being spotlighted as a candidate for the Guinness World Records’ oldest dog. When the shelter checked Lazar’s microchip information, his date of birth was registered as December 4, 1995. Based on this, Lazar is about 30 years and 150 days old at the time of reporting, which makes him 31 years old in Korean age.

A 31-year-old dog, estimated to be over 200 years old in human years, is attracting attention as it approaches breaking the world record for the oldest dog. Instagram @devonshireofpalmbeach

After his owner passed away, Lazar was left alone and taken to the Marlioz animal shelter in Annecy, France. When discovered, he appeared so frail with age that he could not fully keep his tongue in his mouth. However, during verification by the shelter and veterinarians, it was revealed that Lazar had far exceeded the average lifespan for his breed. The Continental Toy Spaniel typically has a lifespan in the mid-teens, so Lazar’s age is regarded as an exceptional case.

The previous official record: 'Bluey,' an Australian dog who died at 29 years and 5 months in 1939

The currently recognized record for the world’s oldest dog is held by Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog from Australia. Bluey was recorded to have died in 1939 at the age of 29 years and 5 months. The French Animal Protection Association believes Lazar could surpass this record and has requested an official review by Guinness World Records.

The story of Lazar has drawn even more attention due to his new family. Ophélie Boudon, a 29-year-old woman, decided to adopt Lazar after seeing him at the shelter. This means Lazar is actually older than his new owner. In an interview with foreign media, Boudon stated that, rather than whether Lazar is officially recognized as a record-holder, it was more important to her that he not spend the end of his life in a shelter. She shared that, except when he is sleeping, Lazar is so lively that he follows her around the house.

Portugal’s ‘Bobby’ stripped of oldest dog title after age verification controversy

However, it remains uncertain whether Lazar will be officially recognized as the world’s oldest dog. Previously, Guinness World Records awarded the title to a Portuguese dog named Bobby, but later revoked it following controversy over proof of age. Bobby was a Rafeiro do Alentejo breed living in the Leiria region of central Portugal, and in 2023, Guinness listed him as both the “world’s oldest living dog” and the “oldest dog ever recorded.” Guinness at the time announced that Bobby was born on May 11, 1992, and lived to be 31 years and 165 days old. However, after Bobby’s death, questions about his actual age were raised among veterinarians and experts.

Bobby was a Rafeiro do Alentejo breed dog living in the Leiria region of central Portugal. In 2023, Guinness World Records registered him as the "world's oldest living dog" and the "oldest dog ever," but the record was later revoked due to insufficient verification.

The core of the controversy was the documentation verifying Bobby’s age. The main basis for Bobby’s age was microchip information from Portugal’s pet registration database, but upon review, Guinness found that for dogs born before 2008, it was not mandatory to submit documentation proving the date of birth when registering the chip. Guinness stated, “There is no definitive evidence to conclusively prove Bobby’s date of birth,” and in February 2024, canceled Bobby’s record.

As a result, it is highly likely that Lazar’s record review will require not only microchip registration information but also additional verification such as documentation of his birth date, ownership history, and veterinary records. If Lazar is officially recognized, he would become the new world’s oldest dog, surpassing Bluey’s record that has stood for over 80 years since 1939.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.