Move over, country superstar Toby Keith! There’s a new world record-holder in town, and he’s also called TobyKeith.
The Guinness Book of World Records has announced that the oldest living dog in the world is a 7-pound chihuahua who recently celebrated his 21st birthday. Little TobyKeith was indeed named after the singer when his second owner, Gisela Shore of Greenacres, Florida, adopted him as a 4-month-old puppy.
“I was a volunteer at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue and one of the employees told me about an elderly couple trying to surrender a puppy because they could not take care of him any longer,” Gisela explained. “I met with the elderly couple and I was introduced to a tiny tan Chihuahua. They had named him Peanut Butter. I later changed his name to TobyKeith.”
TobyKeith lives with Gisela and her two other dogs, Luna and Lala. They also share their home with several exotic birds. Chihuahuas are known for having a longer lifespan than some larger breeds, but TobyKeith has far exceeded the top of the 12 to 18 year range.
So what does a 21-year-old dog do with his days? Well, he starts each day with his favorite treat, a slice of turkey. Gisela says “he does a lot of sleeping, but other than that, he’s doing great.”
While TobyKeith does have a heart condition, Gisela insists it doesn’t slow him down. She thinks the secret to his longevity is a good diet and plenty of exercise and love. As for his favorite kind of exercise, his owner says he’s all about the stairs.
“Without exaggeration, up and down the stairs 30 to 40 times, like it’s nothing,” she said with a smile.
TobyKeith’s status as the oldest living dog was confirmed by Guinness World Records when he was exactly 21 years and 66 days old. His birthday is January 9, 2001. Although Gisela knew her dog was probably in the running for the award, it wasn’t until he hit a milestone birthday that she realized he had to be close.
“When he turned 20 years everyone’s reaction was WOW!” said Gisela. “My friends and family thought he was the oldest dog they knew about.”
Gisela was thrilled when Guinness named him as 2022’s oldest dog alive! TobyKeith celebrated with a trip to the salon for a bath, nail trim, and car ride. Something tells us he topped off his day with a nap, too!
Share this story to congratulate TobyKeith on his amazing longevity!
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.