It’s TobyKeith’s time again. The 21-year-old chihuahua has regained the title of the world’s oldest living dog.
The previous titleholder, Pebbles, a 22-year-old South Carolina-based toy fox terrier, died on Oct. 3 after a long life full of “country music and being loved,” owner Julie Gregory wrote on Instagram.
“We send our sincerest condolences to Pebbles’ family,” Kylie Galloway with Guinness World Records North America told USA TODAY on Wednesday. “I can confirm that TobyKeith currently holds the Guinness World Records title for the oldest dog living.”
Pebbles earned the crown after her owners Bobby and Julie Gregory read about TobyKeith, when the Florida dog was deemed the world’s oldest by Guinness in April. The Gregorys realized Pebbles was older and applied for the record, which Guinness awarded to Pebbles in May.
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TobyKeith’s owner Gisela Shore of Greenacres, Fla., told USA TODAY she had sent condolences to Pebbles’ owners. “It was sad news.”
And she was recently notified by Guinness that TobyKeith was “back on his throne,” Shore said.
TobyKeith, who is 21¾ years old had his regular six-month visit with the veterinarian last month, and “he is in perfect health,” Shore said.
Shore says she takes it easy on TobyKeith, who enjoys going on walks in the neighborhood and letting him roam around their yard. “He loves to sunbathe 10 to 15 minutes a day,” she said.
He also enjoys trips to the park and frequent car rides, at least three times a week. Shore cracks the window down, “but only at a stop light,” she said.
“And I do take him to get his pedicures … about every four weeks.”
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TobyKeith eats pretty well, too. His favorite meal Shore said is a mix of brown rice, vegetables, chicken and dog kibble.
“As a treat, he still enjoys his carrots (minced into tiny little bites), and a little piece of turkey in the morning. That’s what he eats almost every day,” Shore said.
A sales rep, Shore does about half of her work from home. “He’s either right behind me,” cuddled at her back in her work chair, “or at my feet,” she said. “I think he’s looking for heat.”
Oh, and about that name. Shore told Guinness she adopted the chihuahua as a puppy after an elderly couple surrendered him to a shelter because they could no longer care for the dog, which had originally been named “Peanut Butter.”
A country music fan, Shore had tickets to a Toby Keith concert about the time she connected with her new puppy. “And I just thought it would be funny to name a tiny little three-pound dog after this big, 6-foot, 250-pound man,” Shore said.
Contributing: Wyatte Grantham-Philips and Asha Gilbert
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.
