Bobi a Portuguese Mastiff lived his whole life with the Costa family in the village of Conqueiros, near Portugal’s west coast, after being born in 1992 (!) with three siblings in an outbuilding.

Leonel Costa, who was eight years old at the time, said his parents had too many animals and had to put the puppies down, but Bobi escaped.

Mr Costa and his brothers kept the dog’s existence a secret from their parents until he was eventually discovered and became part of the family, who fed him the same food they eat.

Apart from a scare in 2018 when he was hospitalised after suddenly collapsing due to breathing difficulty, Mr Costa said in February that Bobi had enjoyed a relatively trouble-free life and thought the secret to his longevity was the “calm, peaceful environment” he lived in.

However, he had experienced trouble walking and worsening eyesight prior to his death.

Bobi was not the only dog owned by the Mr Costa to live a long life. Bobi’s mother lived to the age of 18 while another of the family’s dogs died at the age of 22. See full article here.

Bobi was said to have been fed human food soaked in water to remove seasoning! Prof Knight said it was possible for dogs to survive on a diet of human food scraps, since this is “consistent with canine evolutionary history”. However, in order to live a long life, they needed owners who followed “an unusually healthy diet”.

The secrets of pet longevity, includes nutritionally sound diets and plenty of exercise.

And what of wholefood plant-based diets for our pets?

In her words she not only had Bramble, but “I’ve had seven dogs – three of them lived to 19-years-old, one lived to 20-years-old (a German Shepherd), and then Bramble lived to 25-years-old.”

This is remarkable and can definitely be attributed to a life dedicated to feeding a healthy plant-based natural diet as well as the freedom of exercise and wholefood ingredients. Prof Knight mentions in the article in the Guardian that it was possible for dogs to survive on a diet of human food scraps, since this is “consistent with canine evolutionary history”.

However, in order to live a long life, they needed owners who followed “an unusually healthy diet” just as Anne Heritage followed in the 70’s and 80’s. Her book shows how when she moved home, she chose it to find the perfect vegetable patch to grow her own organic vegetables, and her dogs were only fed these once daily and would go for walks in the Somerset countryside for at least 3 hours each day.

This is the ideal and remarkable and proof of the benefits of wholefood plant-based diets for both us and our dogs. If wanting to home cook for your dog feeding a nutritionally sound plant-based diet, it is possible and we sell all the supplements needed and even offer help with exact quantities to feed your dog should you require that extra guidance as shown below.