As of December 7, 2022, Spike was registered as being 23 years and 7 days old, earning him entry into the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living dog on Earth. Owner Rita Kimball became aware of Spike’s special situation while watching an episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on which Fallon reported that Pebbles, a toy fox terrier of Taylors, South Carolina, and the former holder of the world’s oldest dog record, had died on October 3, 2022, just five months before her upcoming 23rd birthday. Kimball realized Spike was older than Pebbles and contacted the proper authorities to get him certified. Per CNN, Spike actually seized the title from a Los Angeles dog named Gino Wolf, who was thought to have the record at 22 years and 52 days old.
The secrets to Spike’s longevity include a daily routine of breakfast between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m., followed by a walk with Rita around the farm to visit other animals, including cows, chickens, and barn cats. A nap on the porch is next on the agenda, and he then accompanies Rita on her farm chores — “Spike has ridden on tractors, been a passenger inside the combine, and tags along when we cut wood,” she told the Guinness Book of World Records. He takes a bath every Saturday and occasionally indulges in his favorite snacks, including braunschweiger with cheese and Doritos. Spike’s other hobbies are playing with house cat Foxxy and hiding his toy fox around the Kimball home.
