World’s oldest dog dies in Japan at age 26

In this Dec. 24, 2010 photo, Pusuke, the world's oldest living dog according to Guinness World Records, is shown in Sakura in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo. The fluffy tan Shiba-mix dog, recognized as the world's oldest living dog last December, died on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 after suddenly falling ill and refusing to eat or go on his morning walk, owner Yumiko Shinohara told reporters at her home in Sakura. Pusuke died at the age of 26 years and eight moths. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, FRANCE, HONG KONG, JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA

TOKYO  — The world’s oldest dog according to Guinness World Records has died in Japan at the age of 26 years and eight months.

Owner Yumiko Shinohara told reporters at her home in Sakura, a city outside Tokyo, that Pusuke, a fluffy tan Shiba mix, died Monday after suddenly falling ill and refusing to eat.

Shinohara told TV network FNN that she “would just like to thank him for staying alive so long.” The report said Pusuke’s life span would have been the equivalent of about 125 years for a human.

According to Guinness, the dog was born April 1, 1985. Pusuke was recognized as the world’s oldest living dog last December. The Guinness record for canine longevity is 29 years, set by Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who died in 1939.