World's "oldest dog" dies on farm aged 30

An Australian dog, thought to be the world's oldest, has passed away at the age of 30.

Brian McLaren, the owner of the dog, said on Wednesday in Melbourne that the dog called Maggie, was found dead earlier this week on his farm located near the rural town of Warrnambool in Victoria's southwest.

He said the 30-year-old, dog was still going along nicely last week, walking from the dairy to the office and growling at the cats and all that sort of thing.

"She just went downhill in two days and I said yesterday morning when I went home for lunch.

"I'm sad, but I'm pleased she went the way she went,’’ he said.

McLaren noted that last year, Maggie shot to worldwide fame when the former farm dog featured in a newspaper report claiming she was "oldest pooch in the world".

If Maggie was indeed 30 years old, the kelpie would have been nearing her third century in dog years where each human year is worth seven for man's best friend.

Maggie's age cannot be verified as McLaren lost the dog's paperwork when she was a puppy.

McLaren, however, said he brought Maggie back to the family farm when his youngest son, Liam, was just four.

He said Liam is now 34 years old, meaning the extraordinary dog was at least 30.

The owner disclosed that Maggie, who was deaf but hadn't been for a vet check for 15 years, was still working as the farm's guard dog in her later years.

"We were great mates, it is a bit sad.

"The Victorian kelpie was almost killed in October last year when a utility vehicle ran over her while she slept on the road. But she lived to tell the tale,’’ he said.

Most dogs live between eight and 15 years. Records of dogs living more than 20 years are extremely rare and usually involve smaller breeds.

Australia already holds the official Guinness World Record for the world's oldest dog, with a cattle dog called Bluey living for 29 years from 1910 to 1939.