Do you wish your puppy would last forever? Do you share such a strong bond with him that you would never want to see him go? Well, if you answered yes, you probably want to know how an Irishman has managed to keep his 26-year-old border collie dog as energetic as he was when he was just a puppy.

This little dog has far surpassed the life expectancy of his own breed and this is his story.

Skippy lives in Elly Bay, Ireland, with his 85-year-old owner, Pattric Geraghty. This senior adopted the puppy in the summer of 1996 and although some may think he’s making a mistake, for Pat that date is indelible because this puppy became his best friend.

Grandpa has taken care of him since his first weeks of life, after adopting him from a shelter in Bellmullet. At that time, neither the puppy nor the man imagined all that they would live together.

Today, almost three decades later, they still keep each other company as they did on the very first day.

Pat says Skippy has always been a pretty healthy and adventurous furry, but his condition goes beyond genetics.

According to the American Kennel Club, the life expectancy for a puppy of this breed is 12 to 15 years, but Skippy has already lived a decade longer than science imagined.

This border collie is considered the longest-lived dog in the country and it is being studied whether to give him the record for the longest-lived dog in the world. For some it might not seem like 26 years, but if we calculate according to the aging time of these animals, we are talking that Skippy has lived around 146 canine years.

Do you still think that’s not enough?

Skippy and his human live on a farm and all his life the dog has accompanied Pat in the daily chores such as herding sheep. The outdoor walks proved to be a daily energy boost for the dog.

The little dog always enjoyed running on sunny days.

For his owner, breathing fresh air and being raised in the countryside have helped to extend the dog’s life, although these are his beliefs and there is still no scientific explanation for this peculiar case.

Skippy’s spirit is still intact, although the years have begun to take their toll. In 2020, the little dog presented his first mobility problems with a hip injury and difficulties in his legs. Since then, Pat has been assisting him 24 hours a day, according to the dog’s wishes.

Despite his problems, the collie’s spirits never waver and he spends the day trying to have fun.

In addition to that, in the last few months, the little dog has suffered from hearing loss. In view of this situation, Patrick is even more dedicated to his care.

“It’s my turn to take care of him now, you know… He was good to me when he was healthy, but now he is weak and I have to give him water four times a day and feed him three times, but I don’t mind,” confessed the old man.

This story of friendship surfaced on social networks, after a Twitter user shared the case on his profile. Although some doubted that the furry one is really that age, there are people who claim that the grandfather has owned the furry one since the 90s.

We don’t know exactly if it was in 94 that the pet came into the man’s arms, but there is no doubt that the little dog enjoys a long life.

The love that this good man gave to the puppy and the good life were for Skippy the best medicine for longevity. The dog has already far surpassed the years that science stipulates can pass in this world and, although old age affects him, his desire to play with Pat is still intact.

There is nothing love can’t overcome and Skippy is absolute proof of that. Well done my good man, you will have a great friend for life everlasting.