Toddy the terrier could be Scotland's oldest dog as he turns 22

Publish date: 2024-06-10

Toddy the terrier is a strong contender for being Scotland's oldest pooch. 

The ageing cairn cross turns 22 this Autumn, which is a staggering 103 in dog years.

Toddy had been a stray running round the streets of the notorious Raploch area of Stirling when he was picked up by a warden and taken to the council kennels at Bandeath back in Spring 1999.

When Chris Sheffield, 62, turned up to adopt the mutt he was told not to hold his breath if he expected a long life ahead of him due to a heart murmur detected by vets.

But more than two decades later, Toddy is still going strong, much to the delight of his adoring owner.

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Chris, from Denny, told the Daily Record: "We'd been looking for a dog and my friend was the duty sergeant in Stirling at the time and called us and said there was a gorgeous wee dog who had just been picked up.

"We went along and in those days you put down a deposit and waited a week to see if anyone came forward to claim him.

"When no one came, he was ours, and Toddy the terrorist, who had been quite shy in the kennel, suddenly became a gremlin in our house, marking his territory and settling in straight away.

"He was found in the Raploch and they reckoned he was probably an abandoned Christmas puppy who had been born the previous autumn.

"He's not a full blown Cairn terrier so I call him Toddy the terrorist, and we named him Toddy because of the colour of his fur."

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He added: "They said he would maybe live to around 12 but here he is, still going strong almost double the time they predicted.

"Over the years my kids have grown up and my wife passed away, so Toddy is the only original family member left in the house apart from me."

Despite being in his twilight years, Toddy's favourite things in life are ripping the post to bits every morning, long walks on the beach and eating.

Chris says there's no great secret to his long life, and he's always been given a "normal diet" of regular dog food, and plenty of exercise.

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He said: "I think he is incredible and he must surely be the oldest dog in Scotland.

"When we meet people in the park, I’ve stopped telling them his age.

"They act like they think I've been on the whisky when I say he's 21 because he doesn't seem it.

"His energy is maybe about 55, 60 per cent of what it used to be, but he's still fit and able, even if he has lost a chunk of his hearing and can't catch rabbits like he used to."

He added: "The Coronavirus pandemic has slowed him down a bit lately but now that things are picking up again we've been able to get out and about. We were walking at Loch Lomond last week and he ran the length of North Berwich Beach too."

Grandad-of-three Chris says his experience with his beloved pet means he'd recommend anyone to take on a rescue animal.

He said: "It doesn't always work out for everyone but we were very lucky with Toddy.

"I don't think about life after Toddy or get upset because I see it that I've had nine bonus years with him, which no one would have expected.

"He doesn't exactly play chess but he's a smart wee man, he goes behind the couch when the grandkids are in, years of having fingers in his ears taught him that.

"And he always knows where to head for straight away when he enters a new house."

Jo Neilson, a senior vet for the SSPCA, confirmed Toddy's chances of being crowned the oldest dog in Scotland.

And she said Chris' experience should be enough to convince anyone who is toying with the idea of taking on a rescue pet.

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She said: "It’s wonderful to hear of any dog reaching this age and being happy and full of life. Chris is clearly doing something right, and I'd say there's a good chance Toddy is one of the oldest dogs in Scotland.

"Hopefully this goes to show taking on what seems like an older dog from a rescue centre doesn't have to mean they won't be with you long.

"People overlook older dogs but even if they are 10 or 11, they could live for another 10 years, or even 12 in the case of Toddy."

She added: "And of course, it's a well known fact that old boys like this give the best snuggles."

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