Is this the world’s oldest dog? Dachshund cross terrier Otto will be 21 in February and owner Peter Jones, from Reabrook in Shrewsbury, thinks he could be the oldest in the county – and possibly even the world.

He was inspired to contact the Shropshire Star after reading an article about the death of the oldest dog in the world. US dachshund Chanel died last month aged 21 – or the grand old age 147 calculated in dog years.

Mr Jones, 68, said his wife Lynn, 55, had owned Otto, who has no offspring, since he was a puppy and he is still going strong, although he is battling a few problems including arthritis.

Mr Jones, a retired sales manager, said: “When I saw this dog had died and he was the oldest in the world, I thought Otto must be getting on to being the oldest as well.

“I thought it would be good to see if Otto is the oldest. My vet said to me that they hadn’t got any older dogs going to see them.

“He will follow me wherever I go and doesn’t go running off. I if go out, I come back and he’s sat by the door waiting.

“He’s still going strong. He used to run like a greyhound and was really fast but in the last couple of year’s that has stopped.

“He’s got a bit of arthritis but apart from that he’s quite well.”

Guinness World Records honoured Chanel, who died at her owner’s home in Port Jefferson Station, a village 50 miles east of New York City, as the world’s oldest dog in May at a 21st birthday party at a Manhattan dog hotel and spa.

Owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy said in her later years Chanel wore tinted goggles for her cataracts and sweaters to beat the cold.

Guinness World Records urged Mr Jones to contact the organisation to see whether Otto could be a record breaker.

A spokesman said:”If you have a reader who believes their dog might be the oldest living then we would welcome their application on our website www.guinness

worldrecords.com we can then investigate the claim.”

He said the “greatest reliable age” recorded for a dog was 29 years five months for an Australian cattle-dog named Bluey.

Bluey, who lived in Victoria, Australia, was bought as a puppy in 1910 and worked among cattle and sheep for nearly 20 years before being put to sleep on November 14, 1939.