JOIN USThe male cross breed, recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest living dog, lived a life equivalent to over 125 years old in human age.
Pusuke had been showing a good appetite and kept up with its daily morning and evening strolls until Monday morning, when it suddenly refused to eat and appeared to have breathing difficulty, owner Yumiko Shinohara, a housewife, said.
The dog died peacefully in the afternoon, about five minutes after Shinohara returned home from a stroll, Kyodo news agency reported.
"I think (Pusuke) waited for me to come home," the she said, adding that she wanted to thank it for many good memories through the years.
Pusuke was born in March 1985 at the home of one of Yumiko's relatives. He has for the most part lived an average doggy life chockfull of daily exercise, occasional snack cakes and, of course, two daily meals, earlier reports said.
Pusuke was certified for the Guinness title in December last year. The previous record was held by a 28-year-old, US- based beagle that died in 2003.