English Setter Sets World Record for Longest Tongue Dog

One of the newest entries in the Guinness Book of World Records can give you a slobbering dog kiss from nearly a third of a foot away.

A three year old English Setter named Bisbee from Tucson. Arizona became the world record holder for the longest canine tongue.

Measuring 3.74 inches (9.49 cm), Bisbee’s tongue is longer than a lollipop and dangles from his mouth like a piece of ham when he chokes.

Bisbee takes title from previous record holder Moti, St. Bernard from Sioux Falls in South Dakota, who had a tongue that was 7.3 inches long..

Dog tongues serve as important heat regulators, although they can cause problems such as breathing difficulties.

Bisbee’s owners Jay and Erica Johnson, who have had him since he was a puppy, said family members initially thought his tongue might bring him a reward.

“I sent a photo of him choking to my sister and father, and I think one of them mentioned that it could be a world record,” Ms Johnson said.

The owners initially had trouble measuring his tongue when he was awake because the mischievous puppy thought they were trying to play.

So when Bisbee was euthanized at the vet while he was taking X-rays of his thighs, Ms. Johnson took some preliminary measurements before contacting Guinness World Records.

For this record, the dog must stick his tongue out of his muzzle as far as possible without causing discomfort or pain to the puppy by stretching it.

A qualified veterinarian then measures from the very tip to where it is first seen from the muzzle to obtain an official fraction-of-inch figure.

According to the owners, although the Bisbee’s tongue is quite thick, it is actually impossible to see it until it opens its muzzle.

“His tongue is not noticeable unless he is choking — when he is choking and tired, he falls out and dangles,” Johnson said.

“Otherwise, it holds it relatively well in the mouth most of the time.”

Long tongues hanging over the jaw help dogs cool down when they pant.

Having a longer tongue increases the surface area for moisture to evaporate and heat to escape, although sometimes canine tongues become too long to be usable.

Macroglossia is the medical term for an abnormally large tongue and is a rare condition that can often cause problems in puppies.

Dogs with unusually long tongues may experience breathing problems and may need assistance to pick up objects off the floor with their mouths.

They may also make a special mess during lunch, as the food they lap up from their bowl can fly several feet or injure themselves by biting their tongue.

Despite having a record tongue, the Johnsons said that Bisbee has many other star qualities, including a love of hugs, affection for his owners, and an “amazing disposition.”

“We feel we are lucky to have him and he is lucky to have us,” Johnson said.

Bisbee’s favorite hobbies include swimming, wasp chasing, and daily walks, despite the fact that he has hip dysplasia, which reduces the amount of exercise he can do.

Bisbee’s tongue, measuring 3.74 inches, is not exactly comparable to that of Mochi, a female St. Bernard, whose tongue measured 7.3 inches (18.58 cm), equivalent to two and a half blocks of jenga.

Moti, a rescue dog from Colorado, held the record for five years but sadly passed away in October 2021.

Mochi broke the previous record held by a male Pekingese named Puggy, whose tongue was 11.43 cm (4.5 in) long.

But both paled in comparison to the longest dog tongue in history, which belonged to a boxer named Brandi.

Brandi’s tongue measured an incredible 1ft 5in (43cm)—longer than a full-sized Subway sandwich—and had to be constantly protected from sunburn and dryness with a spray bottle.

Brandi lived with her owner John Shade in St. Clair Shores, Michigan until her death in September 2002.