In a news cycle often dominated by economic shifts and political maneuvering, a four-year-old mastiff mix named Ozzy has arrived to provide a much-needed, slobbery respite. The Oklahoma City pooch has officially licked the competition, setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest tongue on a living dog.

Guinness World Records confirmed this week that Ozzy’s tongue measures a staggering 7.83 inches (19.89 cm). To put that into a local perspective for our readers, Ozzy’s tongue is nearly the width of a standard A4 sheet of paper, or roughly two-thirds the length of the ruler in a Kenyan primary schooler's backpack.

A Record-Breaking Measurement

The discovery of Ozzy’s record-breaking attribute happened not at a competition, but during a routine veterinary check-up. Owners Angela and Jon Pick had taken Ozzy in for a nail trim when the veterinary staff, astounded by the sheer volume of the dog's tongue, decided to measure it.

“The longest tongue on a living dog is 19.89 cm (7.83 in) and was achieved by Ozzy Pick,” the Guinness citation reads, verifying the measurement taken from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tongue. This new record smashes previous benchmarks, placing Ozzy firmly in the history books.

• The Record: 19.89 cm (7.83 inches)
• The Dog: Ozzy, a French Mastiff / Bullmastiff mix
• The Location: Oklahoma City, USA
• The Previous Record: Held by Rocky (Illinois), measuring roughly 5.46 inches

Living With the 'Super-Tongue'

While the record is a source of pride, living with such an appendage comes with unique logistical challenges. Angela Pick noted that Ozzy’s tongue frequently hangs out of his mouth, leading to it becoming dry or even sunburned if they aren't careful. The family often has to ensure he stays hydrated and feeds him a high-activity diet to keep up with his energy.

Despite the formidable size of his tongue, Ozzy is described as a gentle giant. “He doesn’t really lick a whole lot,” Angela admitted in an interview with Guinness World Records. Instead of slobbery kisses, the mastiff prefers to nuzzle or rub noses to show affection. His personality is equally quirky; despite his large, lumbering frame, his owners describe him as “kangaroo-like” when he gets excited, hopping around the yard.

The Kenyan Perspective

For dog lovers in Nairobi—where the average "Simba" or German Shepherd sports a tongue roughly half this size—Ozzy’s anatomy is a biological marvel. While local veterinary experts emphasize that a hanging tongue can sometimes indicate dental issues or nerve damage, in Ozzy's case, it is simply a genetic quirk of his mastiff lineage.

In a world that can feel increasingly serious, Ozzy serves as a reminder of the simple, bizarre joys of nature. As Angela Pick put it, the sight of Ozzy’s tongue puts an “automatic smile on people’s faces”—a currency that holds its value in any economy.