World Cup or World Pup? Dogs Bonnie and Simba break records with their football skills
These talented footballing dogs could give Ronaldo and Messi a run for their money this World Cup… World Pup?.. Well, you get it!
Simba, a five-year-old Border Collie, and his sister Bonnie, a seven-year-old show type English Springer Spaniel, who live in Reading, UK, with their loving owner Olga Jones are celebrating the tournament in style by adding some football records to their long list of accolades.
Both serial record breakers, Simba claimed the most football (soccer) goals scored by a dog in one minute with a total of 12, while Bonnie took the record for most football (soccer) goals scored by a dog in 30 seconds with a total of five.
Simba had previously broken his record with five goals.
They’re the cutest little footballers we’ve ever seen!
Olga, who has a background in medicine but now focuses on training her record-breaking dogs, said that of course their latest record attempts were inspired by the World Cup.
She said: “Football is one of those sports that brings people together, and when Guinness World Records announced a football-themed record, it felt like the perfect fit. Simba and Bonnie already love games involving balls, targets and problem-solving, so we thought it would be great fun to see whether they could put their own canine spin on a penalty shoot-out.
Bonnie scoring a goal past Olga
“Watching Simba score football goals looked like far too much fun for Bonnie to miss out on. She sat watching patiently for a while before deciding, ‘Right… my turn!’ The moment she got her chance, she bounded on to the pitch full of excitement, scored her own goals and, as always, added plenty of Bonnie-style enthusiasm, charm and a touch of joyful chaos along the way.”
She added: “Of course! We're very much supporting England and hoping for a fantastic tournament. Simba and Bonnie may have set football records, but unlike England's goalkeepers, they weren't required to save any shots!”
Read about more amazing record-breaking animals in our dedicated section.
Simba shoots, he scores!
Olga, 49, has been training Bonnie and Simba since they were puppies – starting with fun tricks and games and growing into more complex dog sports, film and TV appearances, dog dancing, and of course their many Guinness World Records titles.
Bonnie and Simba both thrive off the challenges Olga sets them and love learning new things.
From their perspective, Olga explains, they’re simply playing a fun game with their human or with each other, and they’re being rewarded with tasty treats when they do a good job. What’s not to love?
The dogs know hundreds of tricks, commands and verbal cues, and have performed at prestigious competitions and had starring roles in TV shows and commercials as well as on stage.
Simba also loves painting and has raised money for charity with his artwork and Bonnie once got a standing ovation from Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent.
When asked what surprises her most about her dogs, Olga said: “Probably their ability to learn completely new concepts. Many people assume that dogs simply memorize actions, but Simba and Bonnie are remarkably good at understanding what a task is trying to achieve and then finding their own way to solve it. That's one of the reasons Guinness World Records has become such a good fit for them - every new record presents a different challenge.”
Olga is constantly working on new tricks with her dogs and looking for new records they could break.
“My secret is keeping it fun, breaking complicated behaviours into tiny achievable steps, and celebrating progress along the way,” she said.
She listens to her dogs too and says often they’ll display a talent on their own, essentially suggesting tricks they could do together.
Olga said: “One thing I'd love people to know is that behind the records, Simba and Bonnie are first and foremost much-loved family dogs. While we're incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved, the records themselves aren't the most important part. The real achievement has been the journey we've shared together and the bond we've built along the way.
“Both dogs love travelling with us, going on long hikes, swimming in lakes and camping adventures.”
She added: “I think dogs have an incredible ability to inspire people, and we've always tried to choose records that can have a positive message. Some have focused on encouraging people to reuse and recycle, while others show how much fun can be had using ordinary household objects rather than expensive equipment. More recently, we've been promoting sports such as football and basketball as enjoyable activities that people can share with their dogs.
“We also regularly give talks and demonstrations in schools, scout groups and care homes. Through Simba and Bonnie, we hope to help children learn how to be safe and confident around dogs, bring a few smiles, and encourage people to believe that everyone has a talent. Sometimes that talent just needs a little encouragement, patience and opportunity to flourish - and earning Guinness World Records titles can be one wonderful way of celebrating it.”
We couldn’t agree more!
Interested in which football records could be broken at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Read more here or watch our special episode of What's The Record? below...