The real story of the caramel dog that became the protagonist of a film on Netflix
Rafa Vitti and director Diego Freitas talk about ‘Caramelo’ and lessons from the film
The feature follows a chef who adopts a stray dog while going through a delicate moment in his life. Credit: Images: Netflix Brasil / Report: Laysa Zanetti
The origin story of Peanut is confused with that of Caramel. In the new film Netflix, We know the story of the friendship between an obstinate chef and a caramel mutt who crosses his path to transform his worldview. And just like his character, the little dog who plays opposite Rafael Vitti was also taken off the streets.
Rescued from the streets, Amendoim underwent training to star in ‘Caramelo’ alongside Rafa Vitti Photo: Vans Bumbeers/Netflix
Peanut was rescued from the streets by Luis e Jehovah Oliveirabrothers and dog trainers from Animal Stars. When the company, led by Luís, was chosen to take care of animal welfare on the Caramelo film set, the team had to go in search of a protagonist for the film — but the truth is that the protagonist himself went after them.
“We started research, visited NGOs, we have contacts with veterinarians, friends and trainers all over Brazil. (The film’s producers) sent some references, but until then we only had that and didn’t know how to proceed. It wasn’t just finding the protagonist, it was finding six similar ones”, explains Luís to Estadão.
According to him, the meeting with Amendoim was random, after five months of intense searching in shelters and countless photos received on WhatsApp.
“In April (2024) a guy appears to me, caramel, sitting on our farm there in Santo André”, recalls Luis. “Jehovah, my brother, called me and I said: ‘Open the door and put him in.’
Amendoim, star of ‘Caramelo’, was adopted by coach Luis Estrelas Photo: Vans Bumbeers/Netflix/Disclosure
Luís explains that, at the time, Netflix wanted to find a dog that was already a year old to act in the filming. Because he was smaller, Amendoim didn’t gain production immediately, but the coach — who is now his tutor — didn’t give up and started training him immediately.
A month later, when he finally received the “yes” from the team, Amendoim was already improving and understanding commands with ease.
But what’s so special about him? According to Luis, Amendoim seems to have been born for the camera.
“If you give a paper or something, the dog will destroy it. He didn’t. He destroyed it but in a different way”, he explains. “He would take a roll of toilet paper, destroy it and look at us. As if asking, ‘Is this the way you want it or should I take it the other way?’ You threw him a pillow, he only bit in the place we indicated. So, when they answered that it was him, I was very happy. I knew he was different”, he says proudly.
Elevated to the rank of star, Amendoim already has his own profile on Instagram, and today lives with Luis, who was so won over by the dog’s charisma that he decided to adopt him.
In addition to him, there are 80 other dogs who acted in Caramelo, and they took turns on the set during the daily routines. Most came directly from shelters, rescued both by Luis and his team and by other protectors.
“We had 12 professional trainers and 12 assistant trainers in this project, in addition to the veterinarians and the rest of the team”, guarantees the trainer. “Our concern was always with the well-being of the dogs. So much so that in most scenes they are simply having fun. Jehovah was always there and the dogs felt at ease.”
Hi! I’m Renato Lopes, an electric vehicle enthusiast and the creator of this blog dedicated to the future of clean, smart, and sustainable mobility. My mission is to share accurate information, honest reviews, and practical tips about electric cars—from new EV releases and battery innovations to charging solutions and green driving habits. Whether you’re an EV owner, a curious reader, or someone planning to make the switch, this space was made for you.
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