Meet Lineu, the Most Beloved “Retired” Dog on the Internet

A little dog named Mr. Lineu (haha, yes — we must address him as “Mister,” since he's already 9 years old) is a borzoi and lives with his family in São Paulo, Brazil. This adorable “retired” pup loves a lot of things, like chewing, going on walks, and playing… the list goes on and on!

With his sweet, kind, and playful personality, this handsome guy has won over the hearts of 39,000 followers on Instagram. That’s why, in a super adorable video posted on June 11 to bring joy to his fans, he shared some of the things he loves to do. Let’s check it out!

For starters, Lineu loves the word “let’s” because it means a lot of things, like going on a walk or playing. The little word “let’s” is magical to him because it can take him to many places.

The second item on the list is chewing. It doesn’t matter what it is, he will chew, especially his little ball.

Oh, and something that can’t be missing from that list is: sleeping. “He LOVES to sleep! And, of course, after a good nap, it is time for a walk. It doesn’t matter where it is, whether on the street or in the park, going on any kind of walk is his jam. And to conclude: making a mess. His favorite kind of mess? Going through the trash in search of something to eat. Lineu is awesome!

Whoever sees him this happy can’t imagine how much he has suffered. Neglected by his former owners, he arrived in Samara Araujo’s life with health problems: underweight, extreme joint pain, a compromised spine, arthritis, decaying teeth, a nail infection that had spread to the bone, and an anal gland inflammation.

“It was so sad to see,” Samara told Amo Meu Pet (our Brazilian website about pet news).

But everything changed when Samara adopted him. Today, in addition to being loved by his owner, he has the company of two feline siblings, Nelson and Goya!

When she moved to Rio Grande do Sul during the pandemic, she started following @almadegalgo more closely, an NGO that rescues racing and hunting greyhounds.

It was at that moment that she decided to officially adopt a dog of that breed.

“The apartment I lived in was smaller, and at first, during the interview with the NGO, we wanted a small, skinny little dude,” Samara said, laughing.

However, the dogs available for adoption had been redirected to other families. After the pandemic. After the pandemic, Samara returned to São Paulo, disappointed that she had not been able to fulfill that adoption dream. It was then that something wonderful happened.

“Paula, from the NGO Alma de Galgo, texted me saying that there was an older but very calm Borzoi available, who would get along well with the cats, and she thought he would be perfect for us,” she recalled.

So, Lineu finally joined the family! The dog hadn’t been directly rescued by the NGO, but rather through an intermediary, because his previous owner had passed away. She had a kennel with many dogs. Some family friends donated them, and Lineu was one of them.

“He was here in São Paulo, and we visited him first so we could meet. It was love at first sight,” she declared. “What was supposed to be a very small, skinny dog ended up becoming a large, skinny dog! Hahaha.”

The dog lived for many years in terrible conditions, but his fate has changed! And he has just completed another year with his new family. The dog, who previously weighed 59 pounds, now weighs 88—that’s because love changes everything!

Regarding the joke about Lineu being retired, Samara explains:

“The retirement joke is precisely because he came very debilitated, already a senior, and we adopted him despite all these conditions because we wanted to provide him with a happy life and retirement, finally.”

Curious to know Mr. Lineu’s favorite things? Over 272,000 internet users have watched it, 39,000 have reacted, and hundreds have commented on the post:

Check it out:

And for all the beauty this guy has, he has just as much energy, right? Follow him on social media here.

Lineu is so beautiful, and his breed is very graceful! Check out some fun facts about this breed that looks like royalty.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), one of the largest purebred dog registries in the world, Borzois—also known as Russian Greyhounds—are a breed that originated in Russia. They are known for their elegant and graceful appearance, in addition to being able to reach high speeds, making them one of the fastest dog breeds.

Despite their athletic background, Borzois have a calm and peaceful personality. They are generally kind, affectionate, and attached to their owners. They are known for being reserved and somewhat independent dogs.

Although they are kind and friendly dogs, Borzois can still maintain a strong hunting instinct. They can feel tempted to chase small animals, so it is important to keep them under control in open areas.

And despite their speed, they don’t require a high level of exercise. They are moderately active dogs and need daily walks and opportunities to run in safe areas.