Mid-flight friendships don’t usually start in the footwell — but Ritchie’s not your usual passenger. The big, cloud-like Great Pyrenees is calmly curled up by his mom’s seat when the woman in front of them reaches back with a tempting offering: a strip of beef jerky. You can almost hear the internal debate in Ritchie’s head — he wants it, but rules are rules.
The video, shared by @ritchiethepyr, shows the gentle giant waiting for his mom’s nod before accepting the treat. Once he gets it, there’s no turbulence here, just pure beefy joy at 30,000 feet.
Dog gets beef jerky from stranger on flight after owner’s approval in video
The internet’s officially obsessed. The video has already crossed 593K likes, and the comments section reads like a waiting list for Ritchie’s next flight. The breed is known for its calm temperament and the kind of patience you rarely see in humans midair. And Ritchie handles the situation like a seasoned traveler.
The clip opens with him sitting patiently by his mom’s feet, tucked neatly in the tight confines of his flight row. The passenger seated in front of them is trying to deliver a special snack through the small gap between the seats. The in-video text reveals, “This lady sitting in front of us bought a pack of beef jerky just to give it to Ritchie.” He sniffs, pauses, and waits — that signature stillness of a dog who knows manners matter.
When his mom gives the go-ahead, he sweetly takes the treat. Then he lies down to properly enjoy it. His mom explains, “He doesn’t take it from strangers,” since he’s trained “to really listen to me in airports and planes.”
The passenger laughs, calling him “the best.” And really, she’s not wrong. Between his frequent flights to California (shared custody, no big deal) and his record of causing “cute delays,” Ritchie’s basically a four-legged frequent flyer icon.
As one commenter put it, “I’d pay extra to sit next to him.” Attention, airlines — this, right here, is your in-flight entertainment upgrade.
