Ryan Brinkman and his ride-or-die buddy, Dude, have been busy lately! They’ve officially hit 49 states and explored almost 50 National Parks together. Despite their legendary travel history, there was one high-profile celebrity Dude had yet to check off his bucket list.
A recent video posted by @adventures_of_the_dude_ showed us the sweet moment this mixed-breed dog finally crossed paths with Santa at a Cabela’s. The energy was absolutely electric. It turns out that even a seasoned explorer can lose his cool when the man in the red suit is involved.
Dog turns meeting Santa into ‘full-volume celebration’ in video
The excitement kicked off right in the car, where Dude was already sporting a festive Christmas jumper and practically vibrating with anticipation. Ryan let the viewers at home in on the secret: Dude has never actually met the big guy before. As a Golden Labrador mix, Dude basically has a double dose of “over-the-top friendly” baked into his DNA.
Dude didn’t just greet the guest of honor; he tried to become his best friend instantly. Ryan joked that while the man in red was ready for a standard photo op, Dude “immediately turned the moment into a full-volume celebration.”
Dude was a complete mess of excitement while they waited. He did adorable little howls and his tail was going a mile a minute. He clearly tried to stay put and be on his best behavior, but he was just too hyped. When it was finally his turn, he practically dragged Ryan across the floor. He doesn’t just sit for a photo; he snuffles all over the festive blanket on Santa’s lap and leans in for the most aggressive snuggles possible. It was a total “zero chill” situation that had the whole store watching.
Viewers couldn’t get enough of this — the video is already sitting at 5,700 likes and counting! After Dude finished his “investigative sniffing” phase, he finally paused to show off. He puffed out his chest and gave the most hilarious, wide-mouthed grin. It’s those little, unscripted moments of doggy bliss that really make the whole holiday season feel special.
