The trouble with Hugo is that he is very good at almost everything: sport, school work, making friends … he excels at it all. But his mum and dad worry because he gets really mad when things do not go his way.

When Mum and Dad get him a dog called Barney, they hope he will take things more easily. Their hopes are realized when an accident on a day out leads Hugo to learn that he can be mature and calm when he needs to be for Barney’s sake.

As their friendship develops, Hugo gives Barney lessons about his favorite subjects: orcas, peregrines, and kiwi birds.

Hugo and Barney have something to learn from each other—and that makes both of them happy.

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Sam is a lively boy who loves his family, but he doesn’t know how to show his affection. He’ll only hug his mum and dad. He won’t even hug his brothers, or his grandparents. This makes his Sam’s mother sad. Nonna suggests they get Sam a dog, because dogs know better than ‘us how to cuddle.’ Monty, the dog they adopt, hasn’t been part of a loving family before, and he’s not comfortable cuddling either. But Monty responds quickly to affection and teaches Sam that snuggling and hugging the people you love isn’t that hard.

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Immy loves thinking about make-up and fashion so much that one day, as she gazes at herself in the mirror, Dad reminds her that it is ‘what is inside’ that is important.

Mum suggests that it would be good for Immy to learn to care for a dog who needs a loving home, so one fine morning Dad and Immy set out to adopt one from the SPCA.

Of course Dad expects her to choose the cutest dog she can find, but after she looks at a beautiful fluffy poodle, an elegant, sleek greyhound and a pretty pert sausage dog, he is pleasantly surprised when she declares that she loves an ugly old dog who looks just like a bear.

Immy can tell that he is lonely and needs lots of loving care. And maybe Scruffy will enjoy all the attention she lavishes on him, as she sets out to make him the most pampered dog on the street!

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Abbie’s dog Nelson has grown very fat and needs an operation to help him run. Abbie has a better idea though. What if she finds a way to carry Nelson everywhere in a chariot fit for a lord!

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After Charlie learns to swim, his father takes him to choose a new puppy as a reward. But to his Dad’s surprise Charlie chooses a small quiet puppy he calls Abe, because somehow he knows this is just the dog for him!

Dad complains that Abe won’t play or fetch and is afraid of everything – even dogs half his size – but Charlie understands what it’s like to be shy and tells Abe that they will try to be ‘tough and brave’ together.

One night, Abe decides to put a cunning ‘doggy plan’ into action when he overhears Charlie telling Dad that he is being bullied at school by a boy called Garth.

Not only does Abe teach Garth a (rather amusing) lesson he will never forget, but he also shows Dad and his classmates that bravery comes in all shapes and sizes and that lots of our problems can be solved if we ‘just have a loyal friend.’

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Daisy takes life very seriously; she makes sure she is always immaculately groomed and works very hard at school. She even wants to stay inside doing her homework each day, rather than playing in the park with other kids. But one day Dad tells her she should have more fun, like her exuberant dog Freddie. The next day, when she takes Freddie for a walk –well actually he takes her for a walk –she learns there is a whole new world of freedom and fun to be had out there!

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Although Sam, Cleo’s dog, is enormous, he is a real wimp. Cleo’s mum urges him to be brave because he is frightened of everything; even Punky the poodle from down the road and Fat Felix, the cat who hangs around the park.

But one day when some bullies decide to pick on Cleo as she skips off to school, Sam suddenly finds the courage to defend her and also lands himself a splendid daytime job!

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Matilda loves dressing up her long-suffering dog, Basil. Day and night she parades him in a series of outfits, from tutus to superhero costumes – none of them suited to a big clumsy Labrador who would rather just wear his collar.

But one day Matilda’s mum decides to come to his rescue. She takes Matilda and her siblings to the zoo. As they look at the animals, she paints a picture for the children with her words, helping them to see how silly the animals would look if they were dressed up in a variety of outrageous costumes. Will Matilda take the lesson to heart and stop having dog dress-up days for poor Basil?

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Pete Goes to School is a rhyming tale about a young boy, Tom and his Labrador dog Pete. When Tom goes off to boarding school Pete runs away from home and arrives at Tom’s school late at night. The next day the headmaster says that Pete ‘must go’ but Tom’s formidable Mum turns up and persuades him, through a mixture of hard talk and flattery, that if Pete were allowed to stay at the school, not only would he make an excellent ‘In House’ dog but his appointment would also enhance the school’s (and more importantly) the headmaster’s reputation. Of course Mum gets her way and Tom, his school mates and Pete in particular, are very happy. School life is much easier to bear with a school dog to pat and cuddle!

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Claudia is always happy so when she chooses a rescue dog from a shelter, she chooses one who looks sad hoping that she can cheer him up.

She tries everything. She dresses up and dances for him, she reads him poetry, and she takes him out exploring at the beach.

Nothing seems to help though, and when COVID-19 arrives, Claudia becomes sad too because she can’t go outside or play with her friends and all her school lessons are on Zoom.

But what a surprise! Her dog Bruno comes to her rescue. Now he tries to make Claudia happy and in the end she learns that coping with life is all about building bridges to the other side.

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Joe talks so incessantly and is so full of ideas that even his parents and teacher occasionally feel like a break. When Mum and Dad decide to get him a dog called Bruno, they hope he will not only be a companion for Joe but will also enjoy listening to his constant chatter.

To their amazement, not only do Joe and Bruno become best mates but when Joe gets COVID-19, and loses his voice, Bruno comes to his rescue and in his own unique ‘doggie’ way does all the communicating for him; even in Zoom classes!

The teacher declares Bruno “Top Dog of the Year” and when Joe eventually get his voice back Mum and Dad are happy to hear him chatting away loudly to Bruno each night, as Bruno lies snoring happily at his bedside!

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