Calvin is a likeable, bright 13-year-old who has almost everything he could want in life - except a prized rare copy of a comic he collects. When he hears about a dog show with a $5,000 prize, he decides to get a dog and enter, to win the money and buy the comic. However, he doesn't bargain for the fact that he comes to love Tyco, the accident prone, lovable mutt he rescues from the pound.