Suburban couple Mark (Dean Jones) and Fran (Suzanne Pleshette) take their beloved dachshund, Danke, to the vet's office to deliver her first brood of puppies. Before they leave, Dr. Pruitt (Charlie Ruggles) persuades softhearted Mark to adopt Brutus, a tiny puppy that has been abandoned by its mother. As the puppy grows into a full-size Great Dane that raises a ruckus around the house, Fran tries to convince Mark to find him a new home -- until a brave act helps change her mind.