Happy Lab is back in town, and it looks like he's up to his old good-natured, bumbling ways. But, while Hank and Drover might find him a little exasperating at times, this latest adventure proves that a loyal lab is a great friend to have when the going gets tough.

Nobody on the ranch has seen a drought like the one this summer, ponds have dried up, the creek is down, and the cows are kicking up dust. Then there is a prairie fire. There is a desperate need for rain, and Pete the Barncat is trying to ruin Loper's birthday.

While trying to outwit his arch enemy Pete the Barncat, Hank the cowdog is duped into believing a worthless corncob will bring him fame and fortune.

When Slim is left to take care of the ranch and little Alfred, who has the measles, he gets sick himself and a freak blizzard sets in, so it is up Hank to try to keep things under control.

For twenty-five years, readers have enjoyed watching Drover, Hank's trusty sidekick try to finagle himself out of every dangerous situation that arises on the ranch. But what happened before Drover came to the ranch? Well, it's all here - from his early days as runt of the litter, through his fruitless search for a job, to his ultimate position as Hank's right-paw man.

It's Hank's job to clear the ranch of all intruders--and that includes gophers. But when Hank's efforts causes a stampede in the middle of the cattle roundup, Loper decides that he wants Hank to learn some manners, so he's sending him to--gulp!--Obedience School. To Hank, this sounds like torture, complete with dank dungeons, torches burning on the walls, and menacing instructors who wield the rules of etiquette like weapons. Will he survive?

Hank the cowdog, Head of Ranch Security, matches wits with an escaped circus monkey.

Unsupervised for the day, Hank the cowdog and his human friends, Little Alfred and Slim Chance, mind the ranch with humorous results.

Hank the Cowdog goes to the rescue as a wild, one-eyed horse creates havoc on the ranch but some of his outrageous stunts get him into more trouble than he bargained for.

Slim must complete Uncle Johnny's "little job"--which has become more complicated than Slim signed up for--and race home in time to patch things up with Miss Viola, or their engagement may be over.