Jack's coming up to his tenth birthday and he's longing for a dog. He's seen the perfect one - a gorgeous labrador puppy in the local petshop. But the dog his parents bring home is nothing like Jack's dream puppy. Hercules is a fully-grown dog from the rescue kennels. He's very long, very hairy and has short stumpy legs. Jack doesn't think he's seen anything so ugly. Although Hercules is lively and clever, Jack rejects him. He's not the dog Jack wanted. But Jack's parents agree that a dog is for life and he's not going back. Jack will just have to learn to accept him. But Hercules wants more than just plain acceptance - and he's determined Jack will fall in love with him. And his persistence pays off when, doggedly following Jack wherever he goes (and being studiously ignored by him in turn), he is finally in the right place at the right time, when Jack becomes trapped down an old quarry...