Little Joel is a German Shepherd puppy who loves adventure. He has five brothers and a mother and father who live on the farm at Butterfield Falls. He is constantly begging his mother to let him go exploring in the woods around their home. His parents are very strict and keep Little Joel and his brothers within the confines of the fenced yard. Little Joel and his brother Adam dig a hole under the fence and Little Joel challenges Adam in a race to see who can reach the big woods first. By the time Little Joel reaches the woods, he turns around and Adam is no where around. Little Joel tries to go back the way he came and the woods just keep going on and on. He realizes he's lost. He meets Molly the Doe and Fred the King Snake along the way as he tries to get home. Meanwhile, Adam makes it back to the yard and organizes a search party to go find Little Joel. Little Joel is learning how to be patient and wise with his new friends as he waits to be found. Will they ever find him and bring him home?