A dog with a plan adopts a chaotic family in a wry comedy extolling the virtues of common sense. When Ma Peachey takes up yoga, the rest of the family finds themselves abandoned to chaos: no one cooks dinner, no one picks up the dirty laundry, the children are always late for school, and there is a good deal of squabbling and squalor. Ma may be off finding inner peace, but irritable Pa Peachey, glum Ava, and wannabe girl-charmer Ollie are falling apart. Only Betty, the sensible youngest child, is wise enough to see that this family is in need of rescue. Enter McTavish, a rescue dog who, true to his mission, is ready to teach this family some new tricks. Getting the Peacheys to behave will take work, but if anyone can do it, McTavish can. After all, he’s a very good dog — maybe even a psychological mastermind!

When Pa Peachey comes home in a happy-go-lucky mood--and singing!--the family is concerned. Pa has never not been grumpy after work! But when Ma and siblings Ava and Ollie learn that Pa has gotten a new job--which means moving to an appealing new house--they are all pretty quick to get on board. Even McTavish the dog is excited to make a canine pal in the new park nearby. Only the youngest sibling, Betty, remains out of sorts--nervous about changing schools, making friends, and leaving behind the house where she and McTavish grew up. But McTavish, with his special canine senses--and his vow, as a "rescue dog," to save the family whenever need arises--knows how to help Betty regain her confidence and feel at home again.