Original subtitles

In this lakeside home surrounded by trees lives a

member of one of the world's most ancient dog breeds.

Ariel is a Samoyed, also known as a Sammy. Bred centuries

ago to be Siberian reindeer herders and sled dogs, Samoyeds

guided explorer Roald Amundsen on his famous 1911 expedition

to the South Pole. Samoyeds are known as happy dogs, not

only because of their easy going nature, but also their

mouths that turn up at the ends, a distinguishing feature

known as the Sammy smile.

These days Ariel has got five new reasons to

smile. Her brand new litter of downy white pups.

One little girl, Cassie, seems to already be showing off

that happy-go-lucky nature. She's happiest when she's

snuggled up next to a sibling.

And then there's her brother Seymour.

This fussy pup just can't seem to settle down.

And he makes sure that everyone knows it.

Looks like no one told Seymour that Samoyeds are supposed

to be jolly all the time. All that whining got someone's

attention. It's the family's much bigger puppy, Bon Bon the Dalmatian.

She's hoping she can find a new best friend in Ariel's crowd

of pups. But even a gentle nudge from Bon Bon gets Seymour

crying again. Bon Bon calls a rain check on this puppy play

date. It looks like fussy Seymour will have to work a little

harder to find his Sammy smile.

Many miles away on the West Coast lies a desert ranch, which

is home to miniature poodle Minnow. Pampered Minnow is a

girly girl who makes every effort to look her ladylike best.

One of the most popular dog breeds in America, the poodle

comes in three sizes, standard, miniature, and toy. Poodles

are known for being smart, lively, and easily trained,

and have long been favored as circus performers.

And Minnow is something of a performer herself. Her owner is

a Civil War reenactor who brings Minnow to events decked out

in her finest period attire. But these days, period acting

isn't Minnow's only role. She's also playing the role of new

mom to six miniature poodle pups, all boys.

Biggest boy, Spud, measures in at nearly six inches long,

but Spud is a veritable giant next to his tiny brother,

Tater Tot.

This runt of the litter is a very miniature four inches.

And when you're that tiny, with eyes and ears still shut,

even the simple things can be a bit of a struggle. Like

figuring out up from down.

Then, when Tater Tot goes in for a cuddle with Biggest Boy

Spud, it doesn't take much for him to be brushed aside.

And when lunchtime comes around, even though Tater Tot tries

hard to find a spot, the little runt just can't compete with

his burly brothers.

And all that effort has left the little pup pooped.

So to keep Tater Tot from lagging behind the other

boys, he gets his own private dining session.

This determined little pup will have to work

extra hard to keep up with his poodle pack.

Across the country, at this rural house, six

tough little pups are going full throttle.

And one tough mother doesn't hold back.

These are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Named for the waters

where they were bred in the 19th century as waterfowl

retrievers. This hardy all-American dog has been owned by

equally hardy Americans like General Custer and Theodore

Roosevelt. Today, the Chese remains one tough

breed, and this family is one tough bunch.

But the pup story began six weeks ago, when

the six-pack was not so much hardy as huggable.

Of mom Emma's six Chese newborns, three boys, and three

girls, one stands out. Little Rory has a diamond-shaped mark

on his chest, which he's inherited from his champion

retriever grandfather, Bucky. Family legend has it that any

pup who bears this mark will become the alpha dog, or leader of the pack.

Sure enough, when mealtime comes around, Rory is already

pushing for pole position, and doing whatever it takes to

stay on top.

Rory tries to take charge of every activity, even nap time.

But taking charge is a challenge when you can't stand up.

But Rory's not the only one in this household who likes to

boss others around. Thor, the pup's eight-month-old cousin,

is eager to show the junior crew who's top dog. And he's

got the diamond mark on his chest, too. Thor's the tough

retriever in training of the household, fearless in the face of all terrains.

Well, most terrains. He's too rowdy to be around tiny

newborns, so his face-to-face will have to wait. Inside,

little Rory is blissfully unaware that he's not the only pup

around here, diamond marked for success. Coming up, poodle

runt Tater Tot achieves a tiny, upright triumph, and a

strange spotted sight leaves whiny Seymour speechless.

Back at the Samoyed Lake house, the pup's downy coats are

puffing up to resemble a tiny fivesome of polar bear cubs.

Happy little Cassie is making the most of all that cozy sibling fluff.

By making herself a bed and climbing right in,

soon four puffy pups are contentedly asleep, while

the fifth one, Seymour, is making a fuss again.

And to the pup's newly opened ears, this sound doesn't allow for much sleeping.

But if it's attention Seymour's after, he's not

getting it. The other pups either ignore him or

walk on by.

But then,

someone leaves Seymour speechless.

The fussy pup wasn't looking for attention in this shape and

size. Big Dalmatian puppy Bon-Bon, with her strange looking

spots, makes Seymour too perplexed to say a peep.

But though he's not quite ready for this big playmate,

Seymour is glad that someone seems to be paying attention.

Back at the West Coast Ranch, the miniature poodle pups are

three weeks old, and biggest boy Spud is up on his feet and

testing out his legs. Tiny runt Tater Tot might be the

smallest, but if big brother Spud's doing something, then he

wants to do it too.

So while the other boys are all sleeping, Tater Tot puts in some training time.

But so far, his little legs are too wobbly to hold up his 12 -ounce body.

But at last, there's a breakthrough, not wanting to spoil

his tiny triumph. Tater Tot freezes, and only when he's sure

his legs can take it,

he goes for broke.

It's quite a performance.

Too bad no one was awake to see it.

Back at the house in the country, the six Chessy

pups are three weeks old, with newly opened eyes.

And their new perspective isn't the only thing that's

changed. Rory, the wannabe alpha dog, has found his voice,

and is showing his siblings that he's the loudest in the litter.

But it turns out there's some other competition for biggest

bark on the block. Cousin Thor, who's eager to take charge

of the junior Chessy crew. But when he's given a chance to

finally meet the pups, he's not sure he wants to get too

close.

From the pups' perspective, the big stranger is intimidating.

But wannabe top dog Rory refuses to be scared. The little

pup's ready to get nose to nose. Up close to his looming

alpha dog rival, Rory stands his ground.

The little pup's so persistent that mighty Thor gives up.

So spurred on by his success, Rory reminds the rest of the

litter exactly who's in charge.

Coming up, tiny tater tot faces some big roadblocks. And

Seymour warms up to his spotted housemate. At the lakeside

Samoyed house, at five weeks, the pup's tails are taking on

their signature curl. And now that these puffed up pups are

turning their increased energy on each other, it's time for

mom Ariel to get her posse out into a larger playground.

Happy-go-lucky Cassie leads the pack down and

out onto a toy-filled patio.

As usual, fussy Seymour is causing a scene.

In fact, everything Seymour does is something to whine about.

He tries to get everyone's attention, but this litter has seen it all before.

But then, Seymour spies a flash of familiar spots. Bon Bon is putting on quite a show.

Maybe partnering with this performer will help Seymour get

noticed by this tough crowd. Finally, Seymour uses his voice

for something other than whining.

They might differ in size and spots, but Seymour seems to

have found a friend who's happy to deliver the attention

he's been looking for.

Over on the West Coast, the five-week-old miniature poodle

pups are big enough to venture out into Wild West territory.

Biggest voice Spud charges ahead, and even when

faced with a steep incline, charges on regardless.

Mom Minnow, who always likes to look her best, does a quick

pup tally, but someone's missing. Little Runt Tater Tot is

lagging a bit behind his bigger brothers.

And to such a tiny tot, this is a daunting impasse.

Mom patiently waits for her littlest lad.

And waits.

And then tries another strategy. Of course,

that's when Tater Tot finally falls into step.

Out in this large landscape, Tater Tot might feel dwarfed,

but he tries to act big and brave. So he strikes out on a

solo expedition. Starting out in the shade, the going isn't

so bad. But when he hits open country, he starts to feel the

heat. And suddenly, this wild frontier, with its big beasts,

feels rather too wild and too big for a little pup. And

Tater Tot isn't sure of the way home.

Luckily, from higher ground, he spots his brothers.

Back with the family, the littlest pup is glad

to have five bigger brothers to look out for him.

Out in the country at the Chessy House, wannabe alpha pup

Rory is doing his best to throw his weight around. And so

far, he's been toppling the competition.

And with sibling conquests under his belt, Rory

sets off to hunt for new territory to occupy.

And makes an exciting discovery, a toy treasure troll,

a symbol just for him.

Alpha pup Rory is pleased to have all these playthings to himself.

Until,

he's no longer by himself.

Seems the rest of the pack has learned about strength in

numbers and can now stand up to their alpha dog brother.

Rory, for once, admits defeat.

Even this wannabe top dog can see when he's outnumbered.

Coming up, Runt Tater Tot dives in to poodle

pampering. And Bon Bon comes to Seymour's rescue.

Back with the Samoyeds, mom Ariel is taking her eight-week

-old pups on their first trip to the park for a picnic.

In this wide open space, these bred-to-be sled dogs can show off their speed.

It's treat time for the Sammy Squad. And Seymour is the

first to pick up something delicious. But when Cassie makes

it to the basket, all the treats are gone, which makes her

a little less happy. Until, she spies Seymour's treat and

launches a takeover.

And when Cassie secures the

prize, Seymour really has something to whine about.

Until, it's Bon Bon to the rescue.

Bon Bon returns the treat to her puffy little friend.

And in the shade of a tree, Seymour and his

spotted sidekick share a pooch picnic for you.

Back on the West Coast, it's bath time for the poodle pup

six-pack. Because all lap dogs have to learn to look their

best, mom Minnow approves of working hard to look good.

Biggest pup, Spud, is eager enough for whatever the big

event is, while little Tater Tot tries to lie low. Mom says

bath time isn't optional.

And once poodle meets puddle, Spud changes his mind about today's big event.

And as for little runt Tater Tot, he's not exactly relishing this soggy feeling.

And it sure feels odd having waterlogged whiskers.

Tater Tot pleads for an end to bath time. Mom

responds by extending bath time even longer.

Luckily, the spa session's soon over, and

the poodle pup curls bounce back soon enough.

Out in the country, hardy mom Emma is excited to be back

outdoors. And today she's inviting her many water retrievers

to watch some retrieving. But first she has to get her six -pack to the pond.

The grass is as high as a Chessy Pup's eye.

And there are distractions on the way.

But soon, mom settles the crew down in front row seats, with

the perfect view of their boisterous cousin Thor, who's in

the middle of a water retrieval training session.

wannabe alpha dog Rory pays close attention to his splashy rival's swimming skills.

Whatever that guy can do,

Rory can do too.

And he sets off to prove it.

But this pup's still a bit small for the deep end.

Lucky for Rory that his mom's a retriever, and a little

warning is all he needs to get him back from the edge.

Rory may think he's top dog of this troop, but mom's here

to remind him there's still another boss around here.

At ten weeks old, the Samoyed pups are

treated to a day at the lake with mom Ariel.

It's the pups' first time seeing so much water. And

the little snow dogs aren't exactly diving right in.

So Ariel shows them wet can be wonderful.

But the pups aren't buying it.

Happy-go-lucky Cassie dips a paw in, but she's not ready to

fully test the waters. And for Seymour, without his spotted

sidekick Bon Bon as a paddle partner, he stays

high and dry until he hears a familiar sound.

Bon Bon's infectious energy is

just the encouragement that Seymour needs to take the plunge.

Seymour isn't making a fuss anymore. He's actually having

fun. And when his siblings follow his playful lead, with his

big pal in on the action, this pup has all the attention

he ever wanted. And that gives Seymour something to smile

about.

It's an exciting day for the nine-week-old Miniature

Poodle pups. They're attending a Civil War reenactment with

experienced actress Mom Minnow, who in her fancy pink bonnet

is the picture of a frontier lap dog. Miniature Poodles were

very popular in the 1800s among elite society ladies, the

pampered pets frequently getting fashionably styled. So

Minnow's following in a line of well-turned-out ancestors as

she parades in all her finery and introduces her pups to the

pastime.

Most of the Poodle pack isn't too eager to explore this world of ribbons and frills.

But little runt Tater Tot is intrigued with this strange

new world. And under the watchful eye of Mom and reenactress

friend Fifi, the determined little pup boldly sets out to investigate.

This billowing pink tent is rather inviting and

might make the perfect cover for a game of hide-and-seek.

Tater Tot keeps Mom guessing.

But he hasn't gone far. Mom's pleased that her littlest

one is taken to the fun and frills of this Poodle family's

favorite pastime.

Back at the house in the country, the Chesapeake Bay

Retrievers are ready for the next stage in their training.

They're still too young to get in the water, so they'll work

on their retrieving skills on land. Mom Emma demonstrates

the fine art of fetch.

The first step in teaching the pups is to stimulate

their interest in intriguing objects to fetch.

But so far, the pups don't seem all that stimulated.

All that is, except wannabe alpha dog Rory, bearing his

grandpa Bucky's alpha dog mark. Rory's focused on learning

his breed's signature skill. And he shows definite interest in this object.

But the second step in retrieving is bringing the object

back, which Rory doesn't seem to have grasped quite yet. But

then, across the field, Rory sees his cousin Thor chasing

down a prize.

Maybe a taste of competition for the alpha dog title will get Rory retrieving.

But Thor gets there first.

Luckily, Rory has a mom who loves her rookie retriever

whether he's acing the test or not. He'll always be top dog

in her eyes.

Coming up, Seymour gets a mysterious new look, and Tiny

Tater Tot makes a big new friend. On the West Coast Ranch,

the poodle pups are about to get all spruced up for a rather special occasion.

Their mom Minnow wears a continental clip, but the pups are

still too young for such an elaborate cut. So today, they'll

get a puppy clip, just the fur on their faces.

And one by one, the pups start to take on their classic poodle appearance.

Ten weeks ago, Mom Minnow's pack of poodles were tiny,

velvety pups. And little runt Tater Tot was the tiniest of

the lot, especially compared to his biggest brother Spud.

But that didn't stop this determined little lad from putting

in the extra time and proving to his bigger brothers that he had poodle pluck.

Today, the ranch has a rather excited visitor who

soon chooses Spud as his new running mate.

And as for Tiny Tater Tot, the littlest pup gets a new

little friend to accompany on some future big adventures.

On the other side of the country, the grooming just got

taken up a notch, with double the dog and double the fluff.

The Sammy's thick coats need a special blue shampoo to keep them sparkling white.

But today, thanks to some puppy safe vegetable dye,

Seymour's coat isn't getting any whiter, much to his

sibling's confusion.

And back home, Bon-Bon's in for a treat.

The mismatched pals aren't so mismatched anymore.

It seems like only yesterday that five pristine pups entered the world.

From the start, Cassie was true to her happy-go-lucky breed.

But fussy Seymour always liked to make a scene.

Luckily, he found a fast friend and playful pup

Bon-Bon, who gave Seymour the attention he craved.

Today a new chapter begins as Cassie meets her new family.

And this happy Sammy is already bringing joy all around.

While Seymour, well, where else would he want to be than

right beside his spotted sidekick, who helped this fussy pup

to find his smile.

At the house in the country, these visitors can only mean

one thing. It's time for the Chesapeake Bay Retrievers to

head off to their new homes.

Ten weeks ago, this family's legend added a chapter. As a

white-chested male in the line of Grandpa Bucky was born to

be the alpha dog, and Rory rose to his destiny, taking every

chance to exert his authority over his rival cousin Thor and

take charge of his siblings. But at the end of the day,

Rory's still a rookie retriever and needs a little more time

to grow into his top dog title.

But she'll have the perfect chance to do in this new loving family.