Puppy Love

Ben Fuller, a professional minor league baseball player, leaves his beloved dog Jake with his teammate Ryles while away on a road trip. During Ben's absence, Jake escapes and is eventually picked up by animal control. Meanwhile, Megan Nolan, a single mother and university professor, moves to Roanfield with her daughter Caitlin, who is struggling to adjust to the move and find new friends. They visit a local animal shelter where Caitlin immediately bonds with Jake, whom they adopt and rename 'Prince.' Upon his return, a devastated Ben tracks Jake to Megan's home. Seeing Caitlin's deep emotional attachment to the dog, Ben agrees to a 'shared custody' arrangement where Jake splits time between their two homes. This leads to immediate friction, as Megan is a strict disciplinarian who hires a professional trainer to make Jake obedient, while Ben believes in a more relaxed, 'best friend' approach to pet ownership. The tension begins to thaw after Jake is nearly hit by a car; the shared scare leads Ben and Megan to call a 'truce' for the dog's sake. Ben begins to integrate into their lives, even babysitting Caitlin and taking Megan on a romantic date to a little-league baseball field. Just as their relationship solidifies, Ben is traded to a team in New Jersey, a move that could finally lead him back to the major leagues. Caitlin selflessly decides that Jake should go with Ben because they have been together longer. Ben leaves for New Jersey with the dog, but soon realizes that his professional ambitions no longer fulfill him as much as his life with Megan and Caitlin. In the climax, Ben surprises Megan and Caitlin at a dog park in Roanfield. He reveals that he has quit professional baseball to become the new head coach at the local high school, choosing a future with them over the majors.