Marley & Me: The Puppy Years

In the opening, Bodi stays with his strict grandfather Fred Grogan while his mother is away on a business trip. Marley the puppy stirs up trouble but also shows potential as a companion. Grandpa's tight rules and chores push Bodi to seek responsibility and companionship.

On a walk with Marley, Bodi meets Kaycee who tells him about a puppy championship. She explains her pug rescue center and her plan to enter three dogs to win prize money for the center. She suggests Marley join by forming a team with Mrs. Crouch's two labs.

Kaycee proposes using Mrs. Crouch's two Lab puppies, Fuschia and Moose, along with Marley to make a trio. The group begins training for the course, building teamwork and obedience. They commit to preparing for the upcoming competition.

Away from the others, Hans Von Weiselberger subjects his three puppies, Turbo, Liesl, and Axel, to voltage collars and harsh discipline. He treats them like last year's champions, demanding perfection at any cost. This establishes him as the dangerous antagonist looming over the contest.

The day before the competition, the pups go to a spa for grooming. A man in a spa worker's uniform abducts Marley, Dundee, and the two Lab puppies, locking them up with two big German Shepherds. The pups fear for their safety but are ultimately saved by the Shepherds and plan their escape.

The pups escape using a seesaw contraption built with the help of the Shepherds, and all four manage to flee. They return home covered in dirt, prompting Grandpa to arrange for Dundee's owner to take him back home. Bodi cleans all the dogs and continues caring for them.

The puppy championship kicks off the next day and the competitors perform with varying success. Marley, though talented, gets distracted at times, while the other teams display solid skills. The atmosphere is tense as judges prepare to announce the results.

During the judging, a cat named Cat snips all of Hans's dogs' collars. Marley grabs one collar and slips it into Hans's pocket, inserting a crucial misdirection into the unfolding drama. The incident raises the stakes and foreshadows the coming turn of events.

Hans attempts to control his dogs with the remote, but the device falls from his pocket and the judge witnesses the trick. Hans is disqualified, and the standings change, with the Australian dogs taking first place and Kaycee's pugs securing second.

Marley's bravery helps secure the outcome and the day is saved. Bodi is recognized with a prize for good sportsmanship, and he reflects on how Marley has changed his life and responsibilities. The audience celebrates the unexpected champion of teamwork and kindness.

During the event, Bodi's mother glimpses him happy with Marley and realizes he is more mature and ready to own a dog. Her realization marks a turning point in their relationship and his future ownership of a pet.

Liesl and Axel are adopted by another family, while Turbo, the dog with lingering uncertainty, is ultimately allowed to stay with Bodi as his own dog. Bodi's mother approves, finalizing their new life together and the growth of responsibility.