Billy is a normal 7-year-old growing up in a normal family in a normal town. His best friend is a cocker spaniel named Buddy, who is not so normal: He can make himself understood by humans without words and can talk to other animals. Buddy’s best friend is the family’s tortoise, Caroline. Together, Billy and Buddy get up to all sorts of mischief, gently tormenting those around them. The family setting is overflowing with love and tenderness, and the duo’s pranks are guaranteed to make readers of all ages roar with laughter.

Billy has a very normal life, growing up in a typical family in a nondescript town. His dog, however, is a bit unusual: a cocker spaniel with human–or, as he often reflects himself, superior–intelligence. Buddy’s got his posse of dog pals, his nemesis the neighbour’s cat, and his almost-sister Caroline, the family tortoise. But it is with his best friend Billy that he gets up to the highest mischief, targeting everyone equally with love and abandon.

Billy’s got a good life with Mum and Dad. Plenty of play, a little homework, and a smart, loving dog. Of course there’s the occasional hitch: that nosy, bossy old maid of a neighbour—and her Siamese cat—or the cheeky beat cop Agent 22. But it’s never too serious, and even Dad’s occasional embarrassing blunders can’t spoil things for long. After all, as long as you have friends, everything will be all right in the end!Billy’s got a good life with Mum and Dad. Plenty of play, a little homework, and a smart, loving dog. Of course there’s the occasional hitch: that nosy, bossy old maid of a neighbour—and her Siamese cat—or the cheeky beat cop Agent 22. But it’s never too serious, and even Dad’s occasional embarrassing blunders can’t spoil things for long. After all, as long as you have friends, everything will be all right in the end!Billy’s got a good life with Mum and Dad. Plenty of play, a little homework, and a smart, loving dog. Of course there’s the occasional hitch: that nosy, bossy old maid of a neighbour—and her Siamese cat—or the cheeky beat cop Agent 22. But it’s never too serious, and even Dad’s occasional embarrassing blunders can’t spoil things for long. After all, as long as you have friends, everything will be all right in the end!

Seasons come and go. It’s winter now for Billy and Buddy, always a magical time for children—and at least one dog. Between the snow to play with and throw at each other, the ice to slide on, and the quaint seasonal customs a smart cocker spaniel can twist to the advantage of his stomach... The opportunities for fun and mischief are endless! Whether the adults feel the same way about it, well... That’s not very important, is it ?

Billy’s family is a perfectly normal one. Dad, Mom, some cousins, a tortoise… and of course the best dog in the world, Buddy! Oh, true, the cocker spaniel is too smart for everyone’s good sometimes, and occasionally triggers disasters or raids the fridge. But that’s a small price to pay for a loyal companion who’ll always be there to cheer you up and give you a good laugh!

Life has never been dull for Billy and his dog Buddy, but ever since the circus arrived in the neighbourhood, it’s been getting better and better. There are crocodiles, ostriches, penguins, elephants... There’s little Vittorio and his pet chameleon... And of course, Caroline the tortoise and Buddy’s dog friends are still here. Oh, yes, quite the merry gang all right – and one who occasionally drives Billy’s parents mad!

Life with Buddy is always full of adventures and the unexpected. Daily life and special occasions, summer or winter, at home or on holidays … The little devil always finds a way to spice up his humans’ lives – starting with Billy’s. But take a cocker spaniel to the mountains and add an old Saint Bernard friend, and better hold on to your seat – especially if you’re the long-suffering dad!

Playing fetch is one of the favourite activities of dog owners everywhere, but with a pooch like Buddy, it doesn’t take long to become … complicated. After all, a cocker spaniel who brings back lost toys by the dozen and refuses to give up until he’s found the right one is far from commonplace. For Billy and his parents, though, it’s same old same old, and they wouldn’t change their dear Buddy for the world – even when he causes chaos!

Music soothes the wild beast – it’s a well-known fact. Though you have to admit it very much depends on the music. Dad’s bagpipes tend to give people murderous ideas, Billy’s flute is torture on all delicate ears … and as for Buddy’s various artistic forays, they generate far more noise than harmony. When all’s said and done, though, there’s nothing like a family jam session to have jolly good fun!