Bart’s dog, Santa’s Little Helper, grows more and more out-of-control. When he destroys Homer’s expensive new pair of sneakers, he is enrolled in an obedience school, whose headmistress, Emily Winthrop, is a firm believer in the choke chain. Santa’s Little Helper is a poor pupil, and when he destroys a quilt Lisa has sewn while at home with the mumps, and eats a giant cookie Homer has bought, Homer vows to give him away. Bart tries desperately to train the dog, and just in the nick of time teaches him to sit and roll over, enabling Santa’s Little Helper to graduate from obedience school.