Handy (short for Handsome) is a thoroughbred collie pup, who must prove to his new owners, on a California ranch, that champions are useful, intelligent workers. (Hardly convincing, for shouldn't ranchers know that breeding counts?) However, aside from this, it is a fair enough though somewhat commonplace boy-dog-western. Sandy, the 12-year old master, contributes a bit too much to the eventual rescue of Handy after he is stolen. But in the interim, Handy has proved himself as a trained shepherd dog. Enjoyable enough in process of reading, but quickly forgotten, as neither human nor dog personalities are vital enough to carry a somewhat slow action story.