Martha enters the Lorraine house, glad that an unidentified "he" didn't follow her. Then, the Lorraines eat breakfast and Helen is about to leave for school. She wants the dogs to follow her, and while Skits is either, Martha just sits on the armchair. However, she then agrees to accompany Martha and Skits, but when Helen points out that someone has moved into the house opposite Mrs. Demson's and wonders if they could visit, Martha becomes jumpy.
Later, Helen is playing fetch with Skits in the yard, but when she calls for Martha to come out and play too, she is still jumpy and tries to minimise her outdoor time. While doing her homework, Helen tells Mariella that she's worried about Martha because she doesn't want to go outside anymore.
Mariella offers Martha to go to Carl's butcher shop, but she doesn't want to. When Helen and Skits leave, Skits enters the house and asks what's "wrong" with her. She eventually decides to tell, so long as he doesn't make fun of her: she's afraid of Jaws, an impolite dog who moved into the house opposite Mrs. Demson's. Skits swears to make Jaws apologise, but when he comes back, Skits reveals that Jaws didn't listen and was mean to him as well. Then, Jaws comes over and starts teasing the Lorraine dogs some more. That night, Helen wants to walk the dogs, but they're scared. They pull on their leashes, but Helen insists they go on a walk.
The next day, Helen and Alice are jumping rope, when Alice asks where Martha and Skits are. Helen explains that they've been avoiding going outside, then Alice reveals that a lot of the neighbourhood dogs could also be nervous since they aren't around. Helen thinks it has something to do with the new neighbour, since she notices Martha is scared to pass that house.
Martha then explains about Jaws to the girls, and Helen promises not to walk the dogs past his house anymore. She tells the dogs to go out and play, but they point out that the three of them can still hear one another. Helen sets out to give Jaws a piece of her mind.
They all walk up, but the girls are surprised to see that Jaws is very small. They even start laughing, until Martha translates his barks and reveals that he made fun of the girls as well. Martha yells at Jaws for picking on Helen, but then he becomes scared and fears she will bite him. It's then revealed that he was only mean because other dogs have threatened to bite him due to his size. Helen explains that Martha and Skits don't bite other dogs, and Martha and Skits promise to protect Jaws from other dogs. They then say that he could be their friend as long as he stops being mean. Later, Martha has Jaws apologise to all the dogs he made fun of.
This episode provides examples of
- Argument of Contradictions: Implied when Jaws barks and Martha yells, "Do not!".
- Bait-and-Switch: At one point in the dog flashback, Alice falls... only to land on Skits... only to fall again and hit the ground when he leaves.
- Dramatic Irony: The audience learns what scares the dogs before the human characters do.
- Everyone Has Standards: Martha was very angry at Jaws, but she wouldn't have bitten him.
- Flashback:
- When Alice is pointing out how usually there are lots of dogs between the Lorraine house and the park, we see a flashback of the girls hanging out on the sidewalk and many dogs interrupting them.
- When Helen reveals that the dogs took a shortcut through Mrs. Demson's yard, we see it happening.
- Freudian Excuse: Jaws is mean because he's been threatened with being bitten by other dogs.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Martha points out that, despite not liking being told she's chubby, her ears are uneven, her paws are different sizes, or she stinks by Jaws, it's all true.
- Jump Rope Blunders: Alice falls over while playing jump rope twice, the first time due to her clumsiness and the second time due to being distracted by Ronald. She also accidentally gets her legs tangled in the rope.
- Mister Muffykins: Jaws is a very small, mouthy dog.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: The mean dog is called Jaws.
- The Napoleon: Played for Drama — Jaws is small, and very mean to everyone else because other dogs have threatened to bite him due to his size.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
- Helen's concern increases when Martha doesn't want to go to Carl's butcher shop, since being a dog, Martha loves meat. Skits even wonders if something's "wrong" with Martha.
- Alice notes that it's odd none of the neighbourhood dogs are out, since usually there are many dogs on the streets.
- The Pratfall: Alice lands on her behind when distracted by Ronald during a game of jump rope.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Martha chews Jaws out for making fun of Helen:Martha: "Okay, Jaws, that's enough! You be quiet! You can pick on me and Skits, but when you pick on Helen, you don't know what you're talking about! Helen is the nicest person in the world and all you do is pick on everyone! No wonder no one wants to be your friend!"
- Slapstick: Helen almost trips on Skits when getting ready for school.
- Stink Snub: Apparently, Jaws tells Martha she stinks among other things (though she does point out that it's been true since he moved in).
- Tempting Fate: Martha says she's sure Jaws will listen to Skits, but he doesn't.
- Toilet Humour: When Helen points out that the dogs can't stay indoors all day, they wouldn't be able to go to the bathroom. Martha suggests planting grass in the living room.
- You Are Fat: Apparently, one of the mean things Jaws says about Martha is calling her chubby.
