故事发生在美国西部一个小村庄。父亲要离开家一段时间，嘱咐大儿子照顾好妈妈和弟弟。一条无意闯入家中老黄狗，成了家庭的一员。老黄狗年纪虽大，却忠诚而勇敢的保护了这个家。Young Travis Coates is left to take care of the family ranch with his mother and younger brother while his father goes off on a cattle drive in the 1860's. When a yellow mongrel comes for an uninvited stay with the family, Travis reluctantly adopts the dog. After a series of scrapes involving raccoons, snakes, bears, and all manner of animals, Travis grows to love and respect Old Yeller, who comes to have a profound effect on the boy's life.