In Barksdale Academy (in the town of Barksdale) most canines strive to be Best in Show; Nova, Duke, Harley, and Peanut have never won anything, but this year Nova is determined to get her pack to pass their agility exam--even though Duke is aftraid of thehigh ramp, Harley just wants to chase squirrels, Peanut can not make it through the hoops, and Nova herself gets so excited she keeps knocking the whole practice course over.

Duke's cousin Coco, an elegant French bulldog from Paris, is coming to Barksdale Academy as an exchange student, and Duke is worried about what she will think about his often uncouth friends, the Underdogs; Coco joins Team Awesome for the K-2 exam wherethe Barksdale teams compete against a rival school, but it turns out that Coco has problems with the athletic events, and it is up to the Underdogs to rescue their school's reputation.

"Ash thinks it's cool that Chikorita has joined his Pokémon team. But the newest member of his Pokémon squad is jealous of Pikachu! So Chikorita takes off -- on a journey way beyond the Poké Ball. And that could be very dangerous! Will Pikachu and Ash find Chikorita before Team Rocket gets their paws on the Grass-type Pokémon?".

Ash realizes he must step in and protect the Johto Region's wild Ledyba, Hoppip, and Wooper from Team Rocket's attempts to exploit them.