Seventeen-year old Katie isnât used to being in control. Her mother drives her crazy with her constant criticism and advice, and her boyfriend of two years just destroyed her whole world by dumping her on her birthday. Itâs just as well that Katieâs headed to a summer program at the University of Texas in Austinâat least there, she can get over Chuck at her own pace. But Austin holds its own challengesâlike Christine, a cooler-than-thou roommate whose rocker boyfriend is permanently camped out on the couch. When Christine drags Katie to the city pound to check out a potential pet, itâs Katie whoâs mesmerized by a pair of brown doggie eyes. Before she can think it through, sheâs standing out on the curb with her adorable new dog, Seamus.
Thereâs only one problem: Seamus is a holy terror. He chews up the apartment, barks maniacally, terrorizes their landladyâs cat, and seems destined to keep the cutest guy in their building at armâs length. When Katie takes Seamus in for obedience training, sheâs told, âYou have to be the alpha dog.â
The alpha dog. The head of the pack. Katie has never wielded much power before, but she finds that being top dog can be addictive. Soon sheâs acting the alpha dog in every phase of her life, and nothing will ever be the same.