Filmed in the province of Quebec, "Big Red" is an Irish Setter that would rather run through the woods than be the perfectly trained and groomed show dog his sportsman owner (Pidgeon) wants.

A ten-year-old orphan boy (Payant) helps look after the dog and rebels against his owner's strict discipline of "Big Red".

Big Red is a Champion Irish Setter; his new master Mr. Haggin wants him to be a show dog.

Rene, an orphaned boy hired to take care of the dogs, gains the love and respect of Big Red.

When Rene hears about this, he sets out to find them and he later encounters Molly giving birth to the puppies inside the maternity den.