Barney, a King Charles Cavalier is so over his humans. They call him "good boy" like it means something, squeak rubber toys in his face like that's fun, and worst of all—they give him surprise baths. With bubbles. And duckies. He deserves better. So when the front door swings open during grocery delivery, Barney seizes his moment and bolts.

Freedom! Trash piles! Pizza crusts! Other dogs wearing ridiculous sweaters! It's everything he dreamed of... until it's not. Dodging cars, sleeping in the rain, and battling territorial Chihuahuas? Suddenly, life on the streets doesn't seem quite so glamorous.

Barney meets Ace, a street-smart mutt who rules the neighborhood with sass and scars. Together they survive the chaos—but Barney starts to realize that while freedom is fun, family—even the loud, clumsy, bath-obsessed kind—might be worth wagging his tail for after all.

A funny, fast-paced chapter book for ages 7–10, Barney and the Clods combines snarky humor with real heart. Perfect for fans of Dog Man, The Bad Guys, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, this story reminds kids that sometimes the things that annoy us most... are the things we'd miss the most if they were gone

Lesson learned: Home may not be perfect—but it's filled with love, snacks, and second chances.