An unnamed abused dog runs away from his cruel owner, Judd Travers, and meets a boy named Marty Preston. The dog follows the boy to his home, but is not allowed to stay with him. Marty decides to remodel an abandoned shack at the top of a hidden hill for the dog to stay in for the next few weeks. Marty bonds with the dog, and names him Shiloh.
Judd is upset that Shiloh (his former hunting dog) now belongs to Marty. In the first film, Marty did hard labor to get Shiloh from Judd. Judd starts drinking heavily and almost runs Marty and Shiloh off the road with his truck. Marty encounters Judd several times, including one key moment when Judd thinks he heard Marty on his property, threatens him and holds his gun and goes to find him but he is too drunk.