The narrator Travis begins the novel by telling why they gave Old Yeller his name. He was yellow, or "yeller," in color and he had a loud bark. Travis says how Old Yeller made him so mad when he first came that he wanted to kill him but when he had to kill him later on it is really hard, since he had come to think very highly of the dog. Old Yeller arrives in the late 1860s, the same time Papa leaves to Abilene on the cattle drive for money. Travis is left behind with his brother, Little Arliss, and Mama to take care of the place and protect and provide for the family. Travis finishes the chores for that day, including plowing between the cornrows with their mule Jumper, and feels confident he can handle things while Papa is gone.

A "yeller" dog shows...