The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy was a children's book that was adapted for ABC's Weekend Special in 1978. The story was about Petey, a puppy who grew attached to a lonely orphan named Tommy. Petey became a staple of the Weekend Special of the next few years, starring in three sequels.

In 1982, Petey's adventures aired weekly, first as part of The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour and then on his own show, The Puppy's Further Adventures. Though different actors had lent their voice to Petey ever since his TV debut, Billy Jacoby took over the role for the new series and he was joined by Nancy McKeon (of Facts of Life fame) who voiced Petey's doggy pal, Dolly.

In the first season, Petey and Dolly were traveling by ship when they fell overboard and became stranded. Three other pups, Dash, Duke and Lucky who were stowaways on the ship suffer the same fate and the whole gang end up roaming the world in search of Tommy and his family. The second season had all the pups reunited with Tommy and they went on to have adventures while traveling around America.