Six-year-old Lukas is growing up in chaotic family circumstances and wants nothing more than a real father. He finds one in Janosch, his teenage mother's new boyfriend. The shrewd and cunning drifter and small-time hoodlum takes Lukas under his wing and shows him that life can be wild and beautiful. When Janna is pregnant again, Janosch is arrested. Swearing eternal loyalty to him, Lukas takes over Janosch's role in the family and looks after his mother as well as his neglected, wild sister Babs. Secretly, however, he tries to find out where Janosch is. When Janna falls in love with Harry König, the shady owner of a gambling parlor, Lukas sees the dream of Janosch's return in danger. He now tries everything in his power to fight the rival of his beloved Janosch.

The shaggy poodle-bobtail mix Willy Wuff rescues two small puppies and ends up with them involuntarily in a mountain hut. Thomas also wants to spend Christmas there with his wife Hilde, his future wife Geli and his seven-year-old son Michael. The constant quarrels between the adults make things difficult for Michael until he discovers Willy and the puppies. The boy lovingly begins to look after the dogs.