The rude, crude, slobbering St. Bernard known as Beethoven is on thin ice with the parents who run the Newton household. If he destroys dad's (Judge Reinhold) artwork and drools on mom's (Julia Sweeney) briefcase one more time, he's history. The loving children of the family (Joe Pichler and Michaela Gallo) secretly enroll the dog into an obedience school in hopes of Beethoven learning a few manners. Meanwhile, Michelangelo, the pampered St. Bernard of the ultra-wealthy Sedgwick family -- a dog so well mannered it not only wipes its feet on a door mat but can also fold a dinner napkin -- accidentally winds up at the Newton's while Beethoven ends up at the Sedgwick estate, confusing the humans who live in both households.