Season 3: Episode 59: A Girl and Her Dog
Rudy and Peter find a lost dog, which Rudy hopes to keep. They convince Cliff to let them look after the dog until the owner can be located, but don't keep up their end of the bargain. Cliff places an ad in the paper, while Theo begins buying dog toys with the hopes that its owner won't call. Rudy is saddened when the owner shows up to claim the dog, although the family invites her to visit. When Cliff suggests that Rudy could have a dog when she gets older, she declines because caring for a pet is too much work. Vanessa grows depressed when Cliff insists that she must accompany the family to Washington, D.C. to listen to Clair make a speech instead of attending a hot party. After she mopes around for a few days, Cliff orders her to act happy. She does eventually cheer up. Cliff, already overwhelmed by the responsibility of watching the kids alone, loses his bed when Vanessa, Rudy and Theo decide to sleep in his room.