I think that Dog knows Something's wrong or Something is going to happen, Because Dog's have a Sixth Sense, They know when something is wrong or is going to happen.
I remember when I used to watch it on TV when I was little but, I noticed now that there are a lot of episodes rated PG and when the I used to watch reruns of the original Lassie series with Jeff there is only one episode titled the runt that was PG aired 11/1955 season 2 Jeff's Collie with Lassie's great grandmother Lassie II.
At least Dee Dee and Chris learn something from last year during that heat wave, make sure to have a vehicle and the windows roll down and if somebody stay in the car with a dog. Will your supposed to stay in the car was Lassie you must look to disobey your parents a lot just like your sister sometimes.