Star and Spud are agents for the British Secret Service.
Well, I am not really sure if they actually are acknowledged by that organization. Certainly their mom, Lara, was for several years as she was without a doubt the best spy dog that department had ever had. Lara was really LARA, "Licensed Assault and Rescue Animal", codename GM451. When she had to go undercover for her protection, she choose the Cook family (Mum, Dad, Ben, Sophie, and Ollie). Safely hidden, she was still able to handle a few missions for the government, including a few go-rounds with the very nasty and dangerous Mr. Big.
After a time, she met and became close to a handsome pedigreed dog (she was more of a mongrel herself) and they produced a wonderful litter of pups. There were 7 altogether - or 8, it is a bit uncertain. All but two were given to good homes. Two, the aforementioned Star and Spud, remain with Lara and the Cooks and get mostly the same spy training that Lara had years before.
Star is female. Spud is male. Their exact breed of dog is kind of up in the air considering Mom's heritage but since Mom does not care, why should they - or us, really!
Both are young, impetuous, nosey, and frisky. Both love the training they get from Mom (though not necessarily the discipline) and both adore the action that both will find just about everywhere they go - find or create as the case may be.
Just as their mother was an enhanced canine, so are they having inherited a lot from her. That gives them a nice assortment of unusual skills (unusual for a dog) and they will find these talents invaluable when they go into action saving the country, and the Cooks.