* Greg's summer job: Greg gets a job at the pool, which initially seems like a good way to make money and impress his friends. However, the job turns out to be more demanding and less glamorous than he expected. This experience teaches him the importance of hard work and responsibility.
* The pool party: Greg's plans for a big pool party with his friends are disrupted by his father's unexpected arrival. This incident helps Greg understand that his parents care about him, even if they don't always understand his teenage perspective.
* The "Dog Days" theme: The theme of the book is about embracing the "dog days" of summer - the hot, lazy, and sometimes frustrating period when things don't always go as planned. Greg learns to accept the ups and downs of summer and enjoy the little moments of fun, even if they aren't perfect.
Ultimately, the conflict in "Dog Days" is more about Greg's internal struggles and his evolving understanding of himself and his place in the world. He doesn't "solve" the conflict in a traditional sense, but rather learns and grows from the experiences he encounters.