backbone-sub-collection-of-model.js

var Model = Backbone.SubCollectionModel.extend({
  collectionAttribute: 'dogs',
  collectionToJSON: function(collection) {
    return collection.pluck('name')
  }
})

var model = new Model({
  name: 'example',
  dogs: [
    {name: 'Benjamin', breed: 'Pug'},
    {name: 'Roo', breed: 'Greyhound'}
    {name: 'George', breed: 'Boston Terrier'}
  ]
})

model.toJSON()
// {name: 'example', shows: ['Benjamin', 'Roo', 'George']}

model.shows.findWhere({name: 'Roo'}).get('breed')
// 'Greyhound'

model.shows.add({name: 'Emi', breed: 'Golden Retriever'})

model.toJSON()
// {name: 'example', shows: ['Benjamin', 'Roo', 'George', 'Emi']}