Paul isn't interested in adopting a dog when he first meets the abused, terrified puppy named Vicious. Against his better judgement, he finds himself putting the neglected Doberman in his car and and setting out on a thirteen year adventure that will not just change his life, but the lives of everyone that he and Dobie (not so vicious, after all) touch. With the help of a patient neighborhood pointer named Ginger, Paul guides Dobie slowly past her fear and towards a relationship of trust and companionship. Through loss, cross-country moves, broken hearts, crowded homes, and even grief, the deep bond between man and dog teaches them each how to love.