Jamie and I don’t have any kids.

And we won’t. (At least, not without the help of modern science or divine intervention)

Our dog is the closest we’re going to get.

If you’re a true Cavender Diary reader, you’ll remember when we adopted our Harley Davidson – back when Jamie did all the writing on this blog. Loosing her in October was the hardest thing we’ve gone through together…..

But it’s been a few months, and we’re ready to move forward.

A few weeks ago, Jamie reached out to a couple Doberman rescue groups to see if there was possibly a good fit for us. After a written exam, several phone interviews, and a home visit, Lone Star Doberman Rescue matched us with a 14 month-old boy in Argyle, TX. named “Styrke” – Norwegian for “Iron”.

Look at those big floppy ears and that pink tongue.

How could we resist?

So, once again, we took a 45 minute trip just to meet a dog……and proceeded to bring that dog back home with us.

He was waiting for us at the end of the driveway, I think he knew.

Our second rescue, our second Doberman rescue together. My third Doberman. I had one just before Jamie and I moved in together. Faust. Stomach cancer took him just before we bought this house. I have a severe attachment to Dobermans. (Like Hunter S. Thompson, and the Dark Knight, and David Berkowitz. HHHmmm. Not exactly the company I ever expected to be included with…. but here we are.) It breaks my heart that these smart, amazing dogs could ever be unwanted.

Styrke had quite a journey before making his way to us. Five months ago, he was found at a common dog dumping ground in Houston. He was malnourished, heartworm infested, and so riddled with mange that the animal shelter wasn’t even sure what breed he was.

Lone Star Doberman intervened; paying for his recovery and placing him with a foster care-giver in Houston. She named him Styrke, because iron is strong – like he needed to be. But about a month in, his foster moved to Hawaii and Styrke was transported to Kim in Argyle. She crate-trained him and taught him some commands to be prepared for the next step in his life.

His life with us.

We weren’t too keen on the name Styrke. No one even knows how to pronounce it. A new life deserves a new name. So Jamie bought him a new dog-tag, engraved with “Logan” – our favorite X-Man. (Who happens to be even stronger than steel.)

Logan’s a pretty chill little guy, but still a puppy;

He growls at the “Huuuump Day!” camel in the Geico commercial.

He scratches his ear untill he farts.

He doesn’t know the words “Outside” or “Daddy”, but he sure knows the word “Treat”. And where they’re kept.

He isn’t quite sure what to make of the vacuum cleaner yet; fun new game or arch nemesis?

Today, he pooped tinsel.

It’s been a week now, and a pretty easy adjustment for all three of us. We think he’s a perfect fit.

I’ve heard it said that people who have dogs live longer,

I’m not sure about that,

But I know for a fact that people who have dogs live better.

Welcome to the rest of your life Logan…