All the Vicktory dogs have been making impressive progress with basic obedience. Dogs who used to lunge and twist and cartwheel at the end of their leashes now walk calmly next to their caregivers (unless a lizard shows up, of course!). Dogs who used to jump up now wait patiently for treats or pets. And dogs who never before knew what sitting on cue was all about have added that talent to their growing list. Well, all but one.Anybody remember Little Red? She’s the cute girl who came to Best Friends from the property of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick, with her teeth filed down and her face full of scars. Considering the evidence, it’s pretty obvious Little Red was used as a sparring partner or bait dog. Poor girl! But none of the suffering spoiled her personality. She is the biggest love bug in the world, prone to performing “happy dances” whenever her favorite people come by.

She’s a crowd favorite, that’s for sure. To meet Little Red is to fall madly in love with her, thanks in no small part to that smile of hers (she grins like the Cheshire Cat when visitors stop in). And the thing is, Little Red has figured out how to turn that excessive cuteness into a secret weapon. Ultra-cute dogs have a way of sneaking by the rules of even the strictest teacher.

Make no mistake, Little Red is plenty smart. A basic command like “sit” is not beyond her. She just knows how to make a few changes to the agenda. Here’s how a typical training session might play out: The caregiver or trainer comes in to work on basic commands. Little Red rushes over and performs her one-of-a-kind happy jig, looking for a nice massage. Focusing on training is not high on her priority list.

“No, Little Red. It’s time to sit. It’s time to sit. It’s time … oh, alright! One belly rub couldn’t hurt …” and so it continues. Poor caregivers! Little Red has such an unfair advantage. She will get there eventually, of course. She’ll learn to sit someday along with all the rest. In the meantime, at least she knows she’s loved!

Story by David Dickson
Photos by Gary Kalpakoff

Original story @ http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=4C4C3BF1-CDC5-2FC2-719946916B8CCA92