One of the most exciting moments in a dog trainer’s day is when he or she discovers a dog is motivated by treats. "They’re mine…" the trainers then say, often with a mischievous grin spreading across their face. Treat drive is huge in the training process, whether it’s teaching basic obedience or even fancy shmancy tricks. It’s a really neat and easy way to connect with the animal and to show them when they’re doing the right thing.

Still, strange though this may seem, not all animals are motivated by treats. Handsome Dan, one of the dogs rescued from the property of former NFL quarterback, Michael Vick, was one of those. Oh, he’d take a treat now and again. But as often as not he’d spit it out sideways when you weren’t looking. He was a tough customer to be sure.

And yet the Best Friends staffers working with him might just have stumbled onto his own little form of kryptonite. The one thing he can’t resist. Ice chips!

In an ongoing effort to keep showing the Vicktory dogs new and interesting things, which includes everything from car rides to live flute music, the caregivers decided to pass around ice chips one afternoon. A lot of the dogs stared at the strange foreign objects with obvious distrust. Others licked tentatively and figured they weren’t worth the time. Some dogs, though, tried chewing them and really seemed to like the ice chips.

Handsome Dan was in a group all his own. The cold, flavorless ice chips might as well have been a family-sized gooey cheese pizza. Talk about enthusiasm! Maybe he just thought they were fun to chew? Either way, the caregivers intend to keep trying ice chips to see if they can use them as a training tool for him. If they can pull it off, at least here’s one dog who won’t have to worry about staying cool this summer! Wonder how he’d feel about a Snoopy snow cone machine as an early birthday present?

Story by David Dickson
Photo by Gary Kalpakoff

Care for all of these animals is made possible through your support!

August 18, 2008 : 7:23 PM ET
posted by: ahughes798

Yeah, they make GREAT pets.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/497597.html

August 7, 2008 : 12:24 AM ET
posted by: JoAnn Emry

He is a beauitful dog. I wish there was a way to regulate the breeding industry in a manner that made sure no dog or cat was ever mistreated and never wound up in the hands of people like Mr. Vick.

August 5, 2008 : 4:45 PM ET
posted by: mandbmom

What a beautiful, sweet, relaxed boy! My Maxie loved ice cubes and would run into the kitchen when he heard the ice tray being rattled. Of course his favorite were the leftover cubes out of the cocktail glass! After he passed, I cried the first time I had cocktails and there wasn't anyone to give the ice to.

Keep up the great work, Best Friends!

August 5, 2008 : 2:12 PM ET
posted by: alex

Look at those muscles! Dan is handsome indeed!!! I am so happy to hear how well the Vicktory dogs are coming along - just goes to show that love heals and dogs forgive - now, if only more people knew that...

August 4, 2008 : 10:29 PM ET
posted by: Erzsebetdesade

What an angel! I commend Best Friends for their willingness to work with these "Vick"tory dogs. Most places would have euthanized them immediately upon hearing any association to dog fighting. Too bad so many others will suffer that death sentence while their oppressors get off with, at most, a paltry "slap on the wrist"! We, as a society, should hang our heads deplorably low while such atrocities become mockeries of our naive jurisprudence!!!

August 4, 2008 : 4:05 PM ET
posted by: cre8vekaos

My sweet pittie boy loves his ice cubes to play, crunch, leave as cold spots to watch his mama hop about. The only time there is chaos is when his feline brother wants his own cube to lick and bat about. Somehow the cube ends up in itty bitty pieces the cat has lost his toy and the dog is convinced that all is right in the world again. sigh.

August 4, 2008 : 12:35 PM ET
posted by: twaltrip@purdco.com

Fun fact for all..... the novelty of the treat is the crunch. The chips are small enough that it does not give him a brain freeze, but are interesting in texture and sound. My grandparents german shepherd used to eat carrots an cauliflower.

August 3, 2008 : 10:50 PM ET
posted by: tmaca

One thing everyone seems to be missing about the successful retraining of these dogs. NO breed is inherently dangerous. If the breed is large, or has an extremely powerful jaw, like a pit bull, it can do more damage than, say a toy poodle, but it isn't any more LIKELY to. Individual animals are dangerous because of how their owners train them, not because of the breed they belong to. Even individual animals taught to be vicious, like these dogs, can be retrained. Unfortunately, certain breeds, again like pit bulls, acquire a reputation that attracts people who want vicious dogs, and they get brought up to be aggressive, and the breed's reputation worsens. Then it becomes fashionable to pass laws "controlling" the breed. What is needed is a law controlling the humans who raise animals to be vicious.

August 3, 2008 : 10:41 PM ET
posted by: lindalarnerd

What a cute dog...and who would have thought of ice chips!! Hard to believe just a short while ago this poor guy and his "buddies" were living with that moron....hope HE gets all that is due him, and even more...

August 3, 2008 : 4:17 PM ET
posted by: Bipedal

Handsome Dan is absolutely gorgeous!

August 3, 2008 : 6:14 AM ET
posted by: kiddo

What a sweet face! Who would have thought that Handsome Dan, once trained to be a fighter, would take something as simple as an ice cube from a human's hand and love it? BFAS would! Thank you for all that you're doing for the Vicktory Dogs and for ALL of the animals who need TLC, respect, and a little loving nudging to find their forever homes.

Susan

August 2, 2008 : 6:11 PM ET
posted by: k9mom

I guess it would make for fast training sessions since you'd have to finish before the ice melts--and in Kanab in the summer that could be about 2 seconds!

August 2, 2008 : 4:32 PM ET
posted by: ensped

I was living in VA when the whole Vick thing broke and was sickened when I heard about what he and his associates had done to those poor dogs. I love the term "Vicktory Dogs". Hurray to Best Friends and all the others who are helping the dogs like Handsome Dan become happy and loving companion dogs. I hope to visit the Best Friends Sanctuary sometime in the Fall. It will be wonderful to see all your fine work in person.

ensped in AZ

August 2, 2008 : 12:54 PM ET
posted by: diva dog training

I enjoy all of your articles! This one is especially sweet. Handsome Dan certainly is that!

It shows there we should never second guess what will work and at what moment they will begin to trust what we offer.

Thanks to all of you at Best Friends!

Gayle Cousineau http://divadogtraining.com/blog

August 2, 2008 : 12:46 PM ET
posted by: proxybf08

What we won't do to make our pets comfortable. My Rusty sits in front of the ice maker on refg door and I know, "crush ice. I can't drink my ice tea , he's sitting on his rump, front paws and that please?? look for my ice. In my RV, I had to buy a magic bullet to crush his ice. He was raised on it since a baby. I adopted him from a couple that both died with cancer. He thinks he's a deform person.

I'd do it for a whole sanctuary if I could.

August 2, 2008 : 12:18 PM ET
posted by: eppo50

Way to go!

What a sweet boy.

Thanks for sharing :)

ellen

August 2, 2008 : 11:26 AM ET
posted by: kathypat70005

THE SAYING "WHERE THERE IS A WILL RGERE'S A WAY" holds true fot HANDSOME DAN and his trainers. One ofthe wonderful assets of you people at BEST FRIENDS is that you never give up and all the animals like HANDSOME DAN are all blessed because of it.

August 2, 2008 : 8:11 AM ET
posted by: livilla

I rescued an 8 year old Bulldog named Babe, Since we are having one of the hottest and longest summers in Southern California history, I have had to go above and beyond air conditioning to keep her cool. I have used a set tummy towel . . . a spray bottle filled with cold water, and a wading pool--she hates it, but my two other rescues (a terrier and a lab mix) are happy to have it around. She doesn't eat or lick ice cubes, but I bought an ice bag thinking I would try it. When she is restless from the heat--she still likes to run and bark--for short periods, of course--I fill it with cubes and apply--with gentles rubs--to her tummy. Her snores fill the room. I am so happy Michael Vick's dogs were given the chance to be the dogs they were meant to be--loving. For once, when I mention that I went to Valparaiso University, other dog lovers know about the school . . . and I am proud to have it associated with the rescue of these wonderful dogs!!!!!

August 1, 2008 : 10:37 PM ET
posted by: karinunger

I love the picture of handsome Dan licking an ice cube. My one dog Katie thinks they are special treats too. Thanks for all you doing to save and rehabilitate these dogs.

Karin Unger Tucson, AZ

August 1, 2008 : 10:28 PM ET
posted by: 3dogmom

My dog, Scooter loves ice cubes, I used them when he was teething and he's had them since, he's now just over one year old.

August 1, 2008 : 10:10 PM ET
posted by: Lynda Frattone

What a beautiful dog.

August 1, 2008 : 10:06 PM ET
posted by: villagesue

Handsome Dan, I am the SAME WAY about Ice!!! lol!! Susan Anderson, Pet Nanny

August 1, 2008 : 7:11 PM ET
posted by: Jill Farquhar

Love, Love, Love to you Handsome Dan and all the Victory Dogs!! Keep up the wonderful work Best Friends!!

August 1, 2008 : 6:46 PM ET
posted by: molly gibb

well, it's a small world! Alf, the Vick dog I am fostering is also big on ice, though perhaps not as graceful about it as H.D. here!!! Glad to see such a nice photo of Handsome Dan; and having met him last year, i can honestly say he is just that; handsome, inside and out.

August 1, 2008 : 5:30 PM ET
posted by: younggail

I love the irony of Vick serving time " in the cooler ", as his victims are just getting "cooler"..... Best Friends, you are the greatest!! Gail Young, Santa Barbara Calif.