The Vicktory dogs are learning how to sit. Don't mention that to Tug, though. He's a closet sitter. He likes to keep this newfound brilliance under wraps. As do some of the other Vicktory dogs.

Shadow, however, is an exception (that's him in the photo). He doesn't mind flaunting his newly found talents.

So why is this such a big deal? After all, many dogs can learn "Sit"—one of the most basic of training skills—in a single day. Well, the Vicktory dogs are anything but normal. Or at least they've lived anything but a normal life up until now.

For a dog to sit, they need to be relaxed. Comfortable. And for the Vicktory dogs, finding that state of relaxation and comfort for the training sessions hasn't always been easy. Don't imagine that they were always afraid or anything. In fact, Shadow is a recent champion sitter after a long series of setbacks. His big challenge had nothing to do with fear. Rather, he wanted to play whenever somebody showed up. He didn't have time to sit! It was game time, as far as he was concerned.

For these dogs, who have spent so much of their lives in high gear one way or another, the concept of simply hanging out and solving a problem (basic training) was foreign indeed. But they've been getting there, bit by bit.

Tug was a great example. He's the dog who loves to pull people on a scooter for good times. He loves to burn off energy. Reaching the point where he could calm down enough to sit on cue took a lot of effort. But once he got there, holy cow. He was so happy that his whole body quivered with excitement. "I'm sitting!!!"

Just don't try to catch him on film. Big clunky cameras, or even tiny little point-and-shoots concealed behind a stuffed animal, take him out of his circle of calm. Some day Tug and the other closet sitters will demonstrate their talents proudly for the whole world to see. Until then, it's enough that they're making progress even if it's a bit behind the scenes.