Rufus, a shy little dog, has been lost from his owner. He's been stuck out in the rain, and hasn't had anything to eat for two weeks. He meets the audience, and asks for their help.

The audience helps Rufus bark to get the attention of the owner of a house that he saw. The owner turns out to be the jolly Dr. Tooth, a walrus dentist. Dr. Tooth is apprehensive about helping Rufus because he thinks Rufus is "Different looking."

To show the audience what a real dog looks like, Dr. Tooth asks for their help to call for his dog. Instead of his dog, a log and then a frog appear.

We finally meet Dr. Tooth's dog, Bucky, after the audience helps call him by his name. Bucky thinks Rufus is funny looking, but mentions the idea of sending Rufus to dog school to prove he's a dog, which Dr. Tooth and Rufus agree to.

Rufus attends dog school, and meets his first teacher, Banana Man. This wild and crazy professor gives Rufus a basic alphabet lesson. With the help of the audience Rufus learns to sound out some letters. Before leaving, Banana Man suggests that Rufus should paint his nose purple to fit in with all the other dogs. Rufus asks the audience if he should paint his nose to fit in. He doesn't think he should change to make people like him.

We meet Rufus's second teacher, Gorga Blast, a dragon. Rufus's reading lesson continues, but this time he can do it without the audience's help, until the end, when he mispronounces the word "Bow Wow". Gorga Blast also makes a comment about Rufus's appearance, and suggests that he buy a pink fur coat to fit in with all the other dogs. Rufus is quite disheartened by other character's inability to accept Rufus for who he is. So Rufus goes off into the woods to howl.

Dr. Tooth appears and talks to some flowers about whether or not Rufus should stay with him. The flowers tell him that "Every flower is different", and "Different is special" and "Everyone is different, and we should include everyone". Dr. Tooth learns about the importance of acceptance and inclusion, and that Rufus is special because he's different. He calls Rufus up and he apologizes to him and tells Rufus that he can stay with him. And of course, everyone lives happily ever after.

"I loved the Student involvement. Kids were captivated!" 
 - Oliver Beach Elementary

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