Model editing questions

[Whatnameisntinuse]

I'd like to change the boring "ghost wolf" form for shaman into something more interesting, a spirit wolf like this one;
maniasarcania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/ghostwolf.png
(add the www or just google "spirit wolf wow" but basically the spirit wolf model from sfk)

But I'd also like to possibly edit the model to be red instead of blue.

I was browsing around and didn't notice any "model editing for dummies" threads, could anybody point me in the right direction please.