10 BREAKING A BIRD DOG 
ers of the other breeds had urgently advised 
against it—arguing that either a Pointer or 
one of the other Setters would be found more 
“birdy,” and making all manner of fun of me 
for my determination to develop an Irish¬ 
man as a real bird dog. 
However, the mere fact that I was con¬ 
fronted with a problem did not cause me to 
give up the ship. I was just bullheaded 
enough to determine to keep at it until I con¬ 
quered the situation. The fact that it was 
hard was no excuse to give up and prove a 
quitter. That only made it all the more in¬ 
teresting—and ultimate success all the more 
worth while. It was simply a question of 
matching wits with the situation. The re¬ 
sult could be secured and I was bound that 
I would solve it. Then it was that I finally 
reached a decision. This was, that I would 
“break” Byrd by talking to her, and reason¬ 
ing things out after being sure that I had 
made her understand without question what 
was wanted. 
I began by making it a point always to 
talk to her around home in an ordinary tone 
of voice and in the most matter-of-fact man- 
