FIRST DAYS IN THE FIELD n 
ner. I did not talk to her in the generally 
accepted doggy style of language. Instead 
of calling her upstairs at home, for ex¬ 
ample, by saying: “Here, Byrd,” I would say 
very naturally, and in the same tone of voice 
as if talking with some friend, something 
after this fashion: “Byrd, don’t you want to 
come up here with me?—come on up.” I 
practiced this sort of thing whenever I had 
the time and opportunity. The result was 
not instantaneous by any means—but I do 
honestly believe that it increased, and de¬ 
veloped, Byrd’s ability to understand the 
English language. It wasn’t expected to 
work miracles; it did help gradually to 
awaken in my puppy a desire to do what her 
master wanted. 
You know, a dog wants to do what you 
want him to do. He wants to do right. 
Dogs don’t deliberately want to do wrong. 
Those that do not seem to embody this truth 
in their make-ups have simply got off on 
the wrong foot first, early in life. And nine 
chances in ten it was the master’s fault. 
You give a young dog a fair chance right 
from the beginning and he won’t often go 
