STEADYING TO SHOT 
9i 
check cord on Byrd with any satisfactory re¬ 
sults. Consequently, it was a case of cor¬ 
recting her simply by persuasion. When I 
became assured after several trials that she 
was bound to chase each covey or single that 
arose, I called her to me and took her head 
between my hands and made her look right 
straight into my eyes; then I talked to her. 
That's one thing you must do when talking 
seriously to dogs. Always make them look 
you right in the eyes . Don’t let them avoid 
you. This is just as important in talking 
to a dog as it is in talking seriously to a 
person. A dog may not understand every 
word that you use—but he will get a mighty 
big percentage of the fundamental idea. 
The eyes help to convey the intention. 
Every time she pointed, and before shoot- 
ting I would first say “Whoa” to Byrd and 
thus caution her to be careful and let her 
know in advance that I expected her to stick 
where she was. If you don’t try to stop 
them until they’ve broken away, they’re 
pretty apt to keep right on going heedless of 
your commands. In fact, in their excite¬ 
ment they very likely don’t even hear you. 
