92 BREAKING A BIRD DOG 
But if you get in your words of caution be¬ 
fore they make the break it helps a lot, and 
often is all that is needed. 
This soon accomplished the purpose de¬ 
sired in Byrd’s case and she became as 
steady and nice as you please at all times. 
Of course I am inclined to believe (as every 
one believes about his children and his 
dogs) that my Irish Setter is somewhat 
above the ordinary—but I do also in all 
honesty believe that this lies largely in the 
confidence I have created in her and the 
understanding which has been brought about 
by the comradeship that exists between us. 
And I believe that any one else who starts 
out right by establishing a basis of confidence 
and comradeship with his dog will be able 
to accomplish results along the same lines 
that have worked out so well for me. When¬ 
ever Byrd, for instance, would chase a rab¬ 
bit, I would call her to me and hold her head 
so that her eyes looked right into mine and 
then I would say, “Why, Byrdie, what do 
you mean, what do you mean? I thought 
you were a bird dog, not a hound. Let the 
beagles chase the rabbits, but you find the 
