IMO: You really can't spoil a dog, the more they bond with you the more they want to please you. My pointer is an indoor dog and a part of the family. When it comes time to hunt she hunts FOR me; she does what I say because she does it everyday in the house. She knows the better she does the more attention I'll give her. No such thing as spoiling your dog. Not to be confused with not making her mind however. Phil said it really well: Treat them like a hunting buddy..... and they will do a lot more for you. There are two kinds of bird dogs: the one who do well because they want to and those do well because they have to.

EODT makes a good point however; in his example the Brit became some else's dog. The loyality left the hunter and went to the Mom.