Snooky,
I don't think you are missing anything here. We are probably saying the same thing. After my dogs started to stop when scenting a bird, I stopped whoaing them except as a reminder to watch their manners. What a dog does frequently he learns to like. The dog my son and I are training now is a Jagdterrier. These little German dogs hunt everything. He hated to learn obedience. Now he is doing it. NOW HE LIKES IT. The same holds true with retrieving. Force training him was a pain, now he likes it. If the rapport and desire is there you can train a dog to do and like most everything. I've seen pointing Dobes. It can be done, but it takes a ton of work.

Dr Fatguy