It Ain't In Any Book

[GONEHUNTIN']

I get a kick out of a lot of posts answering problems. They'll say "Rex said this" or "Lardy Says That". "The book says to do it this way". Well, what if you run into something that is in no book and you actually have to figure it out yourself? Usually if you can figure out WHY figuring out HOW is easy.

I am blessed and cursed to live on a peninsula with a Bay on one side, a Lake on the other. Many morning I get up early and take the dog's for long walks on the beach. I walk, they swim. I am working an outstanding 16 month DD pup now. When we get to the lake, SHE ALWAYS SWIMS SOUTH. Waves don't matter, wind doesn't matter, there is no current. If I walk North, she swims south, goes a quarter mile or so, swims to shore, runs back, swims straight out,, and heads south again.

Now, I know how to cure it and it's an easy cure but I don't consider it a problem. If I shoot a bird or throw a bumper she goes sraight out and comes straight back.

So my question for the brain trust here is why, lake or bay, she only swims South?

[orhunter]

Because that's where the horizon is?

I don't own a single training book with the exception of the old, Green Book. I read in once, put it away, gathers dust on the shelf. This website is a book in its self, no need to waste money on additional material. Besides, the book writers don't know my dog, have never hunted where I've hunted and think every dog is an idiot with next to zero natural ability. I want a dog to show me what it was born with before making any adjustments.

[GONEHUNTIN']

Mostly, it's Lake Michigan. 100 miles across, several hundred long. Pup paddles straight for the horizon (EAST), then squares the shore and heads south. One of the great water dog's I have ever owned, maybe the greatest. I walk North, she heads South. I walk South, she heads South.

[orhunter]

Sounds like a snow bird to me. Gimme Florida, it's damn cold here in where ever.

[GONEHUNTIN']

Best explanation yet. Following the waterfowl and woodcock. Smart dog.

[Kiger2]

Pretty simple really,

North of the equator they swim south, warmer water, south of the equator, they swim north , warmer water.

[huntindog1]

Put her in on the south side of a lake.

[PL_Guy]

Does she swimm South when you walk the beach of the Bay?

Jere

[GONEHUNTIN']

Yes, that's when I noticed it. When I walk north along water, she swims south.

[PL_Guy]

Yes, that's when I noticed it. When I walk north along water, she swims south.

Just wondered because every time you talked about it so far you've been walking the shore of the lake when she swims south (except when she swims away from shore to the east). She would have to swim west to leave the shore of the Bay?

Jere

[GONEHUNTIN']

Yes, that's when I noticed it. When I walk north along water, she swims south.

Just wondered because every time you talked about it so far you've been walking the shore of the lake when she swims south (except when she swims away from shore to the east). She would have to swim west to leave the shore of the Bay?

Jere

That is correct. If I walk South, she swims South. If I walk North she swims South. She never comes to shore, just heads South. Not a problem, a curiosity.

[JTracyII]

May be due to prevailing wind somehow.

[PL_Guy]

Is there an easily accessible shore which "runs" east - west with water on the south side? If she swims south she'll be headed for the horizon?

Jere

[GONEHUNTIN']

Is there an easily accessible shore which "runs" east - west with water on the south side? If she swims south she'll be headed for the horizon?

Jere

No. We take morning or evening walks on a long beach that runs N-S. The lake is several hundred miles long, width probably over 100 miles. I generally walk a mile or so North, turn, and walk back south. If I didn't whistle her in, she'd head South while the other dog and I walk north. Once we turn and head South, she swims south. It's one of those odd things I can't come up with an answer to. There is NOTHING to the south she wants. She just swims out about a quarter mile or aa little less, then heads south. As I say, it isn't a problem, it's an oddity.

[PL_Guy]

How far away from your home is the end of the peninsula? Is the water at the end of the peninsula at the north end or the south end? It would be interesting to see her reaction to a walk along the beach of the water end of the peninsula where you would walk east or west.

Jere