Brain teaser.

I've just been down to Cawthorne Beck and back with one of me dogs, throwing a stick all the way. Sometimes I threw it ahead of me and sometimes behind.

Now then, the question is - Which would give the dog the longest run? Always throwing ahead or always throwing behind. I don't stop walking except to pick up the stick.

At first I thought - behind obviously. They both have the same chase distance but the return ones are longer. But it's not that simple because you're going to get more throws in if throwing ahead. Is the extra distance run chasing behind throws just what she would have covered in the walk anyway divided by the number of throws?

Anybody?

 

Would it depend on how fast you walk also?

 

Yes but that would be the same in both instances.

 

Christ knows, why don't you tie a pedometer to his/her paws

 

both the same distance i think

 

Assuming that you.........

1. Throw the stick the same distance every time</p>

2. Walk at a constant pace</p>

Then the dog will benefit from more exercise if you throw the stick behind.</p>

The dog will always cover the same distance to collect the stick but the return journey will be far shorter if you throw the stick forwards.</p>



And you don't get more throws in if you throw forwards because, if you started at your front door then you would throw forward from there but if you finished at your front door then you would throw one more time when you got back so the amount of throws is the same.</p>

 

but

 he'll get in more throws if it is thrown forwards because it takes the dog less time time to return the stick.</p>

 

RE: Assuming that you.........

Yeah but the number of throws will be less cos the dog is running further, so the answer is to alternate with behind and forward throws.

 

Good thinking but.............

Throwing forwards you'd get an extra one on departure but throwing backwards you'd get an extra one on return.

If I had to bet on it I'd say backwards but I'm still troubled by the fact that, in covering a smaller distance, the dog would get in more retrievals and overall distance run might come to the same. I think the eventual equation would somehow involve the distance I walk.

 

You thicky.

The answer is simple.

Throw a boomerang.
The dog does not have chance to run off with the stick & chew on it, so is always on the move & gets more exercise.

I think you'll find I'm right.

 

Backwards

Cos you are further away for him to return to than when you chucked the stick

 

Not sure it's as simple as that mate. See above

 

It's all to do with how fast the dog moves.

I'd try threatening it with a noose.

 

RE: Not sure it's as simple as that mate. See above

What about if you throws it sideways, so you will have moved forward a bit, but it wont take as long as throwing it backwards.

I think we need paul.d to come up with some sort of equation, to work out the optimum angle to throw the stick based on distance walked, speed of walking, speed of dog running and throw distance.

Sounds a bit complicated to me though.

 

RE: Not sure it's as simple as that mate. See above

Yes it is. End of story.

I was up at 6 this morning, getting ratty so dunt argue.

 

RE: Not sure it's as simple as that mate. See above

Will you be tucked up in your little car shaped bed by 8pm?

 

RE: Not sure it's as simple as that mate. See above

Sounds like you could do with a neck and shoulder massage. Do you want me to ring F and book you in?

 

RE: Not sure it's as simple as that mate. See above

Oh my. Oh my indeed.

 

RE: Not sure it's as simple as that mate. See above

Knightrider duvet right up to my chin.

As opposed to tucked up to the back wheels in a Livingstones spesh tomoz ?

 

If the dog is constantly on the move and we assume that it runs at the same speed whether you throw the stick backwards or forwards then it must have travelled the same distance whichever way you throw it. If you throw it backwards the dog will cover more ground on a single run, but if you throw it forwards the dog will do more runs. The fact remains that the dog is constantly in motion, so it matters not which way you throw it.

However, the dog is pretty much stationary when it has returned the stick and is waiting for you to throw it, so, as throwing it forward requires more throws, it will cover slightly more ground when you throw it backwards. But here's the thing, I would imagine it takes you more time to turn round and throw the stick behind you, so the dog would be stationary for longer, which probably evens it up.

Have that.