MudderChuck

I call dogs that do that "Flankers" they usually make good stock Dogs. Dogs are basically Wolves wearing different clothes . You ever watch a wolf pack (or Yote pack) hunt? You have Wolves on the sides (Flankers) and Wolves that go up the middle (Lurchers). Basic geometry, every time the quarry changes direction the Wolf following cuts the corner, which shortens the distance and closes the gap. If they didn't pack hunt that way, they would have to follow and outlast whatever they were hunting. Most large game animals are a few miles an hour quicker than a Wolf for a reason, the quickest (or fast enough) survive. Flankers take away the speed advantage, brains, genetics and/or pack instinct makes the pack a collection of specialists. Everybody in the pack has their own job, some are quicker, some are flankers, some have a better nose etc.

Yotes are typically faster than Wolves, Foxes generally more agile. Different successful strategies, Wolf packs are a collection of talents, which make the whole better than the individuals.

Your task is to figure out what your Dog does really well and either train him to improve his shortcomings and/or you adapt to his strengths or a combination of both, you are his pack now.

My hound can follow a blood trail of minuscule blood drops, almost too small for a human eye to see, at a full run if I'd let him. I have to constantly rein him in or I'd never be able to keep up. I don't really care if he is a hit or miss retriever or not. But even with his marginal retrieving reliability he would occasionally surprise me. I shot a Goose that hit the water when it went down and then disappeared. My hound jumped in the Creek and stayed under water so long I thought he had drowned. But eventually resurfaced with that Goose. I figured the Goose had headed for the underwater weeds and somehow my Dog found him, I really don't know if they can smell underwater or not.

Point is, don't underestimate him, learn what his talents are and look for hidden talents.