You don't even know what you're talking about. Focus distance does not effect DOF. DOF is effected solely by aperture.
In order to get the max DOF you have to set the focal distance at the hyperfocal distance. If you have your focal distance too far out, the DOF will extend past infinity, so even though you technically have the same DOF, some of it is wasted beyond the horizon. This will make the DOF in the picture shallower.
This was taken at f/11. It might be hard to see, but some of the detail in the bench is out of focus. It still might be acceptable to some people, but it could be better.
This was also taken at f/11. The bench has a more acceptable focus. By changing the focal distance, I was able to make the DOF appear to be a little closer.
The 50mm lens I used to take those has a hyperfocal distance of about 18 feet at f/22, making the DOF from about 9 feet to infinity. So with a really closed aperture, really close foreground objects won't be in perfect focus (even if they are still pretty clear).
