more Jedi photos
"I
promised to try and write up how Jed is progressing as a fine, upstanding,
representation of the ES breed. If you ask Huri he is not, but by all other
counts he is a wonderful, wonderful dog. Jedi will be 2 in April. He is
a high powered pup so confident he at times borders on being too confident,
and decides that my judgment is incorrect and he should go with his own
decisions. Those occasions are becoming less and less, and when he does
decide to blow me off he is much faster to correct than he used to be. He is very helpful holding the goats at the stall door, and now understands just the right amount of force needed. In getting to that point he often was too forceful, but he never has been fearful of what I was asking him to do. Anyone who has goats can tell you though they are not easily herded, and I bet would present a challenge for most dogs. He is excelling at herding guineas. It really does my heart proud when I need the flock moved and he generally does it with just the right amount of movement. It is a thing of beauty to see.
When I spoke to Mary about a pup I told her we wanted one that would retrieve at the request of my son... Jed loves to retrieve, and retrieve, and retrieve. In fact if it is possible for that to be a fault it would be one. He will ignore my calls for help with the stock if someone else is presenting him with a ball. Be careful what you ask for! On the other hand we are having some work done around the place, and all the workmen know that if Jed is being protective of the property a stick sent flying will divert him from his sense of duty.
He is a joy to take on outings. As he matures he is very confident and allows strangers to pet him. We even took him trick or treating with us this year and none of the nonsense associated with Halloween even fazed him. There were some dogs totally undone by it all that were pulling and growling from their leashes. Jed would give them a look of disdain as though to say "get over it", and keep on walking. He is great with my children, the other dogs (except of course Huri), and the cats. Although initially he chased the cats and likes to divert back to that if he thinks he can get away with it. I¹m not sure I could say that Jed "hunts". He likes to tree squirrels and chase deer, but I have never actually seen him kill anything. So all in all, looking at the breed standard, Jed has exhibited herding and protecting stock, guarding the home, and watching over the children. Dispatching vermin remains to be seen."
~ Tamara Rousso