What was the breed originally developed to do?
Historically all breeds were developed to do some job for man. This determines the qualities and characteristics of the dogs we still see today. The OES was a drover’s dog- a dog that helped the shepherd take sheep to market. This herding instinct is still seen intact in our present day dogs. An OES will run along beside a person (or animal), bumping the legs, circling and then running along ahead, only to circle back and check on the person. Some dogs with high herding drive/temperament will also grab clothing, bark, or nip at the person to hurry them along.
