JED the Food Hunting Dog

A dog.
A powerful nose.
And an endless appetite.

Lock up the lunchbox - Jed is in the food hunting mood!

A fun, rhyming picture book about Jed, a dog with an endless appetite, and mischevious antics. When a broken fence gives him freedom to roam, his powerful nose leads him on a food-hunting adventure that may land him in trouble.

Will this naughty dog learn how to behave?

Order from Real NZ Books RRP $28.00 + shipping & handling

Ages 0–11 40 pages, paperback Printed in NZ 100% Human Made

What readers are saying

From teachers, librarians and families around Aotearoa

“

It's a great story, which is well enhanced by life-like, superb illustrations.

“

Wow and double wow! Outstanding book with superb illustrations which capture the whole thrust of this VERY NAUGHTY DOG! ... It has a lot of adult appeal too...perfect to be read to quite an age range.

“

It's fantastic. My animal, dog-loving grandies will love it!

“

...so much pleasure, and great for teaching children some life skills in such a beautiful Jed way! "

Why children (and grown-ups) love it

A humorous, engaging tale of how good behaviour finally wins out over naughtiness. A delightful read for young and old!

Rhyme that reads aloud

Written in rhyming couplets to keep young readers engaged and to support early language and phonetic reading.

A dog children know

Jed's endless appetite and mischievous antics land instantly with children and pet-loving families alike.

Illustrated throughout

Colourful, characterful artwork brings Jed's food-hunting escapades to life on every spread.

Illustrations by Mike Howell.

Meet the real Jed

He's a real dog, from a real family.

Jed is a staffy cross who lives in Mt Pleasant, Christchurch.
Jed has always been interested in food. Always keeping his owners, James and Tessa on their toes, Jed has a strong knack for hunting out food that has been left around or unattended.

When the author's brother-in-law, John Taylor, came to repair the family's fence, Jed took his food three days in a row, working his way through a sandwich, nosing open a chilly bin, and finding the muffins hidden inside it. The fourth day went rather differently, and that is where the story came from.

John Taylor with Jed and a copy of the book — John Taylor “Poppa” in the book and Jed.
Photo: Geoff Sloan / Bay Harbour News, 16 July 2026.

Read the Bay Harbour News article

The author & the illustrator

Pete Moffatt

Author

My fondness for writing stories for children comes from my love of reading stories to them. As a school teacher many years ago, I loved sitting with a book in hand and watching children happily slip into story-land.

After hearing from my brother-in-law (Poppa) about his antics with Jed the dog while fixing a fence, I found myself retelling the story - with some exaggeration and an imaginary ending - to my grandsons. Watching their reactions, I knew I had a story worth writing. I chose rhyming couplets to help tell the tale and support children's phonetic reading.

Finding local artist Mike Howell, with his talent and enthusiasm for creating something special for children, was a real blessing. Special thanks to Mike, to Jed - a dog truly larger than life - and to his family for allowing me to tell their story.

Mike Howell

Illustrator

Over the past twenty years I have illustrated 30 books, ten of them featuring dogs of various breeds. Each has had its own personality, and Jed is no exception. As a lifelong dog owner, I enjoy capturing the unique expressions and character that make dogs so lovable.

On his first visit, Jed happily posed at my feet while I sketched him, only briefly wandering off to investigate potential food sources in the rubbish bins. Like all family members, pets have their quirks. While their antics can be frustrating at times, they often become the stories we laugh about most.

I hope you enjoy this portrayal of a family and their much-loved dog. The only “AI” involved was Animal Inspiration.