Sheep Dogs
The dogs who work beside our Hokkaido flock.
Four sheepdogs are part of life at Tomamu Sheep Farm. Gypsy is our main working dog, Merry is retired, Dot is in training, and Gwen is Gypsy’s mother.
Mother & daughter
Gypsy & Gwen
Gypsy is our main working sheepdog. Gwen, her mother, is nine years old.
15 years old · Retired
Merry
Our old lady, Merry. Fifteen years old and retired.
Six months old · In training
Dot
Six months old and learning with Ryoji. Dot’s father, Dick, is Gypsy’s maternal half-brother, making Dot Gypsy’s niece.
Ryoji & the sheepdogs
Ryoji’s love of sheepdogs began years ago, when he was asked to train the dogs at the farm where he and Shiho worked. When they left to start Tomamu Sheep Farm together, that love came with them.
Today, the dogs are part of both the work and the family. Moving sheep, learning together, and sharing everyday life on the farm, they are Ryoji’s partners in every sense.
Training & our annual trial
Ryoji is a certified sheepdog trainer. Tomamu Sheep Farm also hosts a sheepdog trial each year.
For more information about training or the annual trial, email tomamusheepfarm@gmail.com.
From the flock
The dogs help Ryoji and Shiho manage the sheep whose fleece will be offered through our future online wool shop. Meet the breeds behind the fibre and join the list for the first seasonal batches.