The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level

​On a recent visit it was heartening to witness the growth of local organizations dedicating their time and resources in an effort to maintain the welfare of Bali’s indigenous dog.  It’s an indication that present and future generations of Balinese are recognizing the importance of their iconic canine, its unique place in culture and their deep historical symbiotic relationship.

It’s only right and just that those original foreign implanted and funded organizations acquiesce, accept reluctantly but without protest, the reality of handing on responsibility to locally driven forces.

That’s not to say that outside assistance should cease or have no involvement at all.  Sustainability and behavioural change is more achievable by empowering local organizations with the necessary skills and expertise to take control of their own companion animal management.

A hand in paw approach from both ends of the Bali Dog spectrum will only be beneficial in maintaining the health and welfare of yet another endangered species, if an admittance of ‘I don’t know it all’ approach is adopted.

There will never be a perfect management tool when it comes to what is best for the Dog of Bali, there rarely is when the human element is present.  But it is hoped that a middle way vision will enable a middle ground outcome, which will allow the Bali Dog its balanced birth right position between extremist views coming at it from all sides.

The continued connection for the Bali Dog with Bali people is now totally dependent on human behaviour, like never before.        

 
  Karena cinta kasih itu menular. Cahayanya hangat berpendar menjangkau jiwa yang dingin.

​Sudah banyak bukti kalau kasih sayang menular ke lingkungan terdekat. Kasih sayang itu menjangkit dan menulari individu-individu yang merasakan. Di sini saya akan bercerita tentang Bapak saya, laki-laki pertengahan umur beruban yang pada masa tuanya, mengejutkan saya dengan cerita.

Sebagai orang Bali, dan dibesarkan di keluarga petani, Bapak saya selalu memiliki anjing. Entah untuk menjaga ladang, rumah atau sawah. Anjing-anjing Bali itu dengan kesetiannya akan mengerjakan tugas tanpa dilatih, tanpa diminta. Diberi makan seadanya, seperti nasi sisa makan keluarga. Sebagai orang Bali juga, Bapak saya sangat percaya dengan perhitungan turun-temurun dari leluhur, bahwa selalu ada hari baik untuk melakukan sesuatu (dan itu termasuk dalam mengambil anjing baru untuk dibawa ke rumah), perhitungan sifat anjing dari panjang badannya, dan karakter anjing dari ciri fisiknya. Sayapun, sudah sangat terbiasa dengan hal itu.

Tumbuh bersama anjing membuat saya sangat dekat dengan mereka. Sampai pada akhirnya di satu kesempatan saat saya masih kecil sekali, saya membawa pulang seekor anak anjing. Saya menemukannya di got sebelah rumah, sendirian, kotor dan basah. Saya memungutnya dan membawanya pulang. Dia menggigil, saya mengambil baju tak terpakai di lemari dan mengeringkannya, lalu membungkusnya. Bapak marah. Meski hidup dengan anjing selama hidupnya, semua anjing yang datang harus berdasarkan keputusannya.

Saya ngotot, bersama Bapak yang juga ngotot. Saya berhasil mencarikan rumah untuk si anjing kecil pada saat itu, dan semakin hari saya sering membawa anjing, kucing ke rumah, yang saya temukan di jalan. Bapak selalu marah dan kita berdua selalu bertengkar.
​
Sampai pada akhirnya, saya bekerja di sebuah yayasan peduli hewan. Tanpa saya sadari, Bapak yang mendengar cerita saya tentang penyelamatan anjing, kucing, cerita-cerita sedih, dan bagaimana itu berakhir bahagia, membuatnya mulai melirik anjing dan kucing di jalanan.
Satu hari, seekor anjing di yayasan itu perlu rumah. Tidak ada yang mau mengadopsinya, karena dia buta sebelah. Anjing betina dewasa, putih bersih, bernama Nyunyu. Saya ceritakan pada Bapak saya, dan dengan mengagetkan dia berkata, “Kasi Bapak saja.”

Dan begitulah, Nyunyu diboyong ke sekolah tempat Bapak saya bekerja, dengan jaminan lahan luas, warga sekolah yang penyuka anjing, dan suplai makanan tak terbatas. Bapak saya menyambut Nyunyu dan langsung dibawa ke dalam sekolah. Saya terharu. Ikatan mereka terjalin, dan sangat dekat. Sampai pada akhirnya Bapak saya pindah tugas karena masa kerja sudah habis di sana, Bapak saya masih membawakan makanan untuk Nyunyu kapanpun dia sempat.

Tahun baru kemarin, Bapak saya mendapat berita buruk. Nyunyu kabur dari sekolah, mungkin panik mendengar petasan. Bapak saya bertanya kepada semua orang, tapi tidak ada yang melihat. Beberapa orang mengatakan mereka melihat anjing mirip Nyunyu kebingungan di desa sebelah, kampung halaman Bapak saya. Tapi seberapa jauhpun mencari, tidak ketemu juga.

Sampai sebulan, Bapak saya menyerah. Mungkin Nyunyu sudah dipelihara, pikirnya. Bapak saya hanya kuatir dia diusir karena dia buta di mata kiri. Bapak melanjutkan aktivitasnya seperti biasa, sempat beberapa kali pulang ke kampung halaman untuk upacara.

Saat itu, Bapak saya bergegas pulang ke rumah setelah upacara di desanya, dan di sanalah Nyunyu, tidur di samping mobil Bapak saya! Nyunyu mendongak dan meloncat! Bapak saya kaget dan segera mencarikan makanan. Sayang dia diusir anjing-anjing sekitar. Bapak saya mencoba membawa Nyunyu ke dalam mobil, dia terlalu takut. Bapak saya mau mengembalikannya ke sekolah.

Akhirnya, Bapak saya mencoba menggiring Nyunyu dengan mobilnya, dengan kecepatan kurang dari 20 km per jam. Terus berteriak-teriak dari dalam mobil memanggil Nyunyu, dan dia akhirnya mengikuti. Pelan tapi pasti, Nyunyu mengejar mobil Bapak, dengan harapan sampai di sekolah. Namun, banyak anjing yang menghadang, dan membuat Nyunyu memutar balik ketakutan.

Bapak saya menghentikan mobilnya, balik mengikuti Nyunyu dan mengulang dari awal.

Tapi anjing di jalan terlalu banyak. Nyunyu terlalu takut. Anjing-anjing di desa jago berkelahi, maka Nyunyu memilih untuk balik kanan dan menghindar. Bapak menghentikan mobilnya, turun, lalu menghampiri Nyunyu. Nyunyu menunggu.

Dan akhirnya, dia memutuskan berjalan kaki di sebelah Nyunyu, dari desanya, ke sekolah.

Dia berusaha melindungi Nyunyu dari anjing-anjing lain karena Nyunyu masuk teritori mereka. Mengingatkan saya saat kecil, ketika Bapak melindungi saya dari kodok-kodok yang saya takuti di belakang rumah. Nyunyu percaya sepenuhnya dan mengikuti Bapak saya sampai sekolah. Berjalan kaki tiga kilometer, demi seekor anjing. Bapak meninggalkan mobilnya berikut Ibu saya, di pinggir jalan sementara.

Sampai di sekolah, Nyunyu terlihat senang, lari bolak-balik ke sekolah dan pada Bapak. Dia langsung makan, disambut penjaga sekolah dan dia berjanji menjaga Nyunyu lebih baik. Bapak saya diantar sampai ke mobilnya, dan dia mampir lagi di sekolah, memastikan Nyunyu tenang.
​
Akhir yang bahagia, tapi yang lebih membahagiakan adalah bagaimana perbuatan baik kecil yang terus dilihat dan didengar orang-orang, bisa berdampak besar dalam hidup makhluk lain. Saya yang memungut anjing, dan menceritakan pengalaman-pengalaman saya kepada Bapak, menularinya melakukan hal sama, bahkan lebih berdedikasi daripada saya.

Sedangkan Bapak, menjangkiti seluruh sekolah hingga Nyunyu hidup dengan cukup. Melihat Bapak mengambil sisa makanan di kantin untuk Nyunyu, kini para murid sengaja menyisakan sarapan atau makan siangnya untuk Nyunyu, melihat Bapak membelikan Nyunyu nasi di pasar, para penjaga warung di pasar menyiapkan nasi untuk dia dan anjing-anjing liar sekitar, melihat kesetiaan Nyunyu pada Bapak, mereka kembali ke rumah dan melakukan hal sama pada anjingnya.

Kini di sekolah barunya, Bapak kembali mengadopsi anjing liar yang tinggal di sekolah. Dan dia sudah menjangkiti banyak orang dengan ikatan manusia-anjing yang luar biasa. Anjing itu mengikutinya kemanapun seperti asisten pribadi, memberi hadiah ke Bapak setiap hari (bunga, daun, atau permen di sesajen), melompat dan melolong tiap kali Bapak datang. Warga sekolah menghormati anjing itu, dan anjing-anjing sekitar dengan memberikan makan sisa mereka. Persis seperti apa yang sudah dilakukan bertahun-tahun lamanya.

Mendidik tidak harus melulu mengoceh di depan umum, memisahkan antara yang baik dan buruk. Manusia pada dasarnya sudah memiliki kemampuan membedakan, namun lingkungan dan kebiasaan yang mengaburkannya. Mendidik dengan memberi contoh, tanpa mengatakan ajakan apapun, akan jauh lebih berarti. Mereka melihat, memahami kemudian mengikuti.

Mereka melihat bukti, dan ingin merasakannya sendiri.

​Tidak diragukan lagi, cinta memang adalah kendaraan utama untuk kehidupan lebih baik bagi semua makhluk hidup. Agen perubahan sudah ada dimana-mana, dan mereka bisa datang dari setiap orang yang menginginkannya.
 

          Because love is contagious.  It beams warmly, reaching through the cold souls.
Much evidence shows that compassion is contagious to your nearest ones. It infects each of the individuals.  Here I will tell you a story of my own father, a middle-aged man who was in his elder years, who surprised me with his story.

As a Balinese and growing up in family of farmers, my Dad always had a dog or two, either to stay in the field or to guard the house. These Bali Dogs with their loyalty would do their job without hesitation or training.  Fed daily with a simple meal from family.  As a Balinese, of course my Dad strongly believed about universe calculation from our ancestors, that there is always a good day for everything (includes the perfect day to take a new dog home), dog characterization based on their length or physical appearance.  I too, have been used to it.

Growing up with dogs made me really close to them.  Until one day when I was still a little girl, I found a puppy fallen into the gutter, cold, alone and dirty.  I took him home and cleaned him.  I took one of my clothes from the drawer and wrapped him up.  My Dad knew it, and he was furious. Though he had lived with dogs all his life, all dogs that enter the house should be under his permission.

I persistently stood my ground, and so did my stubborn Dad.  I ended up finding that puppy a new home, but day by day I kept coming back with new ones that I found everywhere.  And that always ended up with a scene.

Years gone by I worked in an animal welfare organization.  Without me realizing, Dad whom I told about these rescue stories, sad news, happy endings during my work time, started to pay attention to the street animals he saw.
​
One day, one adult dog in that organization needed a home.  No one wanted to adopt her because she was half blind.  Adult white female dog, a bit unfriendly, named Nyunyu.  I told her story to my Dad and surprisingly, he said, “You can give her to me.”

And so it went.  Nyunyu stayed in My Dad’s school, with a guarantee of extra large fenced yard, friendly school citizens and unlimited supply of food.  I took her to my Dad and they just bonded. They were so close together, that when my father needed to move to another school due to his finished position there, he still kept feeding her whenever he could.

Unfortunately, on New Year’s Eve 2017, Nyunyu went missing.  My Dad tried to look for her and asked around, but no one seemed to know where she was.  Some people though, said that she was seen in the next village, which is also my Dad’s hometown.  Still, My Dad couldn’t find her.

A month passed, it seemed like my Dad had given up.  He just hoped that Nyunyu was okay, that she had food and a place to stay.  He was just worried that no one would like Nyunyu as she is half blind. Dad’s activities were back to normal, and he went to his hometown sometimes for ceremony.

Also on a very normal day, my Dad rushed back to his car after some ceremonies in his village. And at that very moment, he saw a white dog, sleeping next to his car.  It was Nyunyu! Nyunyu looked up and jumped at my Dad.  He still couldn’t believe his eyes but then immediately looked for food to feed her.  Other street dogs around the area growled at Nyunyu, meaning that she needed to leave.  My Dad tried to take Nyunyu into the car but she refused and was too scared. No leash, no rope, nothing.

My Dad tried another way.  He got in the car and drove as slowly as possible while he kept calling Nyunyu from inside.  Without hesitation, Nyunyu followed his car.  He drove less than 20km per hour, headed to the school where Nyunyu belonged.  It was almost smooth if not too many street dogs blocked her and shooed her away.  Nyunyu turned back and ran away from Dad’s car.

Dad stopped his car, turned back chasing Nyunyu, and started all over again.

But with too many dogs in the street, she was too scared to pass.  Village street dogs are godfathers.  They are the best street fighters, so Nyunyu chose to be submissive.  Seeing her panic and shivering, Dad got out of his car and approached Nyunyu.  She waited.

Then, my Dad decided to walk with Nyunyu to school, from his hometown.

He tried to protect Nyunyu from the street dogs as she stepped into their territory.  It kind of reminded me when he protected me from the mean frogs in our backyard when I was a kid. Nyunyu believed in him with her whole heart, and followed him.  He walked for three kilometers straight, (just) for a dog, leaving my Mum and his car for a while.
 
Arriving at the school, Nyunyu seemed happy.  She ran back and forth to school and my Dad. The school janitor was happy to see her, and promised to look after her better.  He then drove my Dad back to his car, and Dad stopped by the school once again to make sure that Nyunyu was okay.
 
It was a happy ending, but what is happier is how a small gesture that was seen and heard persistently could make a big impact in other living being’s life.  I picked up dogs on the street, told their stories to my Dad, and eventually he did the same thing.  Even more dedicated than I am.  Now he would stop the whole traffic to let a puppy cross, something that he wouldn’t do before.

​While I only affected one person, he affected the whole school.  Seeing him gathering bones and rice leftovers from the school canteen for Nyunyu, now the students did not finish their lunch on purpose – so they can feed Nyunyu and other dogs too.  Seeing him regularly buying nasi campur (mixed rice with eggs and meat) in the market, the seller prepared food for the market dogs too. Seeing Nyunyu’s love to my Dad, they went back home and did the same with their dogs.

Now in his new school, my Dad also adopted one street dog that hangs around there.  And he already infected the virus to the school by his amazing animal-human bond.  This dog brings a present to him every day (flower, leaves, offerings, etc), follows him around like a personal assistant, jumping and howling when he arrives.  And that is just because My Dad feeds him once a day.  Now, everyone in that school treats the dogs around them the same.  Giving their leftovers, just like what we have done to these Bali Dogs years ago.

Educating is not always about talking what is right and what is not in front of people.  We basically have the ability to separate right from wrong, but it is blurred by society and environment.  Educating by giving examples, learning by doing, without saying anything, will be more meaningful.  They see, they understand, and they follow.  They see facts, and want to feel it too.
​
It is safe to say, educating love is definitely the ultimate vessel for a better life of all beings. Agent of change is here, and it is coming from any type of person who is willing.

Anjing memang menkajubkan. Jika kita pantas, kita sebaiknya memelihara satu. Dengan cap mereka yang terkenal sebagai ‘sahabat terbaik manusia’, anjing mempersembahkan kesetiaan, pengabdian, cinta dan perlindungan. Mereka selalu difavoritkan, entah menjadi anjing pekerja, penjaga atau rumahan.
Si manis Golden Retriever, si anjing lembut manja Pitbull, or anjing pemberani Daschund. Semua punya kesukaannya masing-masing. Sementara favorit saya?
Tentu saja si serba bisa, paket komplit; anjing Bali.
Tinggal di Bali dengan anjing Bali bertebaran dimana-mana, kemudian jenis anjing lain datang dan ikut bergabung di perkumpulan ini, membuat saya merasaan perbedaan yang sangat kentara. Terlalu jelas untuk diacuhkan.
           
Anjing Bali adalah Anjing Pekerja
Bisa dibilang mereka tahan banting. Ketahanan mereka sudah tidak perlu ditanyakan lagi. Saya melihat banyak anjing bali yang menemani pekerjaan tuan merea dan mereka sangat membantu.
Pekerjaan pertama yang sudah berumur lama bagi mereka adalah berburu. Anjing Bali adalah pemburu alami. Di beberapa desa dekat gunung, masyarakat Bali sangat tergantung pada mereka. Anjing Bali bekerja sebagai pembru kijang, landak atau babi hutan. Tidak ada pelatihan khusus dari manusianya, calon anjing pemburu cukup meniru perilaku anjing pemburu senior. Badannya yang mungil, langsing dan kupingnya yang berdiri tegak. Kaki kaki mereka yang mencengkeram kuat dengan ekor panjang sebagai setirnya. Pemilik mereka memberi makan telur mentah dan madu yang semakin menambah tenaganya. Badannya yang aerodinamis, menyusuri jurang dan melompat antara bukit. Hidung mereka haus mencium bau darah mangsa yang ketakutan. Tidak ada komando spesial dari pemiliknya, karena anjing Bali bisa membaca mereka dengan jelas. Saat mereka melihat persiapan berburu; baju, sepatu but dan jaring, mereka seketika berubah dari anjing rumahan menjadi seekor prajurit. Kawanannya, biasanya terdiri dari 3 atau 5 anjing, sudah tahu betul posisinya. Memimpin di depan, samping dan belakang. Masuk ke semak-semak dan hutan, mendengar suara gemerasak semak terinjak atau nafas resah dari mangsa. Sementara pemiliknya menetapkan posisi jaring, membentangkan dan memasangnya, para anjing berkeliling berburu. Sesaat mereka sudah menetapkan buruannya, mereka langsung sigap mengatur posisi, menggiring mangsa menuju manusia dan jaringnya. Mereka tidak menggigit atau menyakiti, mereka hanya menakuti mangsa hingga sampai pada manusia. Si mangsa, yang sudah sangat panik, hanya berpikir satu hal; harus kabur dari pemangsa. Ketika mereka sudah sampai di jaring, tinggal tugas manusia yang menangkap buruan. Selesai sudah. Bahagia dan lelah, misi tercapai. Mereka pulang tanpa imbalan menjadi seekor ‘anjing pintar’, mereka hanya sangat mencintai pekerjaan mereka..

Pekerjaan mereka yang terkenal kedua dan harus selalu ada di CV seekor anjing Bali adalah sebagai penjaga ladang. Para petani di Bali tidak hanya memiliki sawah untuk diolah, tapi juga memiliki ber are-are ladang yang ditanami coklat, kopi, vanili dan tanaman lain. Anjin Bali yang terkenal dengan kesetiaan dan kewaspadaanya, ditaruh di ladang untuk menjaganya setiap hari. Mereka tinggal di sana, sebagai tuan rumah. Mereka biasanya tinggal di gubuk tengah ladang atau di tempat tertinggi di sana, mengawasi sekeliling dan selalu tahu jika ada orang asing datang. Badan fleksibel mereka dengan cepat menuju arah suara dan menghadapinya. Baik itu manusia atau hewan lain. Mereka berburu makan sendiri dimana mereka bisa jadi pengontrol hama dan juga sumber protein bagus, selain makanan yang dibawakan pemiliknya ke ladang setiap hari. Dan masih saja, tanpa latihan. Tanpa imbalan. Banyak anjing lain yang juga menjaga ladang mereka masing-masing, dan entah bagaimana mereka tahu batasan dan teritori masing-masing. Jika akhirnya mereka kawin dan beranak, mereka akan menggali tanah dan membuat gua, dan akhirnya pemiliknya senang melihat ada generasi baru anjing penjaga.

Anjing Bali adalah Anjing Rumahan
Dibalik kegarangan mereka, anjing Bali juga bisa menjadi anjing rumahan yang manis. Mereka teman yang baik saat para manusia melakukan pekerjaannya. Pergi ke sawah bersama sang ayah, jalan ke sekolah bersama anak-anak, menjaga nenek pergi ke pasar atau dengan sabar menunggu Ibu selesai memasak. Kemudian mereka juga menyambut anggota keluarga pulang ke rumah dengan goyangan ekor dan lolongan kecil. Mereka bangun pagi, berjemur dan tidur siang hari, bermain dengan kawanannya di sore hari dan malamnya menjaga rumah. Mereka selalu ada saat anak-anak bermain terlalu kasar dan menenangkan mereka yang sedih. Mereka selalu ada paling depan saat ada orang asing datang.

Mereka tidur dengan nyaman di lantai dingin, atau taah yang hangat, tergantung hari. Mereka tidak perlu makanan khusus, sisa makananpun mereka mau. Mereka bisa mencari makan sendiri atau berburu binatang kecil kalau mereka ingin. Mereka menghilangkan tikus dan membersihkan diri mereka sendiri jika perlu. Mereka melumuri dirinya dengan lumpur sawah lalu menjilatinya dengan bersih atau beredam di sungai terdekat. Mereka bisa menjaga dirinya sendiri dan juga mencintai keluarganya tanpa syarat.

Kadang mereka jadi sangat keras kepala mereka tidak tahan untuk mendominasi pemiliknya. Tapi ikatan itu sudah begitu dalam sampai mereka mengerti posisinya dan setelah sedikit pukulan dan teriakan, mereka kembali ke tempat mereka. Mereka tidak bisa dikurung atau dirantai. Mereka adalah jiwa-jiwa yang bebas dengan sangat banyak cinta untuk dibagi. Merekalah para hippie di dunia anjing.
 
Ribuan tahun tinggal dan hidup di pulau indah ini, hari demi hari, generasi demi generasi, cukup membuat anjing Bali ahli dalam perilaku mereka dan membaca perilaku manusia sekitarnya. Bahasa tubuh kita tidak pernah berubah, karena kita sama primitifnya. Mereka benar-benar tahu keinginan mereka, dan kemauan kita. Kita dalam posisi superior hanya karena kita punya jempol. Dan teknologi.

Dengan kegunaan umum dan spesifik mereka, tidak aneh jika ada kepercayaan yang menjabarkan karakter anjing Bali berdasarkan panjang badannya. 5 karakter ini adalah Guna atau berguna (cocok sebagai anjing berburu, yang paling pintar), Jaya atau untung (cocok sebagai anjing rumahan, tipe dominan), Paksa atau galak (cocok untuk penjaga rumah atau ladang, tidak ramah pada orang lain), Ketek atau rakus (susah diurus, gampang diberi makan), and Kiul or malas (cocok sebagai anjing rumahan karena tidak terlalu aktif). 5 karakter ini sangat membantu masyarakat Bali dalam memilih anjing Bali yang mereka inginkan.

Jadi, tidak masalah jika kamu mau anjing aktif, anjing berenergi rendah, anjing berburu, anjing dominan atau anjing yang akan menghabiskan semua sisa makan siangmu. Dan di atas semua itu, anjing Bali adalah anjing yang sangat mudah dirawat. Kamu bisa memeluk mereka sebanyak kamu ingin mereka untuk menghilangkan tikus atau ular di rumah. Kamu bisa membawa mereka berlarian gila di pantai atau cukup duduk manis menikmati sunset.

​Anjing Bali bisa semuanya, dan mereka sangat tahu itu.
 

Dogs are amazing. If we deserve one, we should get one.  With their common label as ‘Man’s best friend’, dogs give you loyalty, devotion, love and protection.  They are always a favorite, whether they become a working dog, a guard, or simply a family companion.
A sweet loving Golden Retriever, the gentle giant Pitbull, or fearless Daschund.  Everyone have their favorites.  My favorite?
It is the versatile, all-in package; the Bali Dog.
Live in Bali, with only Bali dogs to see laying everywhere, and then other breed of dogs came fitting in with the pack.  The difference is too obvious to ignore.

Bali Dogs are Working Dogs
They can be said as indestructible.  Their endurance is unbelievable.  I have met a lot of Bali Dogs who accompany their masters to work and being very helpful about it.
First and the most ancient work they do with Balinese are hunting.  They are natural born hunters.  In some villages near the mountain, Balinese are very dependent to them.  Bali Dogs work as hunters for deer, porcupine, and boars.  No special training from the human, the apprentice dogs simply learn quickly from their seniors.  Their build is small, slim, with pointy ears.  Their legs are strong with their long tail to steer.  Their masters feed them with raw eggs and honey, even boost them more energy.  Their slim body is very aerodynamic, going along the edge of cliffs and jumping in between cliffs.  Their noses are hungry seeking for frightened blood of prey.  No special commands needed, Bali dogs read their humans like an open book. Once they see the hunting preparation; clothes, boots and net, they suddenly changed from family dog to soldiers.  The pack, usually consists of 3-5 dogs, know their position.  Leading at front, side and back.  Penetrating the bushes and forest, carefully listening for any clumsy noise or nervous breath from the prey.  While their humans are extending and putting the net to trap the preys, the dogs are out looking for them.  Once they spot a potential prey, they bark, they spread, they threat, surrounding the prey and take them towards the net.  They do not bite or hurt the prey.  They know their job is to trap the prey and let the humans do the rest.  Again, no training.   All the nervous animals can think of, is to escape from the pack.  Once they got into the net, the humans trap them; the hunter Dogs work is done.  Happy and tired, mission accomplished.  They come home with no reward of being a ‘good boy’, they just love their work to death.

Second famous work that all Bali Dogs have in their curriculum vitae is guarding the field.  Bali farmers are not only working in the rice field, but they also have acres of cocoa, coffee, vanilla, and other herbs and plants.  Bali Dogs which are well known with their loyalty and awareness of their surrounding is put to guard the field 24/7.  They live there, as a host.  They usually stay in the small hut in the middle of the field or on the highest land in their territory, looking around and can always tell if there is stranger coming.  Their fast and flexible body flies to the source of noise and deal with it right away.  Whether it is human, or other animals.  They hunt for their foods if they are hungry which can be used as pest control and also a good source of protein beside the food that their humans bring for them every day.  Still, no training.  No reward.  There are many dogs taking care of their own field, somehow they know their boundaries and not trespassing to the next field that is being guarded by other Bali Dogs.  If somehow they meet and have puppies, they will dig the soil to make a cave, and happy humans are happy to see the next generation of guard dogs.

Bali Dogs are Family Dog
Behind their badass work, they can be a cuddly and loving family dog too.  They are great companion while their humans doing their work.  Going with the father to the field, walking the kids to school, accompanying grandmother to the market, waiting patiently for the mother to finish their cooking.  Bali Dogs are welcoming all the family members coming home with their wagging tail and small howl.  They wake up early, sunbathe and sleep during the day, playing with the pack in their village in the afternoons, and guarding the house at night.  They are always there when the kids playing too rough and soothe them when they are sad.  They are always at front guarding the house when strangers coming in to the house.
They sleep comfortably on the cold floor, or on the warm ground, depending on the day.  They do not require special diet food, just scraps is okay and always look grateful.  They will look for other scraps or looking for small animals if they feel like it.  They get rid of rats and clean themselves when they need to.  They bathe themselves in the rice field mud and wash it away with their tongue later or have a dip in the river nearby.  They can take care of themselves and love the family no matter what.

Sometimes they get so stubborn for being smart they cannot handle to overpower their humans. But the bond is so deep that they understand their position and after a few smacks and yells, they get back to where they were.  They couldn’t be confined or chained.  They are free soul with so much love to give.  They are hippies of the dog world.
Thousands of years of living and staying in this beautiful island, day by day, generation by generation, is enough to make a Bali Dog expert on what they are doing, on reading their humans.  Our gestures never change, as we are just as primitive.  They know exactly what we want, and what they want.  We just have more powers because we have thumbs.  And technology.

With their general and specific use, it is not strange to find the belief of character types based on their length.  These 5 characters are Guna or useful (suitable as hunting dogs, the smartest of all), Jaya or lucky (suitable as family dog, dominant), Paksa or alert (suitable to guard the house or field and not friendly to strangers), Ketek or greedy (very handful, no fuss eater), and Kiul or lazy (suitable as family dog, as not very active).  These 5 characters can help Balinese to find suitable types of dogs that they want.  And funny, it is almost 90% accurate.

So it doesn’t matter if you want an active dog, a low energy dogs, a hunting dogs, a dominant dog, or a dog that will eat all your lunch scraps.  And above all of those, Bali Dog is a very low maintenance dog.  You can cuddle them as much as you want them to get rid of mouse and snakes in your neighborhood.  You can take them for a crazy run in the beach or sit with you enjoying sunset.

​Bali Dogs got your back, and they know it. 

There’s a special type of warmth you get when you see a social media post such as this one that popped up on our news feed this morning. 

Pantai, the Bali Dog from Sanur has arrived in her new hometown of Paris.  Over the years we have seen Bali Dogs romping in the snow in Canada, running free through the forests of Germany, sailing on a boat in Spain and strolling the streets of New York.  All of them gloriously relishing and reveling in their expat lives. 

The Bali Dog’s ability to adapt to a climate and culture so foreign to their Indigenous roots speaks volumes to the breeds adaptability and resilience.  There is no doubt that a happy, healthy Bali Dog’s natural zest for life combined with their incessant curiosity enables them to adapt and embrace their new homeland and all that it holds. 

​If the Australian Governments bio security measures were not so restrictive there is no doubt that expat Bali Dogs would be lapping up the Aussie lifestyle. Unfortunately the import requirements are such that to migrate a Bali Dog to Australia is nigh on impossible and certainly questionable as to the impact the red taped hoops would have upon the dog themselves.
www.thebalistreetdog.com congratulates Pantai and Gwendoline for completing the journey home together.  Pantai's smile says it all.

We wish you a lifetime of loving memories together.

For Pantai and other expat Bali Dog stories search Seven Heaven Pet Express on Facebook.