Bali dogs hold a unique and sacred place in Balinese culture, considered among the most spiritually significant animals in Balinese Hinduism. Dogs are believed to have a spiritual and protective role within the community, as they are believed to possess a divine essence that keeps evil and negative forces away from the people.
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The Story of Yudhistira and His Loyal Dog
There is a famous story that most Balinese know, about Yudhistira refusing entry to heaven as he would not leave his dog. And, this is probably the only story when unconditional love for an animal is the reason a human was allowed through the gates of heaven.
One day, Yudhisthira embarked on a journey to the Himalayas along with his brothers and wife Draupadi. Along the way, one by one, his brothers and wife started falling, and only he managed to reach close to the gates of heaven. As he approached the gates, the Gods welcomed him and offered him a seat in heaven. However, Yudhisthira refused to enter without his brothers and wife who had accompanied him. The gods then told him that his brothers and wife had already been given places in heaven, but he would have to take a test to prove himself worthy of entry. The test was that he had to abandon his loyal dog before entering heaven. Yudhisthira refused to leave his dog behind, and the gods were so impressed with his loyalty that they allowed the dog to accompany him into heaven.
What Makes Bali Dogs Special
Bali dogs are known for their loyalty and protective instincts, making them popular as guard dogs and pets. They are also highly intelligent and trainable, although their independent streak means they will sometimes decide your training session is optional. If you have a Bali dog, you know exactly what this means. Their sensitivity to human emotion is also remarkable — many owners report that their Bali dogs appear to detect mood shifts and respond with unusual attentiveness. (If you have a Bali dog, you’ll know what we mean). Bali dogs are generally very healthy and strong genetically, and have a life expectancy of around 14 years.
Why Preserving Bali Dogs Matters
Over time, due to the influence of foreign dogs brought into Bali, there have been several breeds mixed with the Bali dog and this produces a new unique breed in look and personality. We must also preserve the pure breed Bali dogs as they are the oldest dog in the animal kingdom, and this cannot be lost. Animal welfare groups like BPAW are working to control the Bali dogs population through responsible sterilisation while keeping records of pure-breed dogs and ensuring the survival of their puppies. This careful balance between population control and breed preservation is essential for Bali dogs as a species. To lose this genetically impressive dog breed would change Bali as they are an important part of the history and culture – a strong and spiritually powerful breed that should be celebrated for their loyalty, intelligence and survival instincts.
For more on Bali’s rich cultural traditions and animal welfare work, read our guides to Bali traditional villages and Bali dog vaccinations and sterilisation. For background on the breed, see Bali street dog on Wikipedia.
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Bali dogs are a living link to the island’s ancient past. To meet one is to encounter a creature shaped by thousands of years of co-existence with one of the world’s most spiritually rich cultures. They deserve our respect, our protection, and our admiration in equal measure.
