Danish dalmatians leave their mark in Bali<\/p>\n
Yudha Bantono, Contributor, Kuta, Bali<\/p>\n
When Danish merchant Mads Johansen Lange landed on the island
\nin the early 1800s, Bali was a serene paradise. There were no
\nhotels, pubs, coffee shops, discotheques or fashion shops along
\nKuta and Legian roads.<\/p>\n
Lange was well-known by many elderly people living in what is
\nnow the tourist hubs. The locals called him the White Rajah of
\nBali. Lange was one of the white pioneers who traveled faraway
\nfrom Europe to search for romanticism in the tropical island of
\nBali.<\/p>\n
Lange did flourishing business in Bali until he died in l856.
\nHis grave can be found near the Chinese cemetery in Simpang Siur
\narea in Kuta center.<\/p>\n
One of Lange's interesting legacies was the Balinese
\ndalmatians currently spread across Bali.<\/p>\n
Bali has long been famous for its dogs, which roam in every
\nstreet in every village. However, the presence of local dogs has
\nraised questions for local veterinarians.<\/p>\n
Many believe it was Lange who contributed to the presence of
\nBalinese dalmatians. At that time, apart from his merchandise,
\nLange also brought with him a male dalmatian that mated with a
\nlocal dog in Kuta. It is assumed that this is where the present
\nBalinese dalmatians originated from.<\/p>\n
It is not strange for Balinese dogs to mate with other breeds.
\nBetween the 12th and 16th centuries, the famous Chinese Lee
\nfamily brought chow chow dogs to Bali that later bred with local
\ndogs. The mixed breeds are still found in Kintamani resort area
\nin Bangli regency.<\/p>\n
The dalmatian is said to have originated from Dalmatia on the
\nAdriatic coast. Although spotted dogs are found in many parts of
\nthe world, the breed is common in Britain, where it was used as a
\ncarriage guard. In the United States, its affinity with horses
\nand carriages earned it a place with horse-drawn fire engines,
\nand it became known as the firehouse dog.<\/p>\n
The most obvious feature of the dalmatian is its spotted coat.
\nDalmatians are also strong, muscular, active and have a good
\ndemeanor. They are graceful in outline, elegant and capable of
\ngreat endurance. Dalmatians have great freedom of movement,
\nexhibiting a smooth, powerful, rhythmic action with a long
\nstride, which enables them to cover considerable distance. Sadly,
\na cute and cuddly image, fostered through films, novels and
\nadvertisements, in part contradicts the facts that the dalmatian
\nis a big, strong dog in need of firm control and plenty of
\nexercise.<\/p>\n
How about indigenous Balinese dogs? They are part of the Asian
\ndog family, which generally do not have specific anatomic
\nstandards. Balinese dogs are used as guard dogs or for mecaru
\n(sacrificial) ceremonies.<\/p>\n
The features of the Balinese dogs are similar except that the
\nspotted parts are wider than the original dalmatian. The body
\nsize of the Balinese dalmatian is also smaller.<\/p>\n
However, comprehensive research and studies would be needed to
\nprove whether Balinese dalmatians possess similar genetic, DNA
\nand RNA to their brothers in their country of origin. What's more
\nimportant is that both Balinese and foreign dogs are related and
\nlive side by side happily. That was probably the idea of Lange
\nwhen he let his dalmatian dogs mate with local dogs.<\/p>",
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