Overview
The Kintamani comes from the highlands around the volcano of the same name in northern Bali, where it developed from local village dogs into a recognisable type with a dense coat, pricked ears and a curled tail. It is the only Indonesian breed with international recognition and it is almost unknown in the UK.
What you get is part spitz, part island village dog. It is clever, athletic, good at climbing and digging, fiercely attached to its home and inclined to bark at anything new. With its own family it is affectionate; with a new walker it will take time, and it may never be effusive.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour a day in two walks is about right. The dog is agile and enjoys varied terrain, hills and the chance to explore, but it is not a marathon runner and will stop when it has had enough.
Mental work helps, particularly scent games and anything that lets it use its natural curiosity. A plain lead walk round the same block leaves it restless.
On the walk
- Fences and walls: This breed climbs. Do not trust a four-foot fence or an unlatched gate, and watch garden walls on the way out of the house.
- Barking: Anything unfamiliar gets announced. Reward quiet and keep moving rather than stopping to reassure.
- Recall: Independent-minded, with a village dog's habit of deciding for itself. Lead or long line unless the space is fully enclosed.
- Other dogs: Territorial near home but often tolerant away from it. Keep introductions on neutral ground.
Tips for professional walkers
- Approach the first few visits slowly, with no eye contact or reaching, and let the dog come to you.
- Check the thick coat for ticks and seeds after rural walks; it hides a lot.
- Choose routes with hills and rough ground where the dog can climb and look around.
- Secure the van carefully; a Kintamani will find a gap you did not know was there.
What to ask the owner
- How does the dog behave when you arrive at the house, and what is the best way to collect it without a scene?
- Has it escaped from the garden or a vehicle before, and how?
- Which dogs does it already know and walk well with?