The Lombok Dog: A Historical and Genetic Exploration of Indonesia's Canine Heritage

Who are the Lombok dogs?

An overview of the history, genetics, and modern-day challenges of Lombok dogs.

If you’ve seen a Lombok dog trot along the beach, weave through a warung, or nap in the shade, you’ve glimpsed that deep heritage. Lombok’s local dogs are an ancient island lineage shaped by seafaring people and village life. Studies show genetic links to the Australian dingo and New Guinea singing dog. These dogs likely arrived thousands of years ago with Austronesian sailors traveling through the Pacific into the Lesser Sunda Islands.

They came as loyal companions, hunters, and guards, adapting to every new island they reached. They’re ready for survival: medium-sized, alert, loyal, and resilient.

Hunting has likely been part of their story. On our neighboring island of Sumbawa, organized wild-boar hunts using teams of dogs have been documented in local media for years; the same practice must have existed in Lombok when boars were still a thing.

The majority Sasak population practices Islam, and religious values influence how communities relate to animals, including dogs. Traditionally, dogs are seen as impure in Islamic law, which discourages close physical contact and has contributed to fear or avoidance of them. However, Islam also teaches compassion (rahmah) toward all living beings, and we hope that religious leaders join us in emphasizing that caring for animals is a moral duty.

Lombok is a rabies-free island. However, as countless dogs remain unvaccinated and unsterilized, and with rabies present on nearby Bali and Flores, a rabies outbreak in the future cannot be ruled out. Maintaining Lombok’s rabies-free status therefore depends not only on border control and mass vaccination, but also on changing local attitudes toward dogs. Education and accessible community veterinary services are essential if Lombok is to stay safe.

The long history of Lombok dogs frames how we see adoptability. Lombok dogs are clever and trainable, robust and resilient, and quick to bond when treated with love. They’ll guard your gate, learn your schedule, and curl up under your chair during the rain. They’re heat-tolerant, agile, and surprisingly cat-footed.

If you love this history, lend a hand: volunteer at the shelter, donate toward our next sterilization round, or share this newsletter so more people meet Lombok’s amazing island dogs. Let’s keep them healthy, respected, and home.