Tips on Moving Overseas with your Pooch

If you are moving abroad and you own a dog, one of the major dilemmas you might face is what to do with it. You may have no choice but to leave it behind or you may decide to take it with you. If you have the opportunity and the means to move overseas with your dog, you still have to know the answers to countless questions such as the pet laws of the country you are going to, how pet friendly is the place you will be living, will there be enough space for your dog in your new home, will the destination country have available dog food that your pet is accustomed to, and so on and so forth.

Here are more common factors to consider in your plans of moving overseas with your dog:

Weather conditions– find out if your dog will be comfortable with the climate conditions of your destination country. Many dogs quickly adapt to change of weather but if they have weight problems, coat issues, or sensitive skin, they might be likely to find it a challenge to transition well. For example, dogs with long and thick coats might find it difficult to live in a tropical country. You can research and ask your vet for advice on how your pet can cope with being in another country with a climate it is not accustomed to.

The country’s culture and society – many countries around the world have the similar views about their pets in terms of maintenance and bonding. For instance, in France, most dogs are loved a lot like children and are almost always allowed in public places. But in some other countries, dogs are considered a nuisance.

The vicinity of where you plan to live – the U.S. has rural and urban areas, which vary greatly in manner of lifestyle. If your country dog suddenly moves to a busy city in another country, your dog can become quickly stressed out. Extreme environmental changes can lead to anxiety for your dog, a creature of habit. Try to stick to your usual routine as much as possible; feed and exercise it regularly and provide it with toys and bedding it is familiar with.

Moving overseas will be a huge change in your dog’s life, as much as your own. Weeks before your departure, make sure your dog’s papers are all ready, that it is fit for traveling, and it has proper identification in the form of a dog tag or microchip.