But what about the dog?

Harlequin started a blog post But what about the dog?
May 4, 2014, 05:57 PM
But what about the dog?

I have too much free time on my hands at the moment, so I have a lot of time to think about things and ultimately get ahead of myself. I guess it works out, though, because my s/o has no time to think, so I can do the thinking for the both of us :b

One of the things I constantly think about, because it's going to be an issue regardless of how this turns out, is how I'm going to move my dog with me. His name is Charley, and he absolutely has to come with me regardless of where I go.
This is him after I gave him a bath yesterday:

He's a Golden Retriever, but he's about 130 lbs. Anyway, I have absolutely no idea where I'd find a crate large enough to fit him comfortably. I know they exist, but I've never actually seen one for sale in a pet store. Then I wonder how in the hell I'd transport such a monstrous crate, or how I'd even get him to go in the crate to begin with. He's only ever been in a crate a small handful of times when he was a puppy. Then there's that quarantining business if I take him with me internationally, but it's not really something I can worry about if I don't even know how I'd get him there to begin with.

He's a very simply dog. He's scared of balloons and gets offended when you gasp at him, and he's missing a tooth after colliding with another dog during a spirited game of fetch. He also gets really bad separation anxiety if we go somewhere together, and I suddenly leave him behind for one reason or another. I tied him to a tree on my front lawn once so I could run back up to the porch to grab my art supplies (felt like drawing outdoors), and you would have thought I had abandoned him for the buzzards or something. So I get really nervous thinking about taking him on a plane, because I obviously can't keep him company there.

But I have to take him with me; this is non-negotiable. I know I don't have to worry about this right now, because my s/o and I aren't anywhere near ready to close the distance for good, but it's still something I worry about. My s/o was ideally looking to be in Canada in two years, which would be when I'm FINALLY done with school (convenient how that worked out), so if he's only gonna be in Canada, I'm not too concerned.
If he stays in Europe, that's what's gonna be complicated.

I need to do more research, but also not worry about it since it doesn't matter right now.
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7 comments
- #5
  
  Alle1770 commented
  
  May 5, 2014, 06:49 AM
  
  Editing a comment
  
  I've been having the same dilemma for quite some time now, how to transport my dog to Sweden if we decide to move here in the future. He's a big dog as well, and the more I think about it, the more humane it seems to him to leave him behind in that case and come visit often. Mainly because he'd have to be in a crate for about 30 hours or so, which I don't think is fair. But if you're just moving him to Canada or Europe, whichever, it wouldn't be more than about 10-15 hours in the crate, right? Maybe I've got my flight times wrong :P But either way, I know they have big crates in online-stores, so you could have a look there. Good luck, to both you and Charley
- #6
  
  lucybelle commented
  
  May 5, 2014, 08:51 PM
  
  Editing a comment
  
  I just transported my dog from Costa Rica to USA in checked baggage with American Airlines. She's a medium sized dog. I was so nervous and freaked out, and my puppy was just fine. I got her an anti-nausea shot before we left. I used big bird bowls and filled them with water and froze them so it would melt little by little throughout the flight. In Miami after customs I was able to take her out of the crate and walk her around. They even had a doggie relief area!
  
  Check the quarantine stuff, because I know to enter the USA & Costa Rica you don't need to do it. I think to Australia you do and some other countries.
  
  Best wishes to you and that adorable pup, Charley!
- #7
  
  Zephii commented
  
  May 6, 2014, 08:01 AM
  
  Editing a comment
  
  There are some companies that do the bulk of the work for you, I used "Jet pets" when I moved my cat to Canada, and I know they fly dogs as well. They provide the crate, etc. The fee is, well.. like flying a person... but it can take the hassle out to have a company take care of things for you. So maybe look at that as an option?
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But what about the dog?