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From the very first day we brought Otto home on February 10, 2017, he was our baby. Back then, he was just a tiny 9-week-old German Shepherd and had so many exciting life adventures before him. Now, weighing in around 90lbs, he is 6 ½ years old and lives a life full of world travel. When Andy and I decided we were going to move to Europe in August 2022 (check out our post about being a Digital Nomad in Croatia), there was no doubt that Otto would be making the journey with us. It was just a matter of how he would make the journey with us.
We had never looked into international pet travel before. I had so many questions! If we buy an extra airplane seat, can he sit with us on the plane? If he can’t join us in the passenger area, how would he be cared for in cargo? What if he had to use the bathroom during the flight? What if he had an unexpected medical problem due to stress? Who handles him during loading and unloading? Will he have water available to drink? Honestly, the list went on and on and on and on… So, this post is to help you if you are considering moving “across the pond” with a large-breed dog!
Getting Otto to Europe
We enlisted professional help and hired Anthony at Pet Transport Pro. From the beginning he was honest about the process, answered our bajillion questions, and provided us with a reasonable quote. Once we signed the contract, he told us he would work on securing Otto’s flights while we worked on getting the required veterinarian paperwork.
Since there were no direct flights from Detroit to anywhere in Croatia, we told Anthony that we were willing to drive to any airport in the United States (within reason) if it made it easier on Otto flying to Europe without layovers. I should note that at the time we were moving to Europe, most United States airlines had an embargo on pet travel, especially internationally. Anthony told us that there were KLM flights out of Chicago that would allow Otto to fly in cargo, but that they only flew on a specific day each week. This flight route meant that Otto would fly from Chicago to Amsterdam, where he would have a 14-hour layover, and then on to Zagreb.
Anthony ensured us that Schiphol Amsterdam Airport has a “pet hotel” and that the pet hotel staff are trained to handle pets who are on layovers. He described it like a doggy day care and told us that Otto would be let out of his travel crate, could play, run around, drink water, and go potty during his 14-hour layover. This made us feel better, but then what if Otto missed his flight because he was having too much fun playing with the other pups? As you can tell, my anxiety was at an all-time high during this process.
As Anthony worked on securing Otto’s flights to Europe, we worked with our local veterinarian to prepare Otto for his journey and get the necessary paperwork together. A lot of people have asked us what medication we gave to Otto for his flight and the answer is none. We had asked our trusted veterinarian about this and it was her opinion that medicating Otto during the flight would be more dangerous than not medicating him. We would advise you to speak with your own vet about this, but we chose to agree with ours. Here is a basic list of the paperwork that was required for Otto’s international journey to Croatia from the United States:
- Microchip – must be a 15-digit microchip implanted and scanned before the Rabies vaccine is given.
- Rabies vaccination – the vaccine must have been given at least 21 days prior to travel and must be current.
- Health certificate within 10 days of travel – this is issued by the local veterinarian (who must be USDA accredited) during a health check-up. This specific document is then sent by the vet’s office to the USDA for endorsement, who signs it, and then physically mails a copy back to the pet owner.
The health certificate being endorsed by the USDA was the most stressful part of the paperwork. Due to the vet check-up needing to be within 10 days of travel, Anthony suggested that we have Otto see his vet 7 days before travel, which then gives a few days for the USDA to endorse the form and FedEx it back to us without issue. This all worked out, but it was a stressful few days waiting and hoping the paperwork ould arrive in time. Spoiler alert: it arrived on time, one day before we had to leave to drive
to Chicago to catch our flights.
Travel Day
When the day of our flights finally came, Anthony personally met us in Chicago. We gave him the veterinarian paperwork that was required and then hugged and kissed Otto and told him we would see him in Croatia. Otto then hopped up into Anthony’s van and away they went towards the Chicago O’Hare KLM cargo area. Andy and I hugged each other and a few tears were shed, but then we collected ourselves and headed with our 6 large suitcases to check in for our own flight. I should mention that we took a different flight than Otto, mostly because we were not interested in having a 14-hour layover.
Once we checked our bags and got through airport security, we wandered the terminal and eventually stumbled upon the gate where people were boarding Otto’s flight. We stood at the window and watched for him to be loaded on the plane. Sure enough, after waiting for what seemed like forever, we spotted a large pallet with about 6 dog crates strapped to it. We were able to spot Otto’s crate and even saw his ear through the door as he was loaded onto the plane. It made us feel better knowing he had other pup companions for the long journey ahead.
Once Otto was safely on the plane, Andy and I boarded our own flight to Zagreb, Croatia! Once we were in Zagreb, we got a call from a guy, who was a colleague of Anthony’s, who told us to meet him at midnight at the Zagreb Airport cargo area. Yes, we realize this sounds shady, but it wasn’t at all. We were so excited to see Otto that we arrived about one hour early (just in case his plane was early!), watched Otto’s plane land, and then promptly headed to meet him! I don’t think I’ve ever seen Otto as happy as he was the moment he saw us! It was a wonderful reunion and we were so grateful that he made it safely to Croatia.
Finding Pet-Friendly Accommodation in Europe:
We have had barely any problems in Croatia finding places to stay that allow a large dog. When we first arrived in Croatia we primarily used Airbnb, which has a lovely pet-friendly filter. We usually still message the host prior to booking to let them know that Otto is a friendly German Shepherd, but again, we have had barely any issues with this. The same was true when it came time for us to sign a long-term apartment lease.
We are living in Split, which is the second largest city in Croatia, so finding a stand-alone house with a yard is pretty much non-existent, so unfortunately Otto had to become an apartment pup. At his age of 6, this has worked out fine for him. He still gets plenty of walks, playtime, and visits to the many dog parks in our area. If you were to live in a more rural setting, there are houses with grassy yards. Otto has also traveled with us to other European countries and we have also had no issues finding somewhere to stay that allows him.
For those times when Andy and I want to get out of Split, but Otto isn’t invited to join us, we turn to Stipe at Navigo Hotel za Pse (Navigo Pet Hotel). Stipe’s place is located about 30 minutes from Split. He has a fully fenced-in grassy yard with a pool for the dogs. All of the dogs have their own individual rooms in a climate-controlled building. Before Otto stayed with him the first time, Stipe wanted to do a “meet-and-greet” with Otto to determine his demeanor. It was clear from the moment we met Stipe that he loves dogs and takes his business very seriously. Otto is always excited to go spend a weekend at Stipe’s pet hotel. If you are considering sending your dog there, be sure to book in advance! Navigo Hotel za Pse is always busy, especially during the summer months!
European Dog Culture
I should mention that Croatia is probably one of the most dog-friendly places we have ever traveled to. We frequently see dogs (big and little) in the shopping malls, restaurants, and bars. A lot of the dogs are so well-behaved that they walk alongside their owners without leashes and always listen when commanded. We wish Otto would pick up the European dogs’ leash manners! There are also dog parks all throughout the city and specific beaches for dogs (check out our post about this incredible Dog Bar in Vis Island), called plaža za pse.
During the winter months (November – March) dogs are allowed on all public beaches and you frequently see pups frolicking along the pebble beaches and playing in the salty waves. Whenever we take Otto for walks, he always gets kissed at by people who walk past him and many people reach right out and give him pets. There was even one guy who walked by and bent right down and kissed Otto’s head.
Here in Split, there is an animal shelter called Bestie. They do a lot of events to help the shelter pets get adopted. One of the events that they recently did was a screening of 101 Dalmatians at the Open-Air Cinema Bačvice (Kino Bačvice). Anyone could buy tickets and bring their dog to the movie! Bestie also brought their shelter dogs with them to the event in hopes of them being adopted.
European Pet Passport
Once we got to Split and got settled, it was time to choose a veterinarian for Otto. We ended up choosing SplitVet, which was recommended by other expats in Split. The staff all speak English well, which was a huge plus! They did a quick examination and issued Otto a European Pet Passport. They explained that this is how people keep track of their dog’s health records in the EU.
They further explained that any time we wanted to take Otto to a new country, we would need to have the vet sign his passport two days prior to travel. The first time he got to use his Pet Passport was when we traveled to Lake Bled, Slovenia. Check out our blog (and some cute photos of Otto) here. Furthermore, SplitVet has been great for Otto’s annual checkups, his medication needs, and any time there has been a medical issue.
Summary
Moving to Europe from the United States is difficult in itself, but adding the safe transport of a large fur baby can add so much extra anxiety and stress. However, once their four paws are safely on the ground, it is worth the extra stress to have them along for the adventure. We want to hear your experience with moving your fur-babies internationally, so feel free to post in the comments!
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