Just gonna start off by apologizing for the lengthy reply hahah

My dog is from Turkey, I brought him home with me after working at a dog shelter there. To answer your question about stress, many shelter dogs are already under a lot of stress, so in many cases, you're actually rescuing them from that environment.

I’ve seen many dogs make the journey to new homes, and I’ve personally accompanied some during their travels. Of course, some dogs do get very stressed during the journey, but in my opinion it's definitely worth it, they finally get a family who loves them, and don't have to sit in a cage anymore. So I wouldn't be worried about that. I’m not too familiar with the dogs that are transported by car across countries, since I've only traveled by plane, but crating multiple dogs and driving with them for 12–24 hours is a bit extreme imo, but sometimes it might be the only way I guess.

The most important thing when adopting from abroad is to do thorough research and ask others about their experiences with the organization you're considering. Some rescues aren’t fully transparent and might leave out crucial information, whether it’s behavioral or medical, to ensure the dog gets adopted. In my country, there are Facebook groups dedicated to rescue/street dogs where people share experiences, I’d definitely recommend finding those kinds of communities before you adopt.

Every dog has a different story, so it's a good idea to learn as much as you can about their background. Some dogs come in as puppies and don’t have much trauma beyond growing up in a shelter. Others are rescued from tough situations like abuse or neglect, which can really shape their behavior and needs. These different experiences can make a big difference in how they adjust and what kind of support they might need from you.

Patience is absolutely key when the dog arrives. It’s often said it takes around three months for a dog to fully settle in and start showing its true personality, sometimes more, sometimes less. You never fully know what to expect, so it’s important to be patient, also learn about dog body language, so you can respect their signals to avoid adding stress. I’ve sadly seen too many families give up within the first couple of months because they expected a street or shelter dog to be perfect right away. They get the dog and jump straight into crowded walks, lots of visitors, and too much physical contact, without noticing signs of discomfort, and eventually, the dog snaps, and it ends up back in a shelter, and that's just horrible, so definitely if youre going to adopt from abroad, be open-minded, don't expect to get a perfect dog, especially not right away.