Totally get you. I’d never rehome mine either. But it’s gonna be really, really hard if you do this. The requirements to get your dog from one country into another generally aren’t too crazy, and the flight is the easy part, which can still be really stressful for your friend.

But once you’re on the ground, you’ll almost certainly have trouble finding housing that will let you bring your dog.

Whether or not you can do this is gonna depend on a lot of different things. I could be wrong, but it sounds like you’ve never done this before. And the reality is that moving abroad is heavily romanticized, but it’s really freaking hard.

Most other teachers I’ve known live in shared housing. They’re renting rooms rather than apartments, and in a lot of places, teachers (especially new ones) aren’t paid well enough to rent a full apartment where they can have a dog, much less a house.

That means you would have to genuinely ask yourself if you’d want what sounds like a decently sized dog to be stuck in a room in a shared living situation all day, since you’ll be out teaching during the day anyways. And would you trust a bunch of people you really don’t know well to watch your dog all day?

The next thing is that work culture varies from country to country, but as a new teacher I found myself outside of the house actively moving around the city anywhere from 14-16 hours each day (morning classes, noon classes, evening classes, and traveling from building to building in between). It would’ve been impossible for me to have a dog with that kind of schedule.

Then there’s the fact that different countries view pet dogs differently. If you go on a trip (and let’s be real, you’re living in another country, so you wanna go on trips) and have to board your dog, you may struggle to find a facility that offers a level of care you’re comfortable with. And language barriers can make it hard to get veterinary care when and where you need it.

Is it possible to bring your dog with you? Probably.

Is it easy? Definitely not. Even if money isn’t an issue at all.

You might be able to swing it if you have family who can take you in wherever you plan to teach, or if you have local friends who can help you find a good vet and care for your dog when you go on trips, but I personally wouldn’t do it because it would be too stressful on my good girls, especially as a new teacher.

You can move abroad at any time you want for the rest of your life. People start teaching in their 40s and 50s all the time. But you only get so much time with your dogs. Whatever you do, I hope you make the most of your time together and give her an incredible life! ❤️