Last year I wrote a blog detailing how I brought my dog from the United States to Spain. Bringing your pet is a process of its own, but living in a foreign country with your favorite furry friend will definitely take some time to get used to for the both of you! I am often asked what it is like participating in the Auxiliares de Conversación program while having my dog with me. Here are a few tips, and things to consider, if you are planning to bring your dog with you to Spain.

Searching for an apartment

Finding an apartment is a struggle. Finding an apartment with a dog is even more of a struggle. The average time for language assistants to find an apartment is usually 1-2 weeks in big cities like Madrid and Seville (that are filled with study abroad-ers and Erasmus students), depending on how picky you are. Based on my own experience, most people I spoke to were averaging about two apartment viewings per day. Me? I continued getting left on ‘read’ whenever I mentioned I had a very small dog and it took me almost an entire month to find a place. Your options with a dog will be extremely limited, so it is best to not mention you have a pet. At first I did not want to withhold this very important piece of information because most Spanish landlords are known to barge into your home unannounced, in addition to nosy neighbors who will definitely snitch if your building does not permit animals– and I feared eviction. But technically if there is no rule against pets in your contract and no signs in the building saying it does not allow pets, technically you’re allowed… just make sure all of your roommates are cool with it. Also, it’s worth mentioning that I searched for an apartment while my old landlord watched my dog in Madrid, but if you’re coming with a pet Airbnb will be your only option for temporary accommodation so be sure to book ahead for at least three weeks.

Geting an EU pet passport

I have not traveled outside of Spain in my almost two years of living here, so I never felt the need to get a passport for my dog. But, if you plan on bringing your dog along during your travels outside of Spain, it is wise to get an EU pet passport as soon as possible. With an EU pet passport, your pet will be permitted to travel to most EU countries without any hassle.

Traveling with your dog

The good news is that most Renfe trains allow pets under 10 kg to board the train with an approved carrier. I usually do not travel by train and prefer buses when traveling city-to-city, but unfortunately ALSA, and most long-haul busses in Spain, do not allow pets other than guide dogs. BlaBlaCar has become my favorite means of transportation when traveling with my dog because they’re cheaper than most buses and trains and you’re able to filter which drivers allow pets. I reccomend BlaBlaCar to everyone traveling around Spain, but especially for those with pets!

Finding a dogsitter

The most popular dogsitting website is Rover. This is a great platform because you’re able to read reviews of the sitters and communicate with them prior to your trip.  You should also consider Trusted Housesitters, where you offer someone free accommodation in your home in return for looking after your pet, though I’ve never used it. I also do not have any experience using any pet boarding places, but the few that I’ve looked up are very expensive. If that’s out of your budget, you can also find people offering petsitting and dog-walking services in Facebook groups like Pet People in Andalucia and Madrid Pet Lovers (for friends of animals in Spain). Luckily my old landlord in Madrid watches my dog during my longer trips, though these websites are perfect for quick weekend trips.

Adjusting to the behavior change

Your new lifestyle has the potential to change your pet’s behavior drastically. Back home my dog is used to using the bathroom in the backyard and having either me or my mother there at all times to let her outside. In Spain it’s almost as if I had to potty train her all over again– and it took her a while to get used to using the bathroom on walks during scheduled times. This also involved changing her feeding schedule completely, since she has always had access to food and water throughout the entire day. The positive, she’s become less standoffish towards others due to Spain’s walking and outdoor culture– everyone wants to pet her!

Consider bringing your dog to Spain!

Spain is very (small) dog-friendly. The country is literally Poodle/Pomeranian/Maltese/Yorkie heaven, (and grooming is pretty inexpensive compared to the States!). Everywhere you go you will see dogs walking around sans leash, and they are all usually well-behaved. It’s quite common to tie your dog’s leash to a nearby pole or tree while you’re grocery shopping or at the bank. Big dogs are not that common as the smaller ones from what I’ve seen, but I’d assume they’re more abundant outside of the city center.

People often question me as to why I made the decision to bring my dog to Spain and if it’s hard getting the “full auxiliar experience”. The truth is, I travel just as much as the other language assistants without pets– I just have to plan a little bit more in advance and make slight adjustments to my spending habits monthly budget. After almost two years in Spain, I have been lucky to have a wonderful support system who I can trust to watch my dog while I take trips or allow me to stay with them while I’m between cities. Spain is a great country to take your dog, and as a language assistant there is not much of a drastic difference once you’re all adjusted!