[ChloeZephyr]

Hello,

Me and my doggy just got to Exeter NH after helping my mom move up here from NC, and he and I are moving to Morocco!

If anyone has tips about reducing stress while moving a dog abroad, let me know. I'm so worried I've thought about re-homing him, but he's such a party of my family that I also feel awful for even thinking such a thing. It's a bit of a confusing time I guess.

I have already looked up all of the USDA and import requirements, but it's a crazy mess. Morocco requires I get a veterinary exam and USDA sign off within 24 hours of my flight. And my dog's ears are so tall that he winds up needing a Giant crate, and I have no idea how I can carry it myself. Then my husband doesn't want him to sleep in the bedroom so he'll arrive stressed in a country that hates dogs, suddenly not allowed to sleep near his human family members. It's almost too much for me. :\ If anyone has any words of comfort, I sure could use them.

 

[lynsey]

Hello,

Me and my doggy just got to Exeter NH after helping my mom move up here from NC, and he and I are moving to Morocco!

If anyone has tips about reducing stress while moving a dog abroad, let me know. I'm so worried I've thought about re-homing him, but he's such a party of my family that I also feel awful for even thinking such a thing. It's a bit of a confusing time I guess.

I have already looked up all of the USDA and import requirements, but it's a crazy mess. Morocco requires I get a veterinary exam and USDA sign off within 24 hours of my flight. And my dog's ears are so tall that he winds up needing a Giant crate, and I have no idea how I can carry it myself. Then my husband doesn't want him to sleep in the bedroom so he'll arrive stressed in a country that hates dogs, suddenly not allowed to sleep near his human family members. It's almost too much for me. :\ If anyone has any words of comfort, I sure could use them.

Hi Chloe

I'm fascinated by the image of your dog's ears - please post a photo.

How long is the journey?I think dogs are far more resilient than we give them credit for, I suspect he will be fine if you are there to greet him. Don't beat yourself up about this, just concentrate on what will happen for him in his new life. And indeed in your new life

Where will you be living when you arrive in Morocco? Maybe you could spend the first night or two sleeping with the dog, wherever that may be? Just until he settles in.

Why do you say they hate dogs in Morocco? I'm not disputing it, I've never been there and know nothing about the place. I'm just curious. I thought that about Bulgaria before I lived here, but I soon realized that they only dislike dogs that are roaming the streets ( that they themselves are usually responsible for dumping ) They have no objection to a well-controlled house dog.

You are heading for a whole new life, don't start off worrying about problems, just enjoy the opportunity you have. If you are enthusiastic about it your dog will be too, they follow your lead. And do keep us posted on your new life in Morocco.

Good luck

Lynsey

 

[ChloeZephyr]

Hi Chloe

I'm fascinated by the image of your dog's ears - please post a photo.

How long is the journey?I think dogs are far more resilient than we give them credit for, I suspect he will be fine if you are there to greet him. Don't beat yourself up about this, just concentrate on what will happen for him in his new life. And indeed in your new life

Where will you be living when you arrive in Morocco? Maybe you could spend the first night or two sleeping with the dog, wherever that may be? Just until he settles in.

Why do you say they hate dogs in Morocco? I'm not disputing it, I've never been there and know nothing about the place. I'm just curious. I thought that about Bulgaria before I lived here, but I soon realized that they only dislike dogs that are roaming the streets ( that they themselves are usually responsible for dumping ) They have no objection to a well-controlled house dog.

You are heading for a whole new life, don't start off worrying about problems, just enjoy the opportunity you have. If you are enthusiastic about it your dog will be too, they follow your lead. And do keep us posted on your new life in Morocco.

Good luck

Lynsey

Lynsey,

Thanks for writing back! The journey is about 14 hours including layovers, I think. Eek! Poor kid. Then a car ride for about 4-5 hours, but at least he'll get to stretch his legs first. Then we'll arrive at our apartment in Tetouan in the north. And by then, it'll be bed time.

As for the sleep thing, yeah I am wondering if it would be good for him to have me sleep in the living room for at least part of the night with him. I only worry that when I stop sleeping with him, he may feel rejected (moreso than if I start and THEN stop). Since my husband did say he's willing to at least try sleeping with him in the same room, I did talk to a behaviorist about that yesterday. She said I shouldn't take the risk of letting Zephyr sleep in the bedroom the first nights if we might later make him stop because that would be very confusing for him. Maybe it'd be different if the living room though, I'm not sure.

There are a few reasons I think Morocco isn't dog friendly. I've lived there and witnessed it. I've looked into services for dogs in my city, and there are none. no grooming, no dog sitting etc. Most Moroccans only have dogs for work, not for companionship. From what I've read, according to the most common interpretation of the koran, dogs are considered as dirty animals. I've heard some people say that if a dog barks in your building, it scares away angels that are watching over you, and I will live in an apartment with a dog who at least only barks when people come to to the door (but that might be made up, I don't know). I looked into training options so my husband can learn how to work with Zephyr, but all I could find was training for guard dogs. But on the bright side, dogs are increasingly becoming popular as companion animals, and so change is slowly happening at least.

I think you're right that dogs will pick up on our enthusiasm. I hope I can find mine in this situation because I'm just feeling so nervous. I've not yet got my ticket 'home' because I want to feel happy when I do so, and for that I need to make sense of this situation, I guess.

 

[ChloeZephyr]

Here's Zephyr's ears

I don't know why this pic loaded sideways! Wish I knew how to rotate it.

 

[lynsey]

I think it's better sideways, the ears would weigh his head down too much upright

What a great looking dog!

So what's the story of why you are moving to Morocco? Is it a permanent move? What language do they speak there, is it French? Sorry, I could keep asking questions all night, I'm so nosy!

Lynsey