You might not want to take your Lab for a one- or two-week vacation abroad — that's an awfully long time for him to spend in cargo each way — but if you're moving overseas or planning a stay of a month or more, you will surely want to have your best friend along. Dogs are welcome in most European countries, and there are no lengthy quarantines or difficult requirements to meet before your Lab can enter the country.

France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are especially dog-friendly. Your well-behaved Lab will be welcome in hotels, many shops, on public transportation, and even in restaurants (especially in France and Germany). Plan for travel to these countries just as you would for any other trip, as far as packing for your Lab and finding accommodations.

The United Kingdom, Sweden, and Russia are another matter, however. Dogs that do not meet strict entry requirements face long quarantines of thirty to sixty days (Russia), four months (Sweden), or six months (United Kingdom). Australia has a four-month quarantine. You'll need to plan well in advance to take your Lab to one of these places.