Written by Ravindu
23 Nov 2025
I remember one day during my first year in Skövde, I saw my friend Svena cycling through campus with her dog running beside her on a leash. I thought it was so adorable. It looked so natural for the two of them, but it also made me curious. How does someone juggle university life- the lectures, travel, housing, all of it- with added responsibilities of taking care of a furry friend.
Recently, I sat down with Svena to talk about her experience. She shared how having a dog changes your daily routines, affects your free time, and even shapes the way you explore your city or the countryside. We also talked about the practical side of things, from paperwork and travel to finding pet-friendly spaces, and she offered advice for other students who might be thinking about bringing their own pets along while studying abroad.
Who Are Svena and Moro?
Svena is a second year biomedicine student at the University of Skövde. She moved to Sweden from Germany because she loves the nature and space here. She describes it as “not as crowded as Germany,” and she enjoys having room to breathe and focus. But alongside her studies, she also has Moro, one of the most adorable pawed friends I have ever met. Moro gets his name from a character from Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke- the 300 year old Goddess of the Wolves, which I thought was so unique.
Moro is a mix of Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, and German herding dog, which makes him very very energetic. Svena has had him for two years, ever since he was a puppy. When they moved to Sweden, he was about a year old- still a bit “teenage” and not fully grown.
Svena explained that Moro wasn’t used to apartment living at first. “He loves going for walks. He loves doing everything outside. We lived on a farm before, so it was a big change for him — to get used from having so much space all the time to living in an apartment.” Over time, they built a routine that worked for both their needs, especially using long walks and cycling alongside him to burn off energy.
Why Bring a Dog While Studying?
For Svena, having a dog wasn’t something she questioned. “I’ve lived my whole life with dogs in my family,” she told me. Having a dog while moving abroad felt like a natural continuation of that life. “And also, my mom said that she would recommend me to first do a year without a dog, because, when you have a dog, you really need to see that you can meet the needs and look after them,” she explained. But, Svena followed her instincts and brought Moro with her from the very first year.
She emphasized that moving from a farm to an apartment made both her and Moro realize how much daily effort dogs require in a city. Walks are frequent, mental stimulation is essential, and routines also have to be consistent.
Moving Moro to Sweden: Bureaucracy and Paperwork
One of the more practical challenges of moving with a pet is paperwork. Svena walked me through the process in Sweden, which is mainly handled by the Swedish Board of Agriculture, aka Jordbruksverket:
- All dogs in Sweden must have an ID chip (or a tattoo in some cases) to identify them. The chip doesn’t track their location but simply links to their registration. Moro has it implanted on his neck, which was the first time I heard that such a process could be done, so I was very fascinated by that!
- Dogs coming from other countries also need a “pet passport”, including details about vaccinations. This ensures the dog can travel safely within the EU.
- Once in Sweden, dogs must be registered with the Swedish Board of Agriculture, which provides a personal number for the dog. This registration helps if the dog is lost. I that case, the chip is scanned, and the owner can be contacted.
- Costs for the registration process itself are minimal, being around SEK 40 for online registration, making it easy to comply without breaking the bank.
Svena told me she travelled with Moro by ferry and train the first time they moved to Sweden, but more recently, they’ve been taking the train for the full journey. On ferries, sometimes you may need a separate ticket for the dog, depending on whether you have a cabin. On Swedish trains, dogs are allowed on the floor in designated compartments without extra cost, which makes traveling around much easier. “In Germany, you have to pay for a dog to take the train. But in Sweden you don’t,” Svena mentioned, which I think is a big plus for pet-owners in Sweden.
If you wanted to travel with your dog in Sweden, you can find more information on this website!
Daily Life with an Active Dog
What I found most fascinating was how much Moro structures Svena’s day. She shared their routine with me:
- Morning walks: 40–60 minutes to start the day and get fresh air.
- Midday walk: Around noon, often coinciding with a lunch break at uni.
- Afternoon: Flexible walks depending on Moro’s needs and Svena’s lectures.
- Evening: Another short walk before bed.
She explained that while it can be a lot of effort, these walks also provide much-needed breaks from studying. “It gives me fresh air, oxygen, and exercise,” she told me. I could see how having a dog adds structure, purpose, and even mindfulness to student life.
Adjusting to Apartment Life
For Moro, adjusting from a farm to an apartment was a challenge. Svena described the first few months as stressful. “You could really see that he was stressed. We both needed to get used to it.” Over time, they found a routine that provided enough mental and physical stimulation. One favorite method is biking while Moro runs alongside, which lets him release energy safely and quickly.
Svena also reflected on her own adaptation. Living in an apartment is more independent and quieter, but she admits it can be a little lonely at times. Having Moro helps, but she misses the sense of shared living that she occasionally longed for.
Monthly Expenses and Vet Visits
Having a dog in Sweden comes with monthly expenses, but Svena has found it manageable. She outlined some of the main costs:
- Dog food: Around 700 SEK per month is spent on dog food, depending on the size of the dog.
- Health insurance: A monthly insurance of roughly 300 SEK covers major incidents, such as operations or serious medical emergencies, serving as a backup rather than covering minor issues.
- Liability insurance: An annual cost of approximately 600 SEK protects against damages caused by the dog, for example if it runs into traffic and causes an accident. This is a German insurance that also applies while living in Sweden.
Beyond the costs, Svena described her experience with veterinary care in Sweden as very smooth. She explained, “I visited that twice. Actually, once to get a vaccination and once… I needed another, like, preventative one.” She acknowledged that vet visits can be stressful for dogs, especially with other animals around, but added, “My experiences were really good… and I had quite short waiting time, and then the vet was really nice and professional.” However, she also notes that veterinary prices in Sweden are much higher than in Germany—about three times as much.
Overall, while owning a dog adds financial responsibilities, Svena finds that the system in Sweden — with clear insurance options and professional veterinary care — makes it feasible to study and care for an active dog like Moro at the same time
Sweden’s Pet-Friendliness: Pros and Cons
Living with a dog in Sweden comes with plenty of perks. People here genuinely love dogs — from pedestrians who stop to ask if they can pet him, to the way having a dog instantly opens the door to conversations with strangers and new friends. With so many parks and green spaces around, it’s easy to give a dog a good life here. But even with all these positives, Svena still noticed a few differences compared to Germany.
“In Germany, you can bring your dog into almost every café,” she said. “But in Sweden? So many restaurants don’t allow dogs inside.” In the summer, it’s easy. You can leave your dog outside restaurants while you sit on the terrace, and it works fine. But winter is a completely different story. As Svena put it, “You can’t leave your dog outside for an hour when it’s minus six degrees. So sometimes you just can’t go out with friends.”
Advice for Students Considering a Pet
I asked Svena what she would say to students who are on the fence about bringing their pets to Sweden. “If you haven’t lived with a dog before, you should first check how it is to live without a dog,” she told me. For her, bringing Moro was a “no-brainer,” something she always knew she would do. She emphasized that students need to be aware of how much a pet influences everyday life, how it shifts priorities, schedules, and the general rhythm of studying abroad. “You have something that is dependent on you,” she said. “You are responsible for them all the time.”
She also stressed the importance of being honest with yourself about the practical realities. “Make sure you can meet their needs and that you are fine with that,” she explained. That means accepting that you will have to go outside several times a day — “even when you don’t feel like it, even when you have a lot to study.” For students who are willing and able to take on that responsibility, she was encouraging. Once those needs are met and you know you can handle the routine, she told me, “then go forward.”
Finishing Thoughts
Living with a pet while studying abroad comes with its challenges, but as Svena and Moro show, it’s also hugely rewarding. From daily walks that give structure to your day, to little adventures around campus and beyond, a dog brings companionship, motivation, and plenty of extra joy. If you’re ready to take on the responsibility, it can be just as rewarding for you as it is for your furry friend.
