(Steve Gammon)

Germany is a very dog-friendly country. Your pooch can join you on trains, in restaurants, hotels and even in some shops. They are welcome all over town and can run around with you in the forests.

Like with many things Americans consider hobbies, Germans take their dog ownership to the next level. Special clubs elevate dogs from companions to lifestyle icons. I don’t just mean the German Kennel Club, Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH), who do all the regular things like dog shows and connecting breeders.

I’m talking about the eingetragener Verein (non-profit association): the e.V. you’ve seen on signs. There are Vereins for every sport, hobby or political issue imaginable, and many are geared toward dogs. I pass five within a kilometer stretch of dirt road on my bike ride to work: one for terriers, one for Dachshunds, one for German Shepherds, one for basic dog training and one for rescue dog development.