This Globe-Trotting Golden Retriever Just Beat the Average American's Lifetime Travel Bucket List
Waffle is a golden retriever that has achieved something most Americans never do. Her passport history will make most seasoned travelers a little envious.
In a recent post on Reddit's r/goldenretrievers, Waffle's mom shared that she has now visited nine countries. Her latest itinerary took her through Canada.
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Previously, she has set paw in Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Vatican City and the United States. Nine countries is more than the majority of Americans will visit in their lifetime. She is still going and doesn't want to stop.
Waffle's Numbers in Perspective
According to a Pew Research Center survey, 71 percent of U.S. adults have traveled internationally at some point in their lives. But they visit between three and four foreign countries in their lifetime.
One-fifth of Americans have visited only one foreign country. Waffle has done something most Americans never do: travel the world.
From Europe to the States
Waffle began her life in Europe, where crossing borders is easier and more common than in the United States. Americans usually travel to Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico.
Traveling internationally with a dog might sound complicated, but Waffle's mom explained most of her globe-trotting happened while living in Europe. She said, "We were living in Europe and you can just travel one country to the next with vaccinations and an EU pet passport. Now we live in the US."
Waffle has come to the States two times. Per her mom, once for vacation, and then when they moved. She came as an ESA (emotional support animal). That was six years ago. The rules have changed, but the lady retriever can now travel to Mexico and other neighboring countries to increase the number of places she has visited.
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Waffle Is Part of a Bigger Movement
According to the American Pet Products Association's 2025 Dog & Cat Report, today's dog parents love to consider their pets in travel plans. Among owners who travel with their dogs, 74 percent took a plane trip with their pet in the past year, up from 68 percent in 2023.
Another proof that pet parents travel with their furry companions more: the American Hotel & Lodging Association reports a 20 percent increase in pet-friendly accommodations in recent years, a direct response to parents who simply refuse to leave their animals behind.
Waffle, in other words, isn't just ahead of the average American traveler. She's ahead of most dogs, too.
"Falafel With Waffle" Needs to Happen
Reddit users loved Waffle and her adventures, and many would love to see a show or a travel diary. One fan suggested, "I really want a 'Falafel with Waffle' chapter in a Middle Eastern or Mediterranean country." We can already picture it: a golden retriever in a souk, ears perked at the smell of fresh bread and spices. That would be the content the world needs right now.
Another commenter offered a literary comparison, saying, "Steinbeck wrote Travels with Charley. You could write Travels with Waffle. I'd read it."
One thing is certain: Waffle is living the dream: beautiful, loved and well-traveled. And if you want to follow her journey, check her mom's Reddit handle.
Related: This One State Was Just Ranked the Most Dog-Friendly Place to Travel
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 8:48 AM.