[Jessica H]

I getting a dog soon. At first I thought it was going to be a Miniature Pinscher (didn't work out, no luck), but now Im getting a cockapoo. My family likes to tease me about how hard it's going to be, though I already know that. My question is, are they really all that difficult to care for? I know you have to walk them about 2-3 times a day. But hey, Im just an animal lover.

[lturner2316]

Well from my experience, it is like having a child, especially when it is a puppy. They need lots of attention, activity and love. They aren't like cats that are really independent. I have never had a small dog, but dogs need to be trained so that they respect you and listen. It is not that it is undoable, it is just a lot of work. If you are committed to making sure that you do all you can for you dog, then the dog will be happy and so will you.

[ashleypatrick12]

Dogs are very hard to take care of in their puppy days but it's completely worth it. Small dogs are especially hard to care for, plus they take a lot of money because they get sick easier than bigger dogs. Small dogs need a lot of attention and are even harder to potty train. But I love my little yorkie and wouldnt have traded all of that for the world.

[EveJB]

Hi! Don't want to scare you but thought I would answer your question. I recently took 2 dogs. They are not small breeds, so they take more space but I think the amount of care is the same regardless of the breed or size. There are a lot of things to do, like: baths, clean ears, teeth, cut nails, comb and brush fur. training is very important. Regardless of size, if your dog is used to listening to you, it can save its life. You should also research the breed to know what their personality is like. I don't know if you're getting a puppy, but vet visits, shots and dewarming, socialization are very important in the first years. At least two hours of exercise a day (but you have a smaller dog, I think it's less than that). The love and companionship are worth it!