Is a small dog harder to take care of compared to a guinea pig?

catsareniice1

I work from home and am thinking about getting either a guinea pig or small dog. I know guinea pigs should be adopted in pairs but I will be around to handle it and give it lots of attention. Just not sure which pet to adopt.

puppylove2014

A dog would certainly be much more work and more expensive.

catsareniice1

I was thinking maybe a guinea pig is more work because they poop a lot. I never owned a dog.

puppylove2014

Do some research before you get either. Dogs require constant care. They have to be taken out for potty breaks, walked, fed, played with, taken care of if you go on vacation or are gone longer than eight hours, taken to the vet...the list goes on.

Dignity100

I have both dogs and a guinea pig (I had 4 but the other 3 have passed on).

Dogs require constant care but they become your family.  They really do turn into the furry kid that walks on all 4s.  You need to walk them, feed them twice a day, take them for regular vet visits, etc etc etc.

Guinea Pigs are a bit messy.  Mine is a little mean too - he always bites me.  My guinea pigs are mostly caged.  Though they poop a lot, you basically remove a top layer of small animal bedding and then add a little more and do a complete cage clean out at least once a week.  I do not have a close connection at all with my guinea pigs, I never really have.  They're cute, they're fun to watch... but they are messy (bedding and hay always ends up out of the cage and on the carpet.  "Pocket pet" vets can be hard to find - I had 1 guinea pig die because of an inoperable cancerous tumor and it was hard to find a vet to look at/euthanize the guinea pig, and I lost the other due to a respiratory infection - again hard to find a vet and my pig passed away before I could get her to the vet (when they get sick - it is an emergency to act on).

After my last Guinea pig passes away - I will be done with pocket pets.  I will continue with dogs.  If you could get the right cat, that could also be an option (if you like cats).  I feel that cats are the easiest to take care of (put some food down, clean the litter box daily, make sure they have fresh water and they're pretty much good to go).

ShannersLA

Just because a dog is "small", it is still very much a dog and has the same needs a "big" dog. Yes, a dog would be more of a time commitment and a bigger responsibility than a caged animal.  Still though, any pet requires time and attention.

bslsg13

I have a small dog and recently re-homed my guinea pig. If you get a guinea pig, I'd recommend that you adopt from a local guinea pig rescue (yes, they exist...google it!)
They will usually make sure they are adopted out in compatible pairs. I got mine at a pet store before I knew better and he was very aggressive and there was no way for me to try and get another one and risk that he would attack it. In my opinion, guinea pigs are harder to deal with than dogs. If you want to carry them around and play with them, they end up urinating and/or defacating on you. Dogs are a little easier because you can hold them and play with them etc. 
That's my opinion. Also, guinea pigs have to chew constantly so you have to make sure they have hay all the time, etc. 
That's my two cents worth! I'd get a dog a million times before another guinea pig...as cute and sweet as they are
Some people are just naturally good at dealing with guinea pigs though....who knows?

Good luck!!!

TheMadHatter93

I don't have a guinea pig but we did get a hamster (along with a small dog)...

As being a dog person I find taking care of the dog is a lot easier than taking care of the hamster. The dog works into my daily life: When I make breakfast then I fill his bowl, when I go outside he comes with me, when I relax he relaxes with me - he is a companion all the way and hardly a bother.

The hamster is the biggest pain in my rear. I dislike having to clean the cage (picking up dog poop 1-2x daily is better), I am unable to bond with it emotionally, his water container is difficult to feed (my dogs bowl takes a second, the hamsters takes a minute), plus my hamster is a bit psychotic and tries to attack my hand when I feed it sometimes.

If I could go back in time I would scold myself for wanting to get a hamster because I am just not a hamster person - I am a cuddly puppy person, and with a small dog they always feel like a cuddly puppy! I would even get a second small dog if my apartment were bigger.