Jenna Ortega on Having a Dog With NYC 'Sass'

08/31/2017 04:02 pm EDT

Like most stars, actress Jenna Ortega (Jane the Virgin, Stuck in the Middle) travels between New York and Los Angeles for work. And while she's a hit on both coasts, it's her dog Brooklyn that's a New Yorker through and through. (With a name like that, how could she not be?!)

Though Ortega is already a dog mom to a cute canine named Anna ("[She] was named after my role in my first movie"), it's her 6-month-old Yorkie Brooklyn that's turned her world upside down—in a good way.

"Brooklyn is crazy," Ortega tells PawCulture. "She is an attention hog!"

While Brooklyn does not join her mom on the West Coast for work, she definitely has the "New York attitude" down pat. "She is a tiny dog with a lot of sass. She is so different from my other dog, who is very calm," she says.

However, when Ortega and Brooklyn are together in NYC, they make the most of their time together. "I just play with her and we have races," Ortega tells us.

Brooklyn was something of a celebrity herself when Ortega joined the world famous Radio City Rockettes in the New York Spectacularthis year.

Ortega recalls, "All of the Rockettes would come outside to hang out with her and took turns carrying her!"

At just 14-years-old, Ortega has a strong work ethic that has translated into learning what it takes to be a dog mom. Ortega says she hopes that young fans realize that being a pet parent is a joy, but a major responsibility.

"They are so cute, but so much work," Ortega notes. "The bathing, feeding, playing, getting up in the middle of the night when they are crying, and the unavoidable poop cleaning. You cannot expect your mom and dad to do all of the work for your new puppy, that is not cool!"

In fact, being a dog mom has given Ortega a newfound respect for her own mother. "I have two dog children…I do not know how my mom does it with six real children!"

You Might Also Like

Essential Travel Tips from Montecristo the Travel Dog

The Best International Vacation Spots for Pets and Their Owners

Glacier National Park's Most Popular Employee? Gracie the Bark Ranger

Disclosure: PopCulture. is owned by Paramount. Sign up for Paramount+ by clicking here.