Dog and Christmas Tree

[karmap]

How is your dog around Christmas trees? We haven't had one since we bought our dog home due to his naughtiness/chewing. He's much better but I can't see him resisting a bauble (balls are the only toys he's bothered about) if he's left alone. Don't fancy building an impenetrable blockade around the tree either. What do you do?

[BiteyShark]

Surprisingly last year he watched me put the tree up and decorate it and never once went near it even for a sniff. He was just over 1 year old last Christmas.

I am really hoping he is the same this year.

[ADHDpuppy]

I can't help, but will be following this as it'll be our first Xmas with ADHD puppy and I'm already anticipating the worst! Tinsel I can imagine will be off and shredded around the house. I still Have the gates of a puppy pen from when he was little that I'm thinking of putting around the tree.

[LaurieFairyCake]

My dogs very smart. She has toys on the floor in every room and never goes near anything else. She doesn't even go near the sticks for the fire, yet when we're in the park she loves picking up sticks.

[Aprilislonggone]

We have 4 ddogs and they have never bothered! We get a real up to the ceiling tree and it's tied to the windowsill for extra security but not so much as a sniff of a bauble!!

[karmap]

*brought

Ddog also has an uncanny knack for doing the exact opposite of what we expect- so I can see him surprising us all and ignoring the shiny stuff.

[TropicPlunder]

Oh dear... hadn't thought about this! But may be an issue for us. We should be able to put most decorations in a room ehich the dog could be shut out of if we're not watching!

[fleshmarketclose]

Well Eric who, as a rule, can't leave anything alone has never once shown any interest in the tree. Bella who hasn't shown any interest in touching anything she shouldn't so far is an unknown quantity however. I only put a small tree on a table up anyway so even if she does want a sniff she won't get much access hopefully.

[Lucisky]

Last xmas was the first with our current dog. I put the (4 foot) tree on a table so she couldn't get to it.
Our late jrt was obsessed with balls, but would only snaffle up a bauble if it fell off the tree, would otherwise ignore them. Was much more interested in his presents!

[CurryAndCobra]

Ours pisses on real trees. This went on for 3 years. We now have a fake tree that we have been using for the last 2 years and you should see the look of disdain on his face when we bring it out.

[Floralnomad]

My dog is ball obsessed but he never touches the Christmas tree , but he doesn’t chew other parts of the house either.

[simbobs]

Our last dog never ever bothered with the tree. Last year we got a puppy just before xmas. The tree was already in situ, and we had rolled up the rugs in case he peed on them, and used them as barricades around base of tree. He was distracted away whenever he was seen near it but then got sneaky and was observed reversing over the rolled up rugs and in an instant had bitten through the new tree lights. Luckily they were not on at the time. OH spliced them but the crocopup did it again. I am hoping that 1 year on he will be ok...

[BiteyShark]

Floralnomad you made me think and yes last year we were definitely out of the 'must chew things' stage so perhaps that was why he was completely indifferent to the tree.

[simbobs]

On the plus side he never bothered with the baubles but we didn't put them low down. You do have to be careful not to put chocolate decorations on the tree, though. Even if high up the dog could shake the tree and they could come down and poison him or her.

[LittleBLUEsmurfHouse]

I don't decorate the lower branches and have a fake tree. The dogs hate the tree and leave it alone / give it a wide berth and looks of utter disgust

[Yokohamajojo]

Mine doesn't bother with the tree but can't resist the logs, that are nicely displayed near the fireplace, at MIL's house and leave the living room a right mess

[Squirrel26]

Mine was very much in a ‘must chew everything/ must pee on everything/ must destroy all boxes’ phase last year...but he left my parent’s real tree with presents underneath completely unmolested. Never left him alone with it, but he didn’t even try.

This year he’ll probably knock over the tree, pee on the lights and eat the presents, just to keep me guessing.

[Peachydream]

First Year she chewed through a set of fairy lights, and did a few glittery shits, after she had robbed some glitter snowflakes. Every time she went close one of us said 'No' firmly and pulled her away, subsequently she has not bothered at all with it.

DDad's dog is terrified of their tree, wont go near it and edges round the room, she barks at the flashing lights.

[LimeJellyHead]

We didn't trust our newly adopted GSD with a tree on her first Xmas with us but may try it this year.... um... maybe, lol.

[thegirlsallgrowedupnow]

First year as a pup, Christmas tree with playpen around. Second year, no playpen but pressies not put under until a couple of days before. This year, will be tree up, pressies under unless they are edible in which case not until Christmas Day itself. Our girl prizes adult dc home for Christmas above all else!!