Christmas tree with a dog in the house

[ScoJo15]

Ok, so it's our first christmas with our little schnauzer and we have the dilemma of how to set up the tree without the dog attacking it or the train that we want set up underneath of it. So......

What do you fellow DISers do to keep your dogs away from the Christmas Tree?

I know we could put a fence around it, or block off the room but that looks so tacky!

 

[lovetheparks]

I'm wondering the same. We leave both dogs out now when we are gone and so far so good but nervous about a tree & presents.

 

[stinkerbelle]

real or fake tree?

I mean...we trained our dog just like you would "train" a child not to touch the tree...every time she went near it...we'd say "No". Not loud and firm, just gentle. She might go up and nose the ornaments...if she knocked one off we'd say "no" more firm-like and tell her to leave the room (this actually works for us...she'll listen if we tell her to leave a room)

although, now we put the tree in our formal living room, which she rarely goes into.

if you have a real tree...ya gotta worry about the water situation...if the training doesn't work...might have to "corner off" the tree

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I have had 3 dogs and have never had a problem with the christmas tree. Once or twice they have taken an ornament off the bottm branches. So we have learned to only put old junky ones down there. Now my cats...thats another story. They love the christmas tree and either try to climb it or play with the ornaments. Also my dogs have never taken the presents from under it. Thank heavens for that since my doggy now is very nosey and thinks everything is hers. So you never know, your dog may surprise you and leave the tree and presents alone.

If not, I would search the web for products that you can spray on household items to help keep the animals away. I know I had a product years ago that we sprayed on plants to keep the dog from chewing them. The product didn't smell bad either. I think it smelled like apples which is always a plus. I think it was called Bitter Apple pet repellent or something similar. Anyways, good luck!

 

[NMAmy]

I've always just treated the tree like anything else that was off limits to the dogs. As stinkerbelle pointed out, a good firm NO will usually do the trick. They never bothered it even when they were home alone. We have a new puppy this year and plan on the same thing.

But learn from my mistake--ask people if they're giving you food gifts. My mom sent us a package from Hillshire Farms and I had piled it in with all the others under the tree. The dogs ate good that time!

 

[mainewmn]

My dog is 9 years old, we always have a real tree and we never ever had a problem with him and the tree. Now the cat was a different story…

 

[MidgeD79]

I have 2 kittens about 10 weeks old. They are aptly named Thing 1 and Thing 2! Suggestions for keeping them out of a fake tree would br helpful.

 

[Jockaroo]

No breakable ornaments on the lower branches. Mac might leave the tree alone, but his hyper tale is another story. We used the shaker can method with him--15 pennies in a soda can--and shook that any time he went near the tree. Tipper is just afraid of the tree and therefore leaves it alone.

Mac did wee on a gift one year. It was kinda funny since it was one of those family obligation relative gifts. (Talk about a quick re-wrap!) Also make sure that if anyone gives you any chocolate, that you do not leave that under the tree where the dog can get it. Remind Santa about this too if he leaves stockings. I've heard that tinsel is potentially deadly to pets as well, so make sure you don't have garland or icicles where the pup can get them--but I think this may be more geared towards cats.

 

[RickinNYC]

We always hang little bells all around the bottom branches of our tree and call it the "Early Bill Warning Detection System". First couple of times we heard a bell jingle, one or both of us would state NO. He doesn't even look at it anymore after he gives it his initial sniff of approval.

 

[jbdreamer]

Our dogs use to knock over they tree while playing under it. My dad finally nailed it to the floor.

I'm not joking!

 

[scoutsmom99]

RickinNYC I like the bell idea (I might have to try that on the new Disney tree this year!).

Like most others have stated once the dogs get the inital sniffing done of the tree everyother time they go for the tree or try and get presents a firm no is said. The only thing I worry about with Scout is his tail...sometimes he gets a little over excited!!!

 

[doxdogy]

Since our mutts are trustworthy, I have to fence off the tree. I take an exercise pen and cover it with a Christmas flannel backed tablecloth. I then set the tree inside of the decorated exercise pen. It looks like the tree is sitting inside a wrapped Christmas package. It also prevents the boys from marking their territory all over packages.

 

[Disney Doll]

The first Christmas that we had the dog, we bought a blue spruce for our Christmas tree.

He went near it, the sharp needle poked his nose, that was the end of the dog near the tree.

 

[minkydog]

But learn from my mistake--ask people if they're giving you food gifts. My mom sent us a package from Hillshire Farms and I had piled it in with all the others under the tree. The dogs ate good that time!

We had to stop putting candy canes on the tree for the same reason--our dog will strip it clean for candy.

 

[minkydog]

I have 2 kittens about 10 weeks old. They are aptly named Thing 1 and Thing 2! Suggestions for keeping them out of a fake tree would br helpful.

Good luck with that. We always had cats growing up--my dad put in permanent eyebolts in the corner to wire the tree upright after one particularly memorable spill.

 

[Skylarr29]

Buy a blue spruce..... its too prickly. ALso I suggest leaving the tree in the house a few days before ornaments that way you can "train" him to not go near and not worry about breaking any ornaments.

 

[2BigKIdz]

The only problems we have ever had with our dogs (and 1 was a puppy at Christmas time - 5 mos old) were 1. they brush against the tree and spin it around 2. the cat knocks the ornaments off and the dog chews up the ornaments, but I guess the cat is to blame for that one

Now as others have posted, a cat in the house with the tree is a whole new adventure.

 

[MoniqueU]

I am just hoping my guy doesnt think any of the bulbs are balls. He loves to play ball. I can see him going for them.

 

[MinnieM3]

Our first tree with Jackson, too. Anyone's dog pee on the tree????? That's what I'm worried about! Cat last year LOVED the tinsel. I thin Jax will be fine. He's pretty obedient. (famous last words!) aw:

 

[Crankyshank]

We don't put presents under the tree until Christmas morning and I put any delicate ornaments on the top of the tree. Other than that we have no issues. Roswell moves her bed so she can sleep under the tree. The first year we had her, DH had to tie the tree to a hook in the wall because she kept knocking it down trying to sleep in the corner between the window and the tree. We moved since then and the tree is in the middle of the room, which solves the problem

Peabody also likes to drink from the tree stand, but we use sprite instead of water now. the sugar in the sprite makes the tree last longer.