Dog proofing a Christmas tree

[tcufrog]

We have a 1 year old pup who we got last year right before Christmas. We adore Abbie but she is still quite destructive. We’ve put up the Christmas tree and so far she’s ignored it even when the lights are on. We haven’t put any ornaments or the tree skirt on it yet and I’m worried about how she’ll behave once we do that.

Abbie is 30 pounds and tall enough to get things off the edge of the kitchen counter. I try to discipline her when I catch her right away but it’s difficult these days because I’m recovering from knee surgery so I’m walking with a walker and wearing a knee brace.

The tree in question is nestled in the arc of a curved staircase. It’s not our normal very full 9 foot tree because that one is too difficult for us to put up with me in my present state. I bought a 6 foot purple prelit pencil tree this year because my family could easily put it up without my help.

Any suggestions? My dh suggested no ornaments this year but the tree looks sad and it’s not like Abbie is going anywhere. I don’t want to have a bare tree every year because we have a dog.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We have a 1 year old pup who we got last year right before Christmas. We adore Abbie but she is still quite destructive. We’ve put up the Christmas tree and so far she’s ignored it even when the lights are on. We haven’t put any ornaments or the tree skirt on it yet and I’m worried about how she’ll behave once we do that.

Abbie is 30 pounds and tall enough to get things off the edge of the kitchen counter. I try to discipline her when I catch her right away but it’s difficult these days because I’m recovering from knee surgery so I’m walking with a walker and wearing a knee brace.

The tree in question is nestled in the arc of a curved staircase. It’s not our normal very full 9 foot tree because that one is too difficult for us to put up with me in my present state. I bought a 6 foot purple prelit pencil tree this year because my family could easily put it up without my help.

Any suggestions? My dh suggested no ornaments this year but the tree looks sad and it’s not like Abbie is going anywhere. I don’t want to have a bare tree every year because we have a dog.

I've never had an issue with my dogs and Christmas trees. Now, from what I read, cats are another story.

 

[LSUmiss]

I have 2 puppies one is about to be 1 yr & the other is 6 mos. I never leave them alone with it (or really at all). If I’m not home, I kennel them. I have baby gates up t/o the house to keep them in whatever room I’m in so they don’t have free roam of the house w/o me. Anyway you can block off her access to it?

 

[LSUmiss]

I've never had an issue with my dogs and Christmas trees. Now, from what I read, cats are another story.

Yes! That has been my issue over the years b/c I can’t limit the cat’s access as easily as the dogs. Cat is 14 now though so I’m hoping he’s over it.

 

[tcufrog]

We used to have dog gates all over the house but had to take them down because I couldn’t get through them with my walker. She goes into her puppy playpen when we aren’t home. She prefers it to her crate and it’s easier to move when necessary.

A physical barrier sounds good. Any suggestions? I want something that will look good since it’s in our entryway.

The ideal way to solve the problem would be for her to ignore it but I don’t want to assume that. She’s a very quiet dog but that has allowed her to be sneaky.

 

[wenrob]

We have a baby gate between the kitchen/dining/living room and the front room/upstairs. Tree goes in the front room, pup stays in the kitchen/dining/living room. That’s 24/7 though. She’s grown out of the destructive stage but every once in awhile she still finds trouble so I don’t let her roam the house. When my kids were toddlers we put a smaller tree on a table out of reach. Can you do something like that? Then again, if she’s leaving it alone and you’re home I’d just keep an eye on her and see how she does. She might not bother it at all.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

If she's ignored it thus far I'd assume she'll continue to do so.

 

[yoopermom]

Honestly, I would only decorate the top half. Tinsel, garland, balls all can be dangerous if ingested by a curious puppy (and a year old is still a puppy in many ways). I would also suggest not putting any gifts under the tree that might smell interesting in any way. We have had many dogs over the years, and none have paid too much attention to the tree (aside from knocking into it by accident when rough housing), but there's something about a wrapped present that makes them curious (and they're very good at unwrapping!).

Does she wander the house alone often, or does she tend to stay with you or another family member? If she's not a wanderer, you could put her on a fifteen or twenty foot long line(they sell ones marketed as such, but I just use clothesline with a clip on the end), and when she gets to the end of her line, call her up and give her a treat. That would teach her to stay in your sight (and keep her off the counters).

Terri

 

[indimom]

Decorate it with something unbreakable like bows, maybe... but I bet she ignores it.
We have two dogs for several years now, one large, one small, and neither has given the tree the least bit of attention. Same with my sisters and brother-in-law, who also have house dogs. I worried about packages the first year, but they ignored those too. None of us gate or kennel our pets when we're gone. They have the run of the house and no problems yet.

You could possibly get a (pricey) metal baby gate, but I'd just wait and see, especially if you crate her when you leave. Just don't put any precious/heirloom ornaments on it, in case rowdy play ends up tipping the tree.

I avoided the glass ornaments (particularly the ball-shaped ornaments for a year or so), but finally went back to using them, they ignore even those dangling right at eye level...

 

[mom2rtk]

How about one of those folding playpen things, but put it around the tree? I just threw one out from our attic last year. Something similar to this:

https://www.google.com/search?q=fol...AUICygC&biw=1920&bih=974#imgrc=8A6TXjYDY983jM:

 

[tzolkin]

I know many people who have something like this. (Some have dark wood gates instead of white that match better with their decor.)


I have never had to use anything. Last year we had a puppy, but she did not bother the tree. I did crate her when I wasn’t home and she stays with me throughout the day so she didn’t really have any unattended opportunities.

 

[LSUmiss]

I have a couple wooden gates that look nice.

 

[gillep]

Definitely use gates, my dog doesn't care about the tree/ornaments at all, but that tree skirt is a completely different situation!

 

[elgerber]

We rescued a trouble making pup last fall, she is so much more mischievous than any dog we have ever had. We are now on year 2 of having our Christmas tree up on a table LOL. We do real trees, so we have just bought a 6 foot the last two years, instead of the usual 8 or 9 and it's up on a table.

 

[Lynne G]

As said on the cat thread, we had a dog that liked to climb up the tree and eat glass Christmas balls. We had to put a huge wood square that we bolted the stand to, then eye hook on the wall, with a wire from the tree top to the wall. Then when she was young, we only decorated the top third or so. With unbreakable ones only on the middle. Her brother, my other dog, liked to drink out of the stand, so we had to refill quite often.

My last dog, could care less.

Depends totally on the dog.

 

[marymouse]

I totally agree with the folding puppy playpen around the tree. It was the only thing that saved mine for years. It also saved the presents mine always liked to open early. My first year with out that playpen in a long time and I honestly miss it a little bit.

 

[cassie58]

We also used the foldable gate from the attic, like above - our puppy didn't go after ornaments, but would try to eat the branches. Also would knock things down accidentally while trying to get around it to check everything out, although we always have put only non-breakable ornaments on bottom from kids being babies, and previous dog and cat.

 

[loves to dive]

Our little dog has never bothered the tree, as a matter of fact we move her bed to put the tree up and her bed is right beside it. She sort of sniffed at the bottom ornaments when I first put it up but otherwise she doesn't bother it.