Whether you use a live, fresh-cut tree or an artificial one, your Christmas tree is sure to spark curiosity in your furry family members.
Having a Christmas tree and holiday decorations along with a puppy requires some thought. You may need to adjust your decorations or their placement. In some cases, it might even be necessary to restrict your puppy’s access to the decorated room, which is okay—keeping them safe is the priority.
Prepare Your Dog for the Tree
Before decorating the tree, leave it up for a few days. This helps your dog get used to it being there, so they’re more likely to leave it alone once it’s covered in lights and ornaments. After a few days with a bare tree, there’s a good chance your dog will lose interest entirely.
Consider a Tabletop Tree
Putting the tree on a table doesn’t mean it has to be tiny. For example, with an eight-foot ceiling, a three-foot table can still accommodate a five-foot-tall tree, or four and a half feet if you have a star or angel on top. A nice, full five-foot tree is still impressive and beautiful.
Ensure the Tree is Secure
Every year, curious dogs knock over trees that aren’t securely anchored. Make sure your tree stand is sturdy, and, if needed, use wires to secure the tree to a nearby wall. One option is to loop fishing line around the trunk and attach it to an anchor like a molly bolt in the wall. You can also tie the line around the top of the tree and secure it to a screw in the ceiling to prevent tipping if an energetic dog gives it a bump.
Train Your Dog to Stay Away from the Tree
Consider using a “place” cue, teaching your dog to go to a designated spot or mat when asked. Lisa suggests this as a way to help them ignore the “giant blinking tree” in your living room.
Let them initially “check it out” and sniff, but gently redirect them before they try to jump or chew on the decorations.
Puppy-Proof the Christmas Tree
If you want a full-sized tree on the floor, you can still puppy-proof it with a pet gate or exercise pen. Exercise pens, or Xpens, are movable fences that can encircle the base of the tree. This keeps your puppy at a safe distance from the decorations. When your puppy is supervised or confined, you can take down the pen to enjoy the tree fully.
Decorate Wisely
Place any breakable or hazardous ornaments out of reach. Anything that fits in a puppy’s mouth could pose a danger. Avoid garlands, ornaments, hooks, icicles, and spray-on snow at lower levels. Edible decorations, like popcorn garlands, are especially risky; a pet-friendly paper garland is a safer alternative.
Bright, shiny lights can be tempting to dogs but also dangerous. Not only could they get tangled, but if they chew on the wires, there’s a risk of electric shock. Leave lights off the bottom branches, and use adhesive-backed cord clips or a tree skirt to keep cords out of reach.
Keep Christmas Gifts Safe
To keep both gifts and your dog safe, avoid leaving presents under the tree until Christmas Eve. This way, you’ll wake up to untouched gifts on Christmas morning.