Dogs and Christmas trees...

[kval07]

and how to minimize the damage when the two meet...

Last year, I just had Chester. He didn't really bother the tree, but when taking down my tree, I saw he used my beautiful tree skirt as a pee pad a few times.

We got Roscoe, a chihuahua/pomeranian/rat terrier mix back in June. He is still a puppy and VERY energetic. I am fully convinced he has the worst qualities from each breed in him. He is doing okay with potty training. We still have accidents if DF doesn't take him out while I'm at work. And he isn't very good at telling us when he has to go.

I have always had a real Christmas tree (Frazier firs only!) and not having a tree is not an option for me. Christmas is my FAVORITE holiday of the year. But I just know Roscoe is going to try to potty on it. My other concern is him going for the ornaments. I already plan on getting the tree and leaving it up for a week or so with no decorations on it so I can train him to leave it alone.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Sometimes these two little buggers run around my townhouse like wild banshees. It has taken me years to acquire my ornaments, and they were not cheap by any means. I want to be able to put up a Christmas tree but I want to minimize any damage as much as possible by preventing it.

What can I do to keep my boys away from the tree, short of blocking it off with a gate? They are jumpers, so gates are nothing but an invitation or a chew toy.

[cupunlvr]

We have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi (Dixie Doodle) that is the love of our lives. She is three years old now but her first Christmas we purchased one of those round stand up pens from Petsmart and put it around the tree. Worked great, it protected the fragile ornaments and we didn't have to worry about her eating something that would hurt her, she is a chewer!

[justagirlnamedStormy]

We've been fortunate in that none of our dogs pay any attention to the Christmas tree.

Laney, my pit mix, will occassionally sniff at it, or at a present under the tree but other than that she ignore it.

Schatzie, my yorkie/chi mix usually completely ignore it.

Slade, my yorkie/poodle would probably help us decorate it, and by decorate I mean chew up all the ornaments. But we crate him when putting it up and after that its not a problem. However lately he's been a bit livelier than usual, so we might not get as lucky this year.

[Smee]

Maybe something like an x-pen? Some of them are pretty tall. If they try to jump that, put one of those office chair pads or some car mats upside down right under/in front of the pen it so that they (hopefully) are discouraged. Those little nubbies are really uncomfortable and most dogs don't usually like them. We've had pretty good luck using those office mats (flipped upside down) wherever we don't want critters to be. They sell scat mats that serve the same purpose, but office mats cover more space.

Large Clean Living Playpen - Habitats & Cages - Small Pet - PetSmart

Convertible Pet Yard - Sale - Dog - PetSmart

Exercise Pens from Kennel-Aire - Exercise Pens - Crates & Kennels - PetSmart

Contech Scat Mats for Dogs or Cats - Training & Behavior - Dog - PetSmart

[kval07]

I might take a look at that first one you posted Smee. I was looking at those online and some of those things are pretty dang expensive. Too rich for my blood, lol. That one seems reasonable though.

[kawakii]

We always put our tree up on a side table to raise it up higher then the floor and drape the tree skirt around it to hide the end table but we dont have a huge tree, only 3 or 4 feet. This prevents them from getting to close to ornaments or peeing on the tree.

Our guys are pretty good at ignoring it though :)

[ILv2Shop]

Hang it from the ceiling? It'd be a great conversation piece..
I'm in the same boat with a hyper Border Collie.

[LynetteS]

Whoa! What a coincidence- my 11 yo daughter was JUST asking how we would keep our new puppy away from the christmas tree when we put it up! I hadn't even thought that far ahead. She suggested we buy one of those "puppy play yards" and put the tree in it (rather than the pup).

I figure our tree just won't have any ornaments on the bottom few rows- sorta the same as when my son was 10 months old at Christmas. My daughter never bothered it (she was 4 mo her first Christmas; 16 mo her second). I figure this will be the only tough year as far as the puppy goes- he will be 5 months the middle of December; by next year, he will be more mature (I hope!)

[mainelycoupons]

I've never had an issue. Granted it takes alot of effort to fit a 90lb dog under a tree, but they manage if they want.

I suggest teaching them "leave it" and to keep their feet on the floor/not climb or jump things. I know its hard with small dogs but teaching them they get attention when they jump up on you, even with front legs can lead to all sorts of problems.

Not sure about the peeing on the tree skirt. I would make sure its been cleaned since with one of those special things for getting out dog urine though. Once they pee on something they often repeat again out of habit.

[kval07]

I've recently started working with Roscoe on making him sit when I come home before I can give him any attention. Definitely a work in progress. Chester doesn't jump, he just runs around the house waggin his little butt and whining, lol.