Artificial or Real christmas tree for dog safety?

[Scott]

We need to buy a new Christmas tree this year.

Are there pros and cons in the real vs artificial tree debate regarding dog safety?  This is our main factor in our decision.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We do an artificial tree because I like to leave it up for a whole month and I worry about drying and the fire hazard of a real tree.  If you do get a real tree, there are some things to be concerned with...

-If pine needles are ingested they can puncture the dog's intestines....you'd have to be sure to keep the needles away from the dog.

-They love drinking the tree water...not a good idea.

-Regardless of what kind of tree ornaments and tinsel can be real hazards.

[Adina P]

We've always had real with no problems.  Probably depends on the dog.  We kept an expen around it the first year and they couldn't care less about it after a quick sniff.

[Stella]

I do a real tree but put an x-pen around it when I am out.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We always have a real tree.  We blocked it off when we have puppies and we put less breakable ornaments on the bottom. We also don't put foodstuff (like candy) under the tree.

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

We have an artificial tree due to my allergies. Our dogs haven't had any problems with the tree. They loves sleeping underneath the branches on the tree skirt. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

We have a fake tree for the first time this year, Luna hasn't touched it.  She generally doesn't touch things that aren't hers though (unless it's food, of course!).

Our ornaments are plastic (shatterproof) for both dog and baby safety.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

We also have an artificial tree. I like to have it up for the full month of Dec., and don't have to worry about it drying out and being a fire hazard. No needles for the animals to ingest. No water for lapping cats and dogs.