To Christmas Tree or not to Christmas Tree

[Toby]

That is the question . Toby will be around 6 1/2 months when the Christmas rolls around. We usually get a real tree which we put in our living room. I can't imagine a greater distraction to a puppy then a real tree, with lights and… Christmas balls! I am not even going to mention boxes and gifts. I can't imagine not having a Christmas tree. Should I just take a chance with the world's worst dog ever? Should I just be on constant Christmas ball patrol? Ideas anyone? Sincerely, the Grinch.

[Hua]

I always had real tree every year too, but I think I won't get a tree this year and I'm going to keep my Christmas decoration to a minimum and way above ground level.  My little monster likes to chew and eat anything so it's better safe than sorry.

[Miss Ellie]

Definitely a tree...otherwise it's hard to teach them about what they are not to do if they are not familiar with it from a young age.  

[Diane and Alma]

We usually gate off or close the doors so Alma can't get near the tree when we are not around.  We were surprised one Christmas morning when we came down to see Alma sleeping on the couch next to the tree, guarding all the gifts. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I decorate the whole house and was careful about where I put some of my decorations - kind of like you might do with a grand child - lots of pretties everywhere, but most treasured and breakable kept out of reach. With the doodles I had to add stuffed type decoration restrictions.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

For that first Christmas when Ned was 9 months old, we tried a table top tree in a less trafficed spot, but Ned was still curious ....  We did not put any presents on a floor until Christmas Eve - did not want to tempt fate! When we have had visiting puppies we have set an ex-pen around the tree.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

We had the same issues. Or should I say we still do? We put an artificial one in the front hallway and put gates around it. They are fine when we are at home, but while we are at work I worry too much. Not the most pretty thing but a gate is easy to move when they are supervised and family comes. Good luck and think safety!!!!

[Lynda Kamrath]

We have always had trees (live ones) and that is throughout 30 years of poodles and doodles.  Our first poodle just loved to scrape his back on the lower branches of the tree and all of the lower ornaments would fall off and had to be replaced daily.  Groucho likes to eat wooden ornaments, and Harpo liked to steal and hide ornaments.  It all adds to the fun.  A friend of ours made a mouse trap for Harpo and when he checked it out, it snapped at him.  No more problems with stealing ornaments.  You will figure out what will work for you and your doodle.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

The fishing line is looped about half way up the tree trunk not the bottom..

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

OK, I say tree!  And no barrier around it.  I guess I didn't believe in doing this either with our son.  What I did do however, and I still do is put the tree in a corner and "tie" it down.  I take a high test fishing line and loop it around the trunk of the tree and then take each piece of line and nail it to the side of the tree into the wall or baseboards.  This way, the fishing line is clear and can't be seen and  if it gets tipped over it won't fall to the floor just sway (I hope that makes sense).  Also, don't put breakables at the bottom and most importantly...spray the heck out of it with Bitter Apple and arm yourself with a can filled with a few pennies and when a little furry someone decides they want to touch it, shake the can and yell NO!  It has always worked for us...  

Good Luck Grinch ; ) 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Here is the tree we put up the first year we had Lucy and Sophie.  They were about 9 months old at Christmas.  I think the bottom line is always better safe than sorry.  I don't think that I personally would ever attempt a live tree.  Puppies are particularly attracted to trees, bushes, sticks and things like that.  I think it would be too tempting for them.  If you put up an artificial tree, I would certainly not put any dog toys or chews under the tree until Christmas morning when you are ready to open them.  Again, too tempting.  If you wanted to put up a tree on the floor rather than a table top type, I would be prepared with some sort of ex-pen that could block off the tree.   This particular way worked great for us.  They didn't bother the tree at all.  However, they weren't big chewers either.