Ah, the joys of Christmas. Gifts. Delicious food. Puppies running around and destroying the Christmas tree. Er, wait, that part is most definitely not one of our favorite holiday treats.
But puppies are so rambunctious! And curious! A dazzling Christmas tree is the perfect target for their happy little paws. But fear not, we have some tip to help you puppy proof your Christmas tree.
Block the Room With Baby Gates
Chances are, if you’ve got a puppy, you already have at least one baby gate in the house to keep something blocked off. Those come in handy to either create a fence around your tree or to block off the room the tree is in completely. You could try a baby gate like this Regalo Baby Gate or a whole fence like this Evenflo Versatile Play Space.
Keep Everything Dangly Up High
If you’re not too concerned with your puppy knocking the tree over but more concerned with them pulling ornaments and lights off the tree, make sure you’re hanging everything on the upper half of the tree. Or better yet, just keep the tree ornament-free this year. It might not seem as fun, but this way you won’t have to worry about anything getting broken … or eaten by your puppy.
Make Sure the Tree Is Secure
It’s important to make absolutely certain that the tree isn’t susceptible to toppling over. Make sure it’s got a proper base, and maybe even weigh it down with some extra weights this year. You might have one of those pups that likes to take a flying leap at things, so make sure if they do that to the tree, it won’t tip over from not being secure.
Absolutely No Tinsel
If you’ve got any animals in your house, definitely avoid using tinsel. While this Christmas decor is fun to look at, it can wreak havoc on your pets’ digestive system should they decide to try eating it. It’ll get all tangled up and wrapped around their intestines and stomach and if you don’t take your pet to vet for it immediately, it can even be deadly. So leave the tinsel in the attic!
Keep Your Puppy Busy
Even if you’re doing all the other things to puppy-proof your tree, there’s no guarantee your pup will actually stay away … unless you keep them occupied with something else. Try using a Puzzle Toy or two – like the “Dog Casino Puzzle” or the “Dog Twister Puzzle” – to keep them engaged for hours on end and completely oblivious to the sparkling tree. You can stuff these toys with treats and let them loose to try to figure out how to get to them. So much more fun than a Christmas tree!
Reward Them For Good Behavior
If you let your puppy near the Christmas tree and they ignore it or gently lie down beneath it and pose for photos, give them a treat to show that they’re behaving properly. Give them any one of these chewy decadent bites and they’re sure to get the picture that leaving the tree alone is the best course of action. Maybe next year you won’t even have to puppy proof a Christmas tree!
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