Lets talk about the inevitable "How do I keep my dog from wrecking my tree?" subject

A friend with a new puppy asked me today how I keep my dogs away from my Christmas tree. So I thought since there are probably people here who are spending their 1st Christmas with a new puppy, we could share our experience.

This is going to be long, so I've included Cliffs Notes at the end.

We started about a week before we got the tree and taught Brinkley "leave it" and "take it". We did this by bringing out a treat but not letting him eat it, while saying "leave it". Once he understood, we said "take it" and gave it to him. Repeat repeat repeat.

We expanded it to walks, so he wouldn't pick things up, toys, etc.

When we got the tree, we had them limb up the bottom higher than normal, so we would have some clearance. Then we setup the tree in the stand on the patio, and let Brinkley sniff it and investigate. When he opened his mouth to bite a piece we said "leave it" and he did.

Then we put it in the house, and watched him with it, reinforcing "leave it". When we decorated, we didn't put any special ornaments close to the bottom, to be sure.

Brinkley's first Christmas with us was when he had just turned a year old, so I'll let someone else share their experience with young puppies and how to keep them away. Ginger's first Christmas is this one, and we've already taught her "leave it" so hopefully, she catches on as fast as Brinkley did.



Cliffs:

Teach "leave it", "take it" before the tree comes home
Allow them to satisfy their curiosity
Reinforce "leave it" with a watchful eye at first.

Message edited 11/29/2010 2:35:09 PM.

Re: Lets talk about the inevitable "How do I keep my dog from wrecking my tree?" subject

My dogs will behave better than my child...I have to read these tips to apply to 2 legged child vs my 4 legged kids.

Re: Lets talk about the inevitable "How do I keep my dog from wrecking my tree?" subject

Riker was 7 months old last Christmas and he never messed with the tree ever when we were home. He would crawl under it and sleep though.

I do very much agree with the "leave it" command though. He learned that command very young so that could be why we didn't have any problems with it.

Message edited 11/29/2010 8:03:42 PM.

Re: Lets talk about the inevitable "How do I keep my dog from wrecking my tree?" subject

my puppy is 1 year old and he is out of control. he takes everything to chew and im afraid we will come home and the tree will be over and every ornament will be eaten, so we got a gate to block off the room that the tree will be in and that room will be off limits to Jake while we are not home.

Re: Lets talk about the inevitable "How do I keep my dog from wrecking my tree?" subject

All it took for us was for Jeter to bite one light on the tree. He got a little shock and yelped like a big baby! He definitely learned from his mistake and hasn't touched the tree since!

Re: Lets talk about the inevitable "How do I keep my dog from wrecking my tree?" subject

well when we are not home he is in the cage, He has dug a hole in my carpet and eat part of the couch. so i am not trusting him with the tree. hes good when are home so that should not be a problem. if we do leave for a little while like an hour he stays out, so i will have to put the wrap aound gate around it.

Message edited 12/2/2010 5:34:18 PM.