Anyone else not risking a tree due to the blasted animals?

elsien

Having seen Gitdog's tendencies towards chaos and destruction, and having a tree that generally sits on the coffee table right at nose level, I've decided that my stress levels are going to be high enough this Christmas without having to wrestle the mutt away from the tree at 30 second intervals. Especially as when he clocks that he's done something that gets him attention, he's like a moth to a flame.
So aside from a mini tree and assorted other decorations fairly high up, there's quite a lot I'm not going to be able to put out. Not very festive at all. But it really isn't going to be worth the hassle until he's got a bit more training ingrained.
Anyone else got a problem animal affecting the Christmas spirit?

neveranymoney

Yes and no. I am a Christmas fanatic and have literally millions of knick knacks that cover every possible inch of flat surface. Obviously it's not fair on a puppy to put such twinkly temptation in its path and had to scale down dramatically.

Our very first tree was exhumed and looks a bit sad on top of a pine chest thingy that, incredibly Shadow hasn't clocked that were she to jump, she could reach. Looking at the positive, I now don't need to find a space and put my back out moving the trunk out for out proper tree and there will be far less to pack up.

It's a bit measly looking all round tbh, I have things that are special and bought when I lived in London, from holidays etc that won't see the light of day for manys a year and I usually do a big flancy, grown up tree in the back room that is covered in stuff that I would imagine is dog poison. Still, there's enough on the mantle to insure no one can see I haven't dusted for a good while!

I know EXACTLY what you mean about thinking it is great japes to do something naughty for the hell of it. It's laundry in this house. Shadow feels that no one had looked at her in over five minutes and trails stuff off the clothes horse and belts off with it. Usually fleecey things, always with the fleece, that one.

meritaten

we have bought a new tree and Barney (Third Cat) seemed very, very, interested when we 'tried it out'! However it is going up and we will deal with whatever happens!

tiger_eyes

Your dogs are very energetic! Our old Cavalier just used to sleep in the tinsel beneath the tree...

Dunroamin

We've got 2 dogs and 7 cats so just go with the flow.

krlyr

We raise our tree up so it's not brushed against and knocked over. Last 2 years it was on a coffee table, tucked in a corner - this year it's on a TV stand which is a bit higher (we've had to leave the star off the top as it was too tall with it on!).

The one issue we did have is with the presents underneath it. We tend to add a small box of choccies/sweets to everyone's gifts so obviously can't leave these in doggy reach. I solved the issue last year by wrapping some fake pressies for under the tree, whilst leaving the real ones safely upstairs! I kept the fake ones so they're under the tree again this year too.

lee111s

I planned on getting a 7ft real tree however having just bought a second puppy (Lenny is 9 months now, Sid 11 weeks!) I thought better of it. Lenny would have been fine but I'd turn my back on Sid and the tree would be on top of him Imm sure!

So this is my compromise. I'm quite lucky I guess to have such a deep bay windowsil...it's a real one too so still has that lovely smell

balletshoes

i discovered with my previous cat that if I put the christmas tree on top of our glass coffee table he wasn't so able to climb up it at regular intervals (ie very single night and day).

so i will be putting up the tree, on the coffee table, tomorrow, and will see how current kitt does with it .

MrsAtobe

I wouldn't risk a real tree with the moose, but he's so far just sniffed at the one we've put up. He's only allowed in the lounge under human supervision, though.

Angelicdevil

I got a 7ft real tree that's been up for a week...... No issues with it coming down as I got a very wide base for it but the bottom section (about a foot high) has no decorations on it any more.

Cheeky monkeys

ali-t

No lights on the tree incase big boy cocks his leg up it - the lure of something tree shaped could prove to be too much