Does your dog try to eat your Christmas tree?

cassadee7 · 12-13-2011, 07:09 PM

So, this is Saber's first Christmas with us and today we got our Christmas tree. It is a nice big fir tree, fresh cut. She was in her crate watching us get it in the tree stand. She was so excited when I let her out to check it out... and then she ran right over and started EATING the Christmas tree! I mean, not just a nibble but munching away! I called her away and told her to leave it, but it must be super tasty because when I go out of the room or am not looking, she tries to go back over and eat more branches. Seriously, no one told me this was a possibility! I knew she had food drive and eats just about anything, but a tree? She is like a deer trying to graze on it. I don't know how this is going to go, especially once we put ornaments on it! I think it is going to be a loooong few weeks. We will be spending winter break working on "leave it!"

Does your dog try to eat your tree or ornaments? Or do they ignore it?

**gsdraven** · 12-13-2011, 07:16 PM

I am not doing a tree this year... 3 dogs and 2 crates in the living room = no place for tree!

But yes, in previous years, my dogs have thought that I brought in sticks to just keep in the house for when they wanted to play with them. Pretty sure the bottom of my tree was bare by the time I took it down.

I've heard of people setting up ex-pens around their tree to keep the dogs away from branches, ornaments and presents.

onyx'girl · 12-13-2011, 07:18 PM

I think you need to change Sabers diet! Silly food driven pup!
My dogs ignore the tree....I was concerned the first year that Karlo would mark on it. Their wagging tails do a bit of damage/re-arrangement on the lower branches/ornaments so I don't have any too low.

wolfstraum · 12-13-2011, 07:20 PM

Komet v Wolfstraum visiting his sister Kyra's home....he was fascinated with the tree and really was after it!

Hopefully his new family is forewarned !!

Lee

Twyla · 12-13-2011, 07:39 PM

What we have done with Christmas trees is set up the small/short white picket fence type landscaping border around it. It's worked in all the years past with the dogs. Last year Woolf could only look through the fencing

so it worked, this year.... it will be an adventure. We'll know come this weekend

IllinoisGSD · 12-13-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfstraum

Komet v Wolfstraum visiting his sister Kyra's home....he was fascinated with the tree and really was after it!

Hopefully his new family is forewarned !!

Lee

DanielleOttoMom · 12-13-2011, 08:39 PM

Nope no issues here.... They are 1.5 and 3 years old though. They sniffed it and that was about it. They only thing is with the tree is their tails hitting it. When they get to close and wag their tails bulbs fly off! Lol I'm lucky they don't try and pick them up. :-) I suggest a fence and start working on the "leave it" command.

Germanshepherdlova · 12-13-2011, 09:22 PM

My dogs who are both 2 years old do not try to eat the tree or destroy the ornaments. If they knock an ornament off accidentally when running by the tree they will look all sheepish about it-like ooopps, sorry about that! We get a fresh tree and when we first bring it in they smell it and watch intently as we put the lights and decorations up but after that they don't pay any attention to it.

marielrowland · 12-13-2011, 09:36 PM

My 13 month old Gertie hasn't tried that yet but she doesn't get alone time in the house out of the crate but I'm sure she would go crazy cause she loves sticks. I am bummed about not feeling secure to place my lovely wrapped presents under the tree. I know she wouldn't be able to resist.

Klamari · 12-13-2011, 09:38 PM

I have a fake tree so mine probably doesn't taste (or smell) as good as yours

Rayne really hasn't taken much interest in the tree itself, but the ribbons we have wrapped around it this year.....the first time she investigated it she grabbed onto the end of the ribbon and pulled. The tree spun as she kept pulling the ribbon off, she almost knocked the whole thing over. Thankfully, we didn't have ornaments on it at that time. She seems to have lost interst since then though.

12-13-2011, 07:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
cassadee7 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Posts: 1,254	Does your dog try to eat your Christmas tree? So, this is Saber's first Christmas with us and today we got our Christmas tree. It is a nice big fir tree, fresh cut. She was in her crate watching us get it in the tree stand. She was so excited when I let her out to check it out... and then she ran right over and started EATING the Christmas tree! I mean, not just a nibble but munching away! I called her away and told her to leave it, but it must be super tasty because when I go out of the room or am not looking, she tries to go back over and eat more branches. Seriously, no one told me this was a possibility! I knew she had food drive and eats just about anything, but a tree? She is like a deer trying to graze on it. I don't know how this is going to go, especially once we put ornaments on it! I think it is going to be a loooong few weeks. We will be spending winter break working on "leave it!" Does your dog try to eat your tree or ornaments? Or do they ignore it? __________________ Shawn Mom to five kids and Speedy the Wonderdog, (toy poodle/pom mix), 13 years old "Saber" Jette vom Wildhaus CGC 11/09/10

12-13-2011, 07:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
gsdraven Moderator Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mont Co, PA Posts: 4,627	I am not doing a tree this year... 3 dogs and 2 crates in the living room = no place for tree! But yes, in previous years, my dogs have thought that I brought in sticks to just keep in the house for when they wanted to play with them. Pretty sure the bottom of my tree was bare by the time I took it down. I've heard of people setting up ex-pens around their tree to keep the dogs away from branches, ornaments and presents. __________________ Jamie Raven (GSD) - December 8, 2007 Kaiser (GSD) - November 2009 Lead The Way Life's Abundance

12-13-2011, 07:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	I think you need to change Sabers diet! Silly food driven pup! My dogs ignore the tree....I was concerned the first year that Karlo would mark on it. Their wagging tails do a bit of damage/re-arrangement on the lower branches/ornaments so I don't have any too low. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

12-13-2011, 07:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
wolfstraum Crowned Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: PA Posts: 7,089	Komet v Wolfstraum visiting his sister Kyra's home....he was fascinated with the tree and really was after it! Hopefully his new family is forewarned !! Lee __________________ Csabre Sch1, Hexe Sch2, Bengal, Kyra, Kira & Kougar v Wolfstraum ~ Basha Sch3, Ghost Sch3 - Danger Sch1 SAR - ATB/Ret - Kyra, Sch3, Alice Sch1, Kelsey, Fenja Sch3 wolfstraum.net

12-13-2011, 08:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
DanielleOttoMom Elite Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,954	Nope no issues here.... They are 1.5 and 3 years old though. They sniffed it and that was about it. They only thing is with the tree is their tails hitting it. When they get to close and wag their tails bulbs fly off! Lol I'm lucky they don't try and pick them up. :-) I suggest a fence and start working on the "leave it" command. __________________ Otto Blk GSD 02/23/10 Circe Blk Sable GSD 06/22/08 My fur babies!!

12-13-2011, 07:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Twyla Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 498	What we have done with Christmas trees is set up the small/short white picket fence type landscaping border around it. It's worked in all the years past with the dogs. Last year Woolf could only look through the fencing so it worked, this year.... it will be an adventure. We'll know come this weekend

12-13-2011, 09:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
Germanshepherdlova Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: USA Posts: 2,935	My dogs who are both 2 years old do not try to eat the tree or destroy the ornaments. If they knock an ornament off accidentally when running by the tree they will look all sheepish about it-like ooopps, sorry about that! We get a fresh tree and when we first bring it in they smell it and watch intently as we put the lights and decorations up but after that they don't pay any attention to it. __________________ You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Germa...96574693743892

12-13-2011, 09:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
marielrowland Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 78	My 13 month old Gertie hasn't tried that yet but she doesn't get alone time in the house out of the crate but I'm sure she would go crazy cause she loves sticks. I am bummed about not feeling secure to place my lovely wrapped presents under the tree. I know she wouldn't be able to resist.

12-13-2011, 09:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
Klamari Master Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South TEXAS Posts: 596	I have a fake tree so mine probably doesn't taste (or smell) as good as yours Rayne really hasn't taken much interest in the tree itself, but the ribbons we have wrapped around it this year.....the first time she investigated it she grabbed onto the end of the ribbon and pulled. The tree spun as she kept pulling the ribbon off, she almost knocked the whole thing over. Thankfully, we didn't have ornaments on it at that time. She seems to have lost interst since then though. __________________ ~ Cayla 'Rayne' Karma v. Wildhaus (2/2011)

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