I think that I shall never see...
      
       Dogs have a longstanding, often three legged, relationship with trees. Long before our ancestors brought our pets' ancestors in from the cold to share our homes and hearths, dogs were probably quite fond of forests. Trees tend to be full of tasty treats like squirrels and birds, and make wonderful social bulletin boards. I'm sure it is with great interest each holiday season our pets observe us dragging a delectable smelling (but as yet hopefully unmarked) evergreen in the door, through the house and wrestling it into place in the giant water bowl we call a "stand."
       Domestic cats, I must mention, have their own deep rooted (and often clawed) tradition with trees. The canine sport of treeing a cat is sometimes an indoor activity during the holiday season. I can appreciate problems resulting from pets' appreciation for a newly forested family room. The first year I was an official adult with my own home and my own Christmas tree, our frisky little cat named Spikey brought it crashing down three times in one night. I do believe he was assisted by our dog Katie, who may have helped inspire Spikey to climb higher. But I can tell you, when a tree falls in the family room, especially on top of a dog, you can hear it! Luckily, I never use glass ornaments, and no pets were hurt. But the salt and flour dough ornaments I'd made, ironically shaped and painted to look like my animal friends, turned out to be quite tasty to those they were modeled after.
These days my pets are more reserved in their enthusiasm for the temporary indoor wooded area, due to mildly aversive “training” that applies to both cats and dogs: I attach a few “penny bottles” to the lower with branches before it is brought in, and while the rattle these temporary decorations make isn’t terrifying, it is enough to cause pets to keep a careful distance. During kitten and puppyhood I’ve been known to tie a pull string to a bottle balanced in the branches, and to spy from a distance; when a curious critter gets too close I use my pull string to cause the harmless device to rattle and fall, inspiring avoidance without fear.

Over the years I’ve heard many stories from clients whose pets have gone on a holiday rampage in reaction to the Christmas tree and the opportunities it offers. I once received a call on Christmas Eve, at 11:00 at night, from a hysterical woman who informed me her dog had urinated on the tree and gifts beneath; asking what she should do I calmly suggested “unplug it.” Actually, I think the dog was just signing the gifts, but people tend to react badly to this form of canine communication. Another Christmas tree related complaint is the pet penchant for opening presents before Christmas. Again, language arts skills seem to fail to crossover correctly; in addition to writing badly, dogs seem unable to read, and open gifts intended for everyone, not just themselves.
All joking aside, pets can get hurt, or accidentally hurt feelings and destroy valuable possessions, when they get too focused upon the wrong tree. In order to reduce mishap without losing the holiday spirit, pet owners need to take some simple preventative steps:

*plug  wiring into an approved circuit-breaking power strip or a grounded (three pronged) wall socket.

* keep the lights unplugged when you are not at home, or are asleep, and keep the unplugged cord tightly wrapped around the trunk or hidden in the tree’s branches; tape exposed electrical cords to walls or floor to prevent chewing and tripping.

*keep the tree in a room with doors or a gate, or else confine pets when unable to supervise.

*use a sturdy stand, and securely mount the tree, at the top or to a wall, using wire and screw eyes

* use non toxic tree preservatives or plain water in stand, and use a tight tree skirt sprayed with a deterrent such as Bitter Apple spray to discourage pets from drinking from it.

*use unbreakable, non-toxic ornaments, hung high on the tree; avoid using edible decorations.

*tinsel and angel hair can cause irritation to eyes, skin, digestive tract; don’t use them at all.

*replace metal hooks for hanging ornaments with tightly knotted string or fabric ties.

*gift bows, ribbons and foil wraps can cause internal injuries if swallowed; keep wrapped gifts in a closet or out of reach until Christmas. Packages containing food can be especially interesting!

*Pine needles can be mildly toxic to dogs if ingested, and can get lodged in a pets mouth, throat or digestive tract; keep them vacuumed up.

*Put away toys and gifts after they are opened, rather than leaving them under the tree.

*Provide pets with a few early presents, such as interesting toys and bones, to distract away from the exciting presence of the tree.

Happy holidays!