koalathebear Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) A little early I know, but the topic came up so I thought I'd post. This year, because of my father's illness, my OH won't be going back to Canada to spend time with his family at Christmas like he normally would. To try to make up for the undoubted lack of festivity, we're thinking of getting a Christmas tree this year (I normally don't bother). As a Canadian, he only likes the 'real' trees and the plastic trees are an abomination. Does anyone else here get a 'real' tree and if so, how does real tree fare with doggies? Is it dangerous? We'd try to keep them away from it but any stories/photos? And for Canberran DOLers – where does one get a good 'real' tree? ETA: Doggies wouldn't be left alone with the tree as they're never inside unsupervised. Edited November 16, 2010 by koalathebear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leighw Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 The RSPCA sells real Xmas trees each year. I'm not sure if they're safe for dogs, but I don't think they would sell them if they weren't. Scouts usually sell them too. Just be warned they make a hell of a mess and vaccuuming up the pine needles is a complete pain in the a. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) We have always had a real tree every year. We just moved it to a room that could be closed off when we weren't around to supervise. Also made sure all the more valuable ornaments were located up higher when they were pups and we lost a few cheaper ones that got pinched off the lower branches. ETA A few photos Edited November 16, 2010 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claireybell Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 I'd love to have a tree! My two little treasures destroyed my tree two years ago and I haven't had one since Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Kelpies Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 I have a real Christmas tree although it's a small one. I keep it outside for most of the year and then bring it inside mid December and then put it out again after the twelfth day after Christmas. I keep it in the shade for a while to let it get used to being outside and it has survived for a few years now. When it gets too big for me to carry I'll plant it in the garden and buy another small one. I have heard of male dogs who think it's OK to lift their legs on Christmas trees. I suppose you can't blame them it's what boy dogs do to trees. With such young dogs as yours it could be worth putting up a baby play pen around the tree to make sure they are not tempted to steal any of the toys hanging there. I've never had a problem with any of my dogs touching the tree but just to be safe I only have soft or plastic decorations definitely no glass balls. The colours are a bit weird in the second photo I really don't have hot pink curtains but you can see how the tree has grown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiskedaway Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 Our (fake) Christmas tree went up on Saturday and my worry was Akira breaking/stealing the decorations and presents. So far she's raced underneath it and made a heck of a racket, but she doesn't seem interested in it other than that. Cousins always have a real tree and they've never had a problem with their Cocker Spaniel and it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KumaAkita Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 Ness & 4Kelpies - they are awesome photos! I was thinking about this the other day... mainly in the context of "how the hell did it become Christmas again..." We have a fake tree, it will probably go up (I do it on the 1st weekend in December) and we'll see how Kuma goes. He's probably going to be interested in it, so we'll just have to make sure that we supervise at all times. @ the idea of dog pee'ing on it. eeeeewwww... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniek Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 We have a real tree each year - in the corner near the front window. Our dogs have inside acess all through - I just make sure the cord from the lights goes to the wall "high up", as our Phoebe likes to trance under the tree and I don't want her getting tangled in the cord! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) If I were to have a real tree it would need to be fenced off. At least one of my boys would be thrilled that a tree was inside to mark. I have a little fake tree up high. RSPCA sell cut off pine trees. If you want the real deal, you can drive out to Gundaroo and get a properly shaped one. Linky to Christmas tree place here. Edited November 16, 2010 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noisymina Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 It's not the tree that is the problem. It's the presents one puts underneath it. :D I thought ours was safe in another room, but someone left a door open. 6am Xmas morning, I gaze bleary eyed out of the kitchen window ---- and wonder what all the flaky things are out on the grass. Our Weimaraner had acccessed the tree, snffed out the After Dinner Mints, stolen a pack, taken it outside, unwrapped the Xmas paper, taken off the cellophane, Taken them out of the box, one by one, taken each one out of it's little brown envelope and consumed them - one by one. When I got out there, she was exiting the room with her second pack. At that stage, I did not know that chocolate was poisonous to dogs. Fortunately, she did not suffer any obvious side effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfie02 Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 I have no experience with real chrissy trees, but make sure you put your good decos up high as we have lost some over the years when the boys decided it would be fun to play chasey games and grab a new oniment off the tree each time they passed it And our dogs dont even think about peeing on our tree....but the cat did once :D All the presents needed to be re-wrapped after this, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KumaAkita Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) And our dogs dont even think about peeing on our tree....but the cat did once All the presents needed to be re-wrapped after this, lol. eeeewwwww! :D I feel for Mr Koala - it would be hard to give up a White Christmas and all that it entails. One of the girls at my work is from New York - she's getting a snow machine. It's going to be STINKING hot in Canberra, but she's determined! (maybe I can arrange for Mr Koala to have a White Christmas after all! ) Edited November 16, 2010 by KumaAkita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 Don't do Christmas trees anymore, but always had a real one and no dog ever died. Used to have christmas trees growing wild on our property - again no dog came to any harm chewing them up, ripping off the needles, running around with ten foot branches in their gobs (that one hurt US a lot ) Wouldn't worry about it myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiesha09 Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 My parents have had a real tree all my life and none of the dogs were done any harm by it. I now have a fake tree and my problem is the decorations. Always end up with the top half decorated and the bottom half undecorated. Between the dogs and my little nieces they LOVE pulling everything off that is reachable. Then my niece would often decorate it with 'toast' so the dog would try to pull the branches off to get the toast. Then there are the presents! No harm ever seems to come to them but they ALWAYS get hidden. In the bathroom, under the bed, in the back yard, under the couch etc. I wish I could get into his little brain to find out why Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydoo Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 I would have thought a real tree would be potentially less dangerous than a fake (or maybe I'm just used to Billie chewing on sticks and plants but still not keen on her eating plastic. Obviously both could cause a problem). I have been considering our decorations for this year. Tree will go in front entranceway so dog has limited access but just in case...no glass, all large decorations to reduce choking hazard, no tinsel/beads/string decorations, probably no lights, wooden or solid plastic decorations where possible just in case she gets a hold of them.... Ok maybe this is just a great excuse to buy all new decorations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted November 16, 2010 Author Share Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) Thanks for the comments all. ness: beautiful photos and beautiful dogs! PF - I think we'll definitely be driving out to Gundaroo to get a real tree. Thanks for the link, it's very helpful! KumaAkita - I also feel sorry for OH :D It's hard to give up a traditional Northern Hemisphere Christmas for what's likely to be a somewhat miserable holiday season for the reasons you well know. Ah well. 4 kelpies: I love those photos - although you appear to own a rare white Snow Kelpie in that second photo! They all look so expectant. Waiting for prezzies? Edited November 16, 2010 by koalathebear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k9angel Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 I usually have a real tree and I have several dogs. Never had any issues. I prefer the real ones too. I grew up with a real tree every year and have continued the tradition, with the exception of last year. I so can't wait til they're out this year. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tez Posted November 16, 2010 Share Posted November 16, 2010 Hmm...Xmas tree + Jane + Gus= DISASTER :D It would have to be surrounded by 6 inch safety glass and I still wouldn't trust em! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 OK, so it seems that my fears were misplaced. Hoover and Elbie are totally fine around a real Christmas tree. We followed poodlefan's advice and got a tree from the Christmas Tree Farm in Gundaroo. OH picked a six foot tall tree ... Elbie barked at the tree when it first arrived but other than that, the two now just play near it but don't try to eat it, knock it over or wee on it. We had some fun around the tree last night. This is Hoover's favourite spot under the tree (right next to his presents!) The dogs are also leaving the presents alone even though there's an edible rawhide Christmas doggie Christmas card in one and a bunch of dog treats in some of the others. Hoover and Antlers Hoover and hat Elbie and hat Doggies Beneath the tree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Looks like a beautifully shaped tree KTB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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