Thinking about Christmas trees already... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

kval07 · 11-01-2009, 04:25 PM

and how to keep the dogs away.

Last year, I just had Chester. He didn't really bother the ornaments, but when taking down my tree, I saw he used my beautiful tree skirt as a pee pad a few times.

We got Roscoe, a chihuahua/pomeranian/rat terrier mix back in June. He is still a puppy and VERY energetic. He is doing okay with potty training. We still have accidents if DF doesn't take him out while I'm at work. And he isn't very good at telling us when he has to go.

I have always had a real Christmas tree (Frazier firs only!) and I just know Roscoe is going to try to potty on it. My other concern is him going for the ornaments. I already plan on getting the tree and leaving it up for a week or so with no decorations on it so I can train him to leave it alone.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Sometimes these two little buggers run around my townhouse like wild banshees. It has taken me years to acquire my ornaments, and they were not cheap by any means. I want to be able to put up a Christmas tree but I want to minimize any damage as much as possible by preventing it.

What can I do to keep my boys away from the tree, short of blocking it off with a gate? They are jumpers, so that won't work.

kval07 · 11-01-2009, 04:32 PM

PS: Here's a picture of Roscoe, my little devil dog. He can find trouble where there is none.

Catie_and_Luna · 11-01-2009, 05:20 PM

Well if you are home, I just taught Luna the words "Off" and "Leave it" and she minds immediately. Maybe just do some training like that? If you leave them loose while your away from home that could be big trouble so you might want to put them in a pen or crate or bathroom or something.
Hope more people come to help!

yorkiemamma09 · 11-01-2009, 05:27 PM

Yes, I agree. Tell them "Off", while your at ework you can put one of those super gates around it. Good Luck.

kat618 · 11-01-2009, 05:30 PM

Well I hate to admit it, but I think I am going to for the first time in my life only put up a 2 1/2 or 3 foot tree on my console table.....I know pathetic! But it is total craziness here when Cooper and my Frazier (my bichon) start chasing each other, it gets knocked over at list once in the last 2 years since we have had Cooper.....and this year with Baby Chloe I just think I will decorate everything else and use a small tree I just dont want to worry about her getting an ornament hook in her mouth, or a glass ornament fall off and her chew it and get hurt or biting the electric cords from the wire.

kval07 · 11-01-2009, 06:33 PM

Without a doubt Roscoe goes in his cage whenever they are home alone. I don't trust him. He just really needs to be occupied at ALL times or else he finds something to do that he shouldn't be doing. Chester I'm not too concerned about. He won't go nuts if he is the only one out. He never goes in the cage.

KimberlySRN · 11-01-2009, 07:43 PM

I was just thinking the same thing.

Lace is just fine, but the puppies can run around a little crazy... I was thinking of getting a little foot high pen to put around it, just so they don't run into the bottom. We only let them out in the livingroom when we are home, so I think this will work.

11-01-2009, 04:25 PM	#1
kval07 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lansing, MI, USA Posts: 169	Thinking about Christmas trees already... and how to keep the dogs away. Last year, I just had Chester. He didn't really bother the ornaments, but when taking down my tree, I saw he used my beautiful tree skirt as a pee pad a few times. We got Roscoe, a chihuahua/pomeranian/rat terrier mix back in June. He is still a puppy and VERY energetic. He is doing okay with potty training. We still have accidents if DF doesn't take him out while I'm at work. And he isn't very good at telling us when he has to go. I have always had a real Christmas tree (Frazier firs only!) and I just know Roscoe is going to try to potty on it. My other concern is him going for the ornaments. I already plan on getting the tree and leaving it up for a week or so with no decorations on it so I can train him to leave it alone. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Sometimes these two little buggers run around my townhouse like wild banshees. It has taken me years to acquire my ornaments, and they were not cheap by any means. I want to be able to put up a Christmas tree but I want to minimize any damage as much as possible by preventing it. What can I do to keep my boys away from the tree, short of blocking it off with a gate? They are jumpers, so that won't work. __________________ We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot

11-01-2009, 04:32 PM	#2
kval07 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lansing, MI, USA Posts: 169	PS: Here's a picture of Roscoe, my little devil dog. He can find trouble where there is none. Attached Thumbnails __________________ We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot

11-01-2009, 05:20 PM	#3
Catie_and_Luna YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 317	Well if you are home, I just taught Luna the words "Off" and "Leave it" and she minds immediately. Maybe just do some training like that? If you leave them loose while your away from home that could be big trouble so you might want to put them in a pen or crate or bathroom or something. Hope more people come to help! __________________ Catie~Luna "My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am."

11-01-2009, 05:30 PM	#5
kat618 YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 250	Well I hate to admit it, but I think I am going to for the first time in my life only put up a 2 1/2 or 3 foot tree on my console table.....I know pathetic! But it is total craziness here when Cooper and my Frazier (my bichon) start chasing each other, it gets knocked over at list once in the last 2 years since we have had Cooper.....and this year with Baby Chloe I just think I will decorate everything else and use a small tree I just dont want to worry about her getting an ornament hook in her mouth, or a glass ornament fall off and her chew it and get hurt or biting the electric cords from the wire. __________________ Mini Cooper & Chloe's mommy

11-01-2009, 06:33 PM	#6
kval07 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lansing, MI, USA Posts: 169	Without a doubt Roscoe goes in his cage whenever they are home alone. I don't trust him. He just really needs to be occupied at ALL times or else he finds something to do that he shouldn't be doing. Chester I'm not too concerned about. He won't go nuts if he is the only one out. He never goes in the cage. __________________ We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot

11-01-2009, 05:27 PM	#4
yorkiemamma09 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 30 Blog Entries: 2	Yes, I agree. Tell them "Off", while your at ework you can put one of those super gates around it. Good Luck.

11-01-2009, 07:43 PM	#7
KimberlySRN Twins=double the fun! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 2,981	I was just thinking the same thing. Lace is just fine, but the puppies can run around a little crazy... I was thinking of getting a little foot high pen to put around it, just so they don't run into the bottom. We only let them out in the livingroom when we are home, so I think this will work. __________________ Kim Anakin Bella Last edited by KimberlySRN; 11-01-2009 at 07:45 PM.