The holiday season is an exciting time filled with family and friends, holiday traditions, and festive decorations. Whether it’s a fir, pine, cypress, or even an artificial tree, your Christmas tree is a centerpiece of holiday decorating.
Here are 10 Tips to Brittany-Proof Your Christmas Tree
Anchor Your Tree
Did you know that an excited tail bump, a curious nose, or even a pup pawing at an ornament could cause a tree to fall? Neither does your Brittany until it happens.
Trees should be mounted on a wide base stand and/or anchored to a wall to prevent falls that can result in serious injury to your Brittany, including wounds or broken bones.
Keep Tree Bare Until You’re Ready to Decorate
To a Brittany, a Christmas tree is a sudden and curious addition to the home. The smells, lights, and dangling ornaments are exciting and sometimes confusing for dogs if they are not used to changes in their environment.
It may take some time for them to get used to this new addition, so consider putting your tree in its stand but then waiting a few days before decorating, so your Brittany can adjust to the tree’s presence.
Supervised access between your Brittany and a Christmas tree to explore can also be allowed at each stage of decorating to increase your dog’s comfort with the changes. You may also consider keeping ornaments and lights off bottom branches to minimize the curiosity of a dangling ornament or shiny light.
Secure Electrical Cords
Electrical cords for the tree’s lights can be both a tripping and shock hazard to a curious dog. Secure the cords and, if possible, cover them (a tree skirt or cord protector works great) to prevent biting, chewing, and tripping.
Tripping on the cord can cause injury to your Brittany and damage to your tree and decorations. Chewing or biting a cord can also lead to shocks that can cause severe injuries to the mouth, heart and lungs of a dog, and can even be fatal.
No Food on Tree
What you hang on your tree will already be exciting to your pup, because these items are something new to investigate. Avoid hanging edible decorations that can be tempting to your dog such as popcorn strands, dough ornaments, macaroni art, or any other food products.
Remember, humans know Christmas tree decorations don’t make a good snack, but Brittanys will not.
Placement of Ornaments Is Key
When decorating your tree, place the most durable and least chewable ornaments down low where a curious nose or mouth may find them. This will be a high impact zone for excited wagging tails that can knock ornaments off the tree.
Hang your fragile and most important ornaments higher to reduce the risk of them being knocked down or chewed on. If you have a Brittany that is likely to get into the tree decorations, consider a tree without decorations or one with just lights as a still beautiful but safer option.
Skip Toxic Decorations
What do mistletoe, dough ornaments, and tinsel all have in common other than being decorative additions to your tree?
They can all cause toxic reactions if your Brittany eats them. Signs related to ingestion can include gastrointestinal upset, gastrointestinal blockage, abnormal heart rate, abnormal blood pressure, body tremors, and even seizures.
If your Brittany accidentally ingests one of these items, contact the Pet Poison Helpline® at 855-764-7661 for help.
Don’t Make Gifts Accessible
Most people love to see beautifully wrapped presents under the tree. Your Brittany may see these packages as a new toy and an opportunity to tear them open and discover what’s inside.
Unfortunately, presents often contain things that are toxic, such as chocolate or coffee, or can cause other health issues to your Brittany, especially if ingested. Consider placing your presents on an elevated area near the tree or even using a small fence or dog gate to prevent your dog from getting into gifts.
Use a Dog Gate
Sometimes the safest way to Brittany-proof a Christmas tree means keeping your dog away from the Christmas tree altogether.
Consider limiting unsupervised access to the tree with a dog gate which can serve as a Christmas tree fence for dogs, or by simply closing the door to the room the tree is in.
If these options aren’t feasible for your home, consider an indoor motion-activated security camera to alert you if your Brittany gets too close.
