As the festive season approaches, a dog trainer has revealed her foolproof method for keeping inquisitive pups away from Christmas trees, as it could lead to serious consequences.
With Christmas just around the corner, many households are preparing to decorate their homes with Christmas trees. However, this can prove to be a challenge for pet owners, as animals often become curious about the new addition to the home decor.
But fear not, one savvy dog expert has shared her tried-and-tested method for training dogs to steer clear of Christmas trees.
The dog trainer, who goes by the username ‘trainuppupofficial’ on TikTok, regularly shares her dog training tips and tricks with fellow dog owners. She recently posted a video demonstrating how to make pups lose interest in Christmas trees using just a handful of treats.
“How to train your dog not to destroy your Christmas tree,” she began her video.
She acknowledged that some dog owners might believe it’s an impossible task to have a Christmas tree when there’s a mischievous pup in the house.
“But actually, it’s quite easy to train them to ignore a tree,” she reassured viewers, before explaining the process.
She advised grabbing a handful of treats and tossing one towards the Christmas tree, allowing your dog to run up and eat it.
Once the dog has consumed it and lifts their head from the ground, she advised dropping treats around your feet and engaging with your dog away from the tree.
“Very quickly, your pup will realise there’s way more value in ignoring the tree and doing stuff with you, than interacting with it,” she explained.
Numerous people rushed to the comment section to share their views, whilst some also seized the opportunity to ask further questions about keeping dogs away from Christmas trees.
Some viewers grumbled, stating their dogs only approached the tree when their owners were out. For this widespread issue, the dog trainer advised: “You will have to block access to it when you are not around until they have learnt not to, either shut them in a different room, use a crate or put something around the tree so they can’t get it.”
Other ways to keep dog away from Christmas tree
According to Christmas Tree World, there are numerous things you can do to keep your dog away from your Christmas tree. The first suggestion is to wait several days after erecting your tree before decorating it, as this will enable the dog to become accustomed to having the tree present, and they will most likely have lost interest by the time you begin decorating.
When it comes to decorating, they also suggest placing more delicate decorations higher up in the tree and beyond reach of your dog, including the fairy lights and tinsel. If your dog still shows interest in the tree, experts also recommend spraying a dog repellent around the lower branches.
These sprays are safe for pets, but they have an unpleasant taste and smell for dogs, which will deter them.