A beautifully decorated Christmas tree can transform your living room into a miniature winter wonderland. The twinkling lights, decorations and scent of pine make everything feel enchanted with holiday spirit.
Unless, of course, you share your home with a curious dog who sees your magical masterpiece as a climbing tower… a snack buffet… or, in some tragic cases, a brand-new bathroom spot.
Luckily, dog parents don’t have to choose between Christmas magic and pet safety. With a bit of clever planning, thoughtful styling, and a few dog-savvy hacks, you can enjoy a festive home that stays gorgeous and keeps your pup safe and out of trouble.
Here’s your full guide to a dog-proof, design-forward Christmas tree set-up:
🎄 1. Real vs. Artificial: Pick the Tree That Fits Your Dog Household
Before we can do anything to protect our dogs from our tree and our tree from our dogs, we need to pick a tree first. Both artificial and real trees can work beautifully, you just need to know what to watch out for.
Real Trees
Pros: magical scent, natural beauty
Cons: shedding needles, tempting water, sap
If you go real, choose:
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Soft-needle trees like fir, pine or spruce
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A medium-sized tree that’s easier to stabilize
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A tree collar or skirt to hide the water base
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Frequent vacuuming to avoid nibbling on fallen needles
Artificial Trees
Pros: predictable shape, no shedding, easier cleanup
Cons: cheap materials can shed plastic pieces
Look for:
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Non-toxic materials
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A wide, heavy base
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Branches that don’t flake or glitter off
Low-Contact Alternatives
If your dog is very tree-obsessed:
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Wall-mounted trees
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Tabletop trees
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Slim corner trees
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Minimal Scandinavian branch “trees”
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Shelf trees
They’re festive, modern, and safely above nose level.
🎄 2. The “Bare Tree” Method
Now that you have chosen a tree, let’s get started on what to do next. The bare tree method is one of the easiest and most effective dog-proofing hacks. But no worries, you don’t have to leave it bare forever. When you first put up your tree, leave it undecorated for the first 24-48 hours. This gives your dog time to sniff it, walk around it, and investigate. This works because the first 48 hours are the ‘what is this magical forest?’ phase for your dog. Leaving your tree bare during this time allows your dog to get acquainted with your tree, and have it lose its novelty once you put your decorations up.
Just to be clear, during this adjustment period:
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No ornaments
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No lights
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No tinsel
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No presents
Just the tree, the stand, and ideally a base cover.
Once the excitement dies down, you can decorate with far fewer worries.
🎄 3. Make Sure Your Tree Has a Stable, Dog-Proof Base
A safer tree starts at the bottom. This is not just important for dogs, but also in case you have small children, or have any children around during the holidays.
Choose a Sturdy Stand
Look for:
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Steel or iron bases
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Wide tripod stabilizers
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Anti-slip pads underneath
This prevents wobbling, and wobbling is what triggers curiosity (and accidents).
Cover Tree Water Completely
Real tree water can contain sap, bacteria, or preservatives.
Keep it fully hidden with:
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A woven tree collar
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A fitted basket base
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A deep fabric tree skirt
It looks clean and prevents “mystery water taste-tests.”
Use a Decorative Barrier
Functional and aesthetic:
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Large neutral baskets around the base
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Soft fabric boxes
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A minimalist baby gate
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An acrylic panel that’s nearly invisible
This gently signals to your dog that the tree isn’t meant for exploring.
🎄 4. Dog-Safe Decorating: Ornaments, Lights & Styling Tricks
Now that your tree has spent a little time “in the nude” and your pup has satisfied their curiosity, it’s finally time to dress it up in glimmer, glow, and holiday charm. Just keep a few things in mind as you bring the magic to life
Ornaments
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Use shatterproof ornaments on the lower branches. They can survive curious noses and accidental tail wags.
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Save the delicate, sentimental pieces for higher up, where they can twinkle in peace.
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Avoid ornaments that look (or smell!) like snacks, dogs don’t always understand the difference between a cookie ornament and a real cookie.
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Skip the tinsel entirely. It may sparkle beautifully, but it’s far too tempting and dangerous if swallowed.
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Keep the bottom 20–30 cm intentionally minimal, like a clean visual border your pup won’t find very exciting.
Soft textures, matte finishes, and neutral tones help keep the lower branches pretty without becoming an irresistible treasure hunt for your dog.
Pelsbarn tip: I am a big fan of big, velvet bows as decoration, their neutral, matte textures help reduce visual temptation and they are timelessly elegant. You can start interweaving baubles slowly as you go up the tree for an aesthetically pleasing gradient effect. Maybe add a beautiful bow on the top of your tree, at the base of your peak or angel as well. You can buy them in store, or make them yourself as a cosy indoor christmas activity.
Lights & Cables
Lights are the heartbeat of any christmas tree. The soft, cozy glow makes everything feel magical. But for dogs, they can look like tug toys, chew toys, or very interesting moving objects.
Keep them safe by:
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Wrapping lights snugly around the branches, so nothing dangles invitingly.
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Running cables behind furniture (out of sight = out of mind).
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Using cord protectors that turn tempting wires into boring tubes.
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Choosing LED lights, which stay cool and are much safer if your dog gets a little nosey.
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Elevating plug points if possible, so nothing sits at nose level.
Puppies especially see cables as “seasonal spaghetti”... better not let them taste-test.
🎄 5. Gift Wrapping: Fabric vs. Paper
A surprising safety upgrade:
Fabric wrapping (furoshiki-style) is safer than traditional wrapping paper.
Why?
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Harder to shred and swallow
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No shiny coatings or glitters
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No crinkly sounds that excite dogs
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Reusable + aesthetic + sustainable
If you prefer classic wrapping paper, keep gifts on a shelf or wait until Christmas morning to place them under the tree.
Pelsbarn-tip: If you have DIY’d your own Christmas tree bows, they look gorgeous on fabric wrapped gifts as well.
🎄 6. Manage Access to the Tree (Realistically)
Every dog is different, so choose what works for your home:
Every dog has their own way of embodying the Christmas spirit: Some are curious explorers, some are zoomie-powered snowflakes and some are sweet angels… until the tree appears.
So choose whatever makes your home feel calm, safe, and still beautifully festive.
Baby Gates & Pet Gates
Think of these as the soft “Do Not Disturb” signs of the holiday season.
They’re perfect for:
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Puppies who think the tree was delivered specifically for them
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High-energy pups who operate at one speed (fast)
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Moments when you’re not right there to supervise
Opt for neutral colors like soft beige or warm wood so the gate blends in like a quiet background character.
Exercise Pens Around the Tree
For larger dogs (or homes with big, open spaces), an exercise pen can act like a little enchanted fence around your winter wonderland.
Choose a minimalist design so it fades into your décor, allowing your tree to shine without feeling like it’s being kept in a castle tower.
Short, Calm Crate Time
Sometimes the holiday energy gets a bit too much for comfort.
Guests arriving, cooking, wrapping gifts… It’s a lot. For both you and for your dog.
In those moments, having a cozy crate with a comfortable bed that creates a calm nap spot (rather than a timeout) can be a game changer.
It’s ideal when:
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Visitors are stepping through the door
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You’re out of the room briefly
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The whole house is buzzing with festive chaos
A few peaceful minutes can keep your dog safe, settled, and far away from ornament-temptation.
🎄 7. Train Your Dog Around the Tree
Training won’t eliminate curiosity completely, but it helps a lot.
Use:
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“Leave it” for ornaments and branches
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“Place” to guide them to their bed
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Lots of positive reinforcement
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Treats + praise for ignoring the tree
Gentle, pet-safe scent deterrents like citrus can also help, but use them sparingly.
Supervision is still essential, no matter how well-trained your dog is.
Final Thoughts
With a little planning and a touch of clever styling, your tree can shimmer, sparkle, and glow just the way you imagined… all while staying happily out of trouble’s way. Your dog gets to stay curious and joyful. Your tree gets to stay standing and stunning. And you get a holiday season that feels peaceful, cozy, and wonderfully bright.
Happy holidays!
Warmly,
Elle from team Pelsbarn.
