10+ Pet Safety Tips for Decorating for the Holidays

Let’s be honest, there’s nothing cuter than taking photos of our dogs in front of the Christmas tree or other Christmas decorations around the house! Did you know that many Christmas decorations, plants and other commonly used holiday items actually aren’t safe for dogs or have better dog-safe options available?

In this post, we’ll be sharing 10+ helpful pet safety tips for decorating for the holidays to keep your Christmas tree, decorations and gifts safe and enjoyable all season long!

Christmas Tree Pet Safety Tips:

One of the most iconic and commonly used holiday decorations is a Christmas tree! Let’s find out how we can decorate our Christmas tree safely with our pets in mind:

1. Secure Your Christmas Tree: To prevent your tree from falling, secure it to your wall or ceiling with some fishing line! You can also utilize your furniture to put it in a corner where your pets can’t get to it.
2. Keep the Tree Area Clean: Make an effort to clean up the pine needles that may fall from your tree. When eaten, pine needles can irritate your dogs stomach. The best way to limit the amount of bristles from falling is to keep the tree well-watered.
3. Don’t Let Your Pets Drink the Water From the Tree: Did you know that many trees are treated with pesticides and fertilizers to help them last longer? Many households also put additives in the water to help preserve the tree throughout the season. All of these chemicals are very toxic to dogs and should not be ingested. The best way to prevent this is to invest in a Christmas tree stand cover to keep the water away from your pets!
4. Set Up Your Tree in a Room Away From Your Pets: By putting your tree in another room, you can prevent any unwanted visits to your tree. In addition to this, you can also utilize an indoor dog gate to block off the room or the entire tree in the room! Some great indoor dog gate options for this are:
   • Carlson Pet Products Extra-Wide Walk Through Pet Gate
   • Carlson Pet Products Retractable Pet Gate
   • Carlson Pet Products 120″ Super Wide Pet Gate
   • 2-in-1 Super Wide Pet Pen and Gate also available in plastic pet gate version)

Christmas Decorations Pet Safety Tips:​

Now let’s talk through some pet safety tips for decorating your Christmas tree and around your home!

1. Start with a Bare Tree: If you’re bringing in a real Christmas tree for the first time, before decorating, allow it to be in your home with your pet for a few days. This can prevent any extra messes that could be involved with decorations added.
2. Stay Away From Metal Hooks: Use twine, ribbon or yarn to hang up your Christmas ornaments. These are less likely to scratch up your pup or hurt them internally if they were to get ahold of an ornament.
3. Use Dog-Safe Decorations: Don’t use anything that looks like their favorite toys, for example plush ornaments and always pick plastic ornaments over glass. Below are a few additional decorations to always avoid:
   • Tinsel (can block your dog’s intestines if eaten)
   • Food (avoid popcorn, candy canes and gingerbread since sugar is toxic to dogs and to keep your dog less interested in the tree)
4. Hide All Electrical Cords: Tuck your electrical cords under your tree skirt and leave the bottom of your tree clear of lights. Dogs can get tangled in the wires and if they like to chew, could accidentally shock themselves.
5. Decorate Out of Your Dog’s Reach: If you have a more curious pet, don’t decorate at the bottom of the tree and if you choose to use any fragile ornaments, place them at the top.
6. Decorate Out of Your Dog’s Reach: Holly, Mistletoe and Poinsettias are toxic to dogs. The best option? Use artificial ones instead! Plus, you’ll save money since these holiday plants can cost a fortune depending on where you go!

Christmas Gifts Pet Safety Tips:

Last but not least, let’s talk about how to keep your Christmas gifts safe from your pets!

1. Save Your Presents for Christmas Morning: The last thing any pet owner needs is for their pet to eat one of the Christmas gifts and end up at the emergency vet on Christmas day! Keep your presents tucked away in a safe place and wait for Santa Paws to put them out first thing Christmas morning!
2. Never Put Any Food Under the Tree: To keep your dog away from your tree, avoid putting any food under your tree just like you avoided putting any on it. Nobody wants Fido to find Christmas chocolates saved for Aunt Karen, ha!

The holidays are such an enjoyable time for many, and with these helpful tips you can have the most fun howl-i-day season with your favorite furry friends! Share this post with a friend to help spread the word and if you have any questions at all, send us a message on Instagram @carlsonpetproducts! Happy Holidays!