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.