Well this is going to be interesting. Anyone have any tricks or tips they could offer up to keep an 8 month old uninterested in the tree?

I was thinking I could try some Bitter Apple Spray, but not sure if that sort of thing is more effective on younger dogs?

You can just teach him boundaries like you would anywhere else.

Hang out with treats around the tree and touch it, interact with it, but be casual and calm. No big deal.   Any attention whatsoever to the tree from your dog gets a correction and a block, followed by a redirection to something appropriate.   Any attention towards you or deferment to you with eye contact gets a treat.

Repeat over and over again at all times. He'll get it .

If you work on the drive itself you'll get results but with increased bonding.  

Bitter apple may or may not work, but you wouldn't gain anything from using it.

Turn the training into a job. Create work for your husky and you'll be loved for it

I doubt you can make a husky uninterested in a tree but you can teach that interest in a tree is inappropriate.

I'm on my way out to Petsmart to get a gate so I can keep our 6 month old out of the tree. You might want to try that as well.

Oh I definitely plan on training and working with him on it, I just figured some folks around here might have some tips and tricks they may have used in the same situation

We've never had a problem in the past, but Denali is a total nutcase and I think he'd destroy the tree if given the chance.

Sweet.

Well, it's either a physical barrier or a training thing. Not sure there are other tricks really.

Last year was our first year with Mishka and the Christmas tree. He was more interested in me laying on the floor moving it to it's spot than the tree itself. I was terrified he'd try to destroy it but he pays it no mind, we do have an artificial one so I'm not sure if a real tree would be different.

Our is artificial as well, and I put him outside while I put the tree up, waiting for the family to get home before we do the ornaments but I was kinda thinking I might do the same then, just seems like he'd be less inclined to run off with one if he doesn't see them being put up lol

Haha. The ornament hanging game. How can an adolescent Husky refuse that one ??

None of my huskies were ever interested in the tree, in fact Malukhai used to just lay there and keep me company while I decorated it. I had a Malamute who opened some of the gifts once but really none of my dogs paid much attention to the tree except to get in my way sniffing it as I dragged it in the house, haha.

I'd just see how your husky reacts to it first, you may be surprised you were worried for nothing. As for any Christmas decoration though, just be careful whats in his reach that he may hurt himself on, like making sure the ornament hooks are all picked up and stuff.

We've used baby gates and used double-sided tape criscrossed around the area where the tree is.

As wild as our Siberian puppy is, she has not payed any attention to our tree, and it's real. The only thing she has tried to do is chase a toy behind it. It's more like a giant obstacle to her than anything. I've been really surprised at how well she has done with it.

I am now dropping back into my black hole, also known as finals. Trying to finish everything up this weekend. I've missed this place!

Welp, minimal incident so far. But he has taken down two ornaments, but I think he is understanding now that he can't play with that stuff. We shall see!

Whew! Glad to hear it! I forgot to say, plastic ornaments all the way! LOL!