We got in the habit of putting the family Christmas tree in a playpen when my parents had Gracie, the Great Dane. At her height, her tail could clear most of the ornaments off the tree in one happy moment - and we swore there was no connection between her brain and her tail. It was easier to put the tree in a playpen, that kept the ornaments safe from a certain tail, AND from the younger visiting grandchildren as well.

We stopped, however, putting candy canes on the tree during Gracie's 14-year reign - she LOVED candy canes. That was the only time she would drool, is if one dared eat a candy cane in her presence. Silly girl!