Whatever Am I to do for a Christmas Tree and Dexter?

      Help! Usually by this time I have my Christmas tree up and decorated along with the house. What have I done so far this year? I have only a couple of boxes down. I'm afraid- very afraid- of what could occur when the tree goes up. Why you might ask? His name is Dexter- my son's adorable 32 pound puppy, absolutely the most adorable, cutest little terror you could ever set your eyes on. But...he can find the darnest things to get hold of. Yes, he's going to obedience school. It's not like he's bad. He's beginning to mind fairly well for his age. It's just he get into the biggest messes. It's like they call to him.
      We have the house set now for him, obviously, but if you leave anything within his reach and when I say his reach I mean anywhere he can get to it whether he has to climb or leap, he has it- even things you would never think he would want to play with. The other day I was watering my plants in my bay window. Dexter helps me you know especially anything that has to do with water. This morning I met my husband after work and dropped off one of our cars to get some work done to it, probably gone no more than twenty minutes from the house. Now adays, Dexter doesn't go into his crate when we leave for a short time now, but when I walked in- somehow the little darling had gotten hold of one of my plants. He had it strewn all over the family room. My husband couldn't even tell what he had gotten into because it was like someone had raked out loom for a yard readied to seed there was so much dirt lining my floor, rug and all! I knew immediately.
       So my question is how in the world am I going to have a Christmas tree! Do I put up a tree with out ornaments? I know well when the lights go on it will be as a beacon calling him. He will respond. I have dreams he is going to lunge at the tree. Everything is a play toy to him. One of my friends suggested treat him as a small child and put the ornaments high out of his reach.
       Well- the problem with that is his reach. He jumps and leaps. Although I've never seen him do this, he had to have to have gotten my plant down out of the window. Tying it up is a must without question. I suggested to my kids to put the tree in the living room. Didn't go over well. It's not where it usually is. And then the Christmas decorations I put up all over the house! I could get a headache!
       But I won't. Like most things, I'll deal with it. Dexter is a challenge. You have to out think him. He keeps me on my toes. I'll figure it out. If I don't, well it will make an interesting blog.