It's unclear whether dogs really like chewing wrapping paper or if they are simply excited by new things; whatever the case, the holiday season is ripe with potential dangers for your pets, mostly in the form of hazardous decorations they'll inevitably try to eat. The list (which applies to pets in general, but seems most apt for dogs), courtesy of Longisland.com and the Suffok County SPCA (alternatives courtesy of me):

Tinsel: Responsible owners should avoid the light, plastic-y material as dogs (and possibly cats) may mistake it for a toy and either swallow or choke, according to LI.com. Humans probably should, too; there's something odd about the strange chemistry that produces tinsel and the way it elusively brushes one's skin like the ghost of Christmas past.

Alternative: Glitter. Carefully sprinkle some on your pine's leaves and benefit from a more nuanced sparkle.

Popcorn and other edible food items: Dogs can be sneaky, and likely spend more time by the living room holiday tree than most owners. Thus, popcorn, candy canes, and other digestible trinkets don't stand a chance (and aren't healthy for your dogs).

Alternative: Ornaments depicting actual foods. Celebrators could decorate their tree in an entirely fake feast. For those born on the 25th, a birthday cake could even site at the top! Speaking of ornaments, trinkets of the small and breakable variety should be either discarded or hung high (some, no doubt, are highly sentimental).

Poinsettias, amaryllis, mistletoe, and holly: All are toxic when ingested, or, in the words of veterinarian Jae Chang of the Farr Veterinary Hospital in Lake Charles, Louisiana (to kdsd.com), "Holly and mistletoe can cause them to have severe gastrointestinal signs and also cardiovascular issues."

Alternative: I won't champion fake plants, but instead advise choosing less toxic -- and perhaps less traditional -- greens. Though holly et. Al are associated with the season, they are hardly Xmas staples.

Water below the tree: Dogs live to discover new, indoor water sources not related to a bland bowl of room-temperature H2O. Concerned owners should make sure to keep their pets' water bowls fresh, avoid adding any chemicals to the aqua supporting their tree (toxic), and possibly placing a net over the bowl's top.

Alternative: Already stated.

Cleanup: Make sure to deposit all wrapping paper in a timely manner. Bones of various dinner animals should also be properly disposed; they have the potential to splinter if chewed by your dog, according to LI.com.