The yuletide is nearing and that can only mean one thing. Okay, it means a lot of things. Eggnog and pumpkin pie, cinnamon spices, snowflake and flashing light festive displays. Oh, and of course-presents! Who here likes presents? I am pretty sure we all do.

And, while your cat or dog may not admit it to your face, the fact of the matter is they do too. Coming in to a beloved family pet chewing into the freshly wrapped present from or for grandma might cause a slight chuckle, but it usually causes us to be upset. Our pets do not want to upset us, though. And, we do not want to be upset by our pets. So, there are a number of tricks you can use to train your pets not to unwrap presents.

The first and easiest method is also used with small children. Out of sight, out of mind. This is not so much training your pet to not unwrap Christmas presents as it is simply preventing them, but it is effective. Keep presents locked up and away from your pets, and they will not be able to unwrap them.

Some might use technological devices such as mats that cause discomfort and items that causes an annoying sound that can be heard by cats and dogs to keep them at bay. This is the same basic concept. It is not really training the animal, but is it keeping our presents nice and neatly wrapped.

As with any training, you need to start early with your pets. Teach them early on that chewing on a toy is not acceptable. Reward them for being near a present and not chewing on it. Discipline them when they do chew on a present. Provide them with a toy or other distraction that will keep their attention away from the present.

Our pets need to be trained to respect our area and our property. We share our homes, our families, and our lives, but there are some things that are ours. Children learn this early on. It is okay to play with their toys on the floor, but the lamp needs to stay on the table. The same basic concept works with animals. You need to teach them that it is okay to chew on their bone and not presents.

It will take some practice and the easy way out is definitely preventing the animal from getting near the presents. But, if you really want to train your pet not to unwrap presents, it is possible.