I remember when I was a kid and we'd all go to the live tree seller, trying to find the "perfect" tree. After we got it inside, every year we'd try different things to extend its freshness. One year it would be aspirin in the water, another year it was sugar. The first year I had my dog, she tried to drink the water, but I guess it didn't taste too good, so she never did that again. But she did like to sit under the Christmas tree and sleep.