XL = Fox Hound
L = Coon Hound
M = Queensland Heeler (they don’t understand gravity)
I have many stories of live squirrels in the top of trees poking their heads out and what XL, L, and M are capable of.
You, too, are not helping. 
Well, that’s not true. You are helping me understand that they are capable of demolishing a tree hung from the ceiling. hm…
Perhaps if you hung the pets from harnesses attached to the ceiling instead.
Sort of like live “walk-the-dog” yo-yos :yikes:
I can envision them all swaying to-and-fro…
the cat batting at the dogs…
Hmmm… I wonder what it would take to teach the critters to not take the tree down…
Maybe insulation-less wiring on/around the tree?
And I think Mr. Forbes has better things to do than sit at the “top” of a tree as hound bait.:p:p:D:D
Well since its a fake tree, just put it together the “wrong” way. No holes, no lazy susans needed.
Depends on the tree, Conor. My family’s fake tree (which we’ve used about as long as I can remember) has two sections and a stand. The branches fold upwards for storage/space when we’re done with it. It’s impossible to put together wrong…
If using that type of tree, you’ll also need to make sure the branches stay up. Wedges or fishing line tying the branches together and to the top rope would work for that.
And keep in mind that a main reason is that 3 of us really would like to see what an up-side down tree would look like. The 4th person is the one who might not keep the ceiling intact as much as I would like but will go along with the idea and try to help.
I think I like the idea of a readymade upside-down tree that we can attach to the ceiling.
that’s what I was thinking, too…
Plant an acorn in your ceiling.
Somebody teach the boy the difference between deciduous and conifer.
So… to get back on track a bit -
What if we attach a type of ring/rim to the base of the tree and hang the tree to the ceiling from that? It could be a spinner type base so that the tree could be turned. Yes? No?
That makes sense. I would put some sort of a pad (foam, carpet, etc.) between the ring/rim and the ceiling, in order to minimize any damage to the ceiling.
Also, for those assembled branches that may or may not fall out if assembled upside down, you may be able to use zip ties to hold each one in place. The zip tie may also help clamp the branch so that it’s pointed up instead of hanging down.
AB
I also heard that while you are putting this said tree up, you can use this to keep your dogs at bay.
Where is Billy Mays and Mighty Putty when you need them? 
I’d consider some sort of flat base with a pole sticking up and attaching the tree trunk along side of that. Maybe a wee extra anchor in the ceiling if you don’t mind patching a small hole…
Just remember that rule <C25> says that you cannot use a zip tie longer than 18" to secure a Christmas tree to a roof beam.