My dog was just the opposite of yours—he was not impressed at all with the "live" Christmas tree; but considering he exhibits an indifferent attitude toward most things, it was no big surprise. He has his own twisted personality, and is amusing to observe.
If you tell him to come to you, he'll run in the opposite direction; but if you're busy doing your weekend, household chores, he constantly invades your space. So then, you tell him to shoo, but he sticks to your side like velcro. I have no idea what's so fascinating about watching me do laundry and dishes, but he loves it. He definitely has his own way of dealing with his humans—when it suits him, and on his own terms.