How about a birch tree?

My daughter is looking to replace her crab apple tree (apparently her dog LOVES to eat and get sick off the tasty treats). As a replacement, she's deciding between a white and a river birch. My advice is to go with the river birch. I've found that in Minnesota's climate, white birch have a hard time getting though the seasons. The river birch is hardier and less susceptible to disease and decay.