for the pregnant women

I have some advice for the pregnant women, too.  Don't wait until you are bulging with a seven month belly to come to class because you are suddenly worried that your dog is too rambunctious for the baby.  As soon as you know you are pregnant, buy the kids & dogs books, the crying baby tapes, and make all your dog's blankets smell like baby lotion, etc. and start class, if you think you need it!  I see so much of the "other" kind of parents at my classes, that I can virtually predict whose dogs will stay and whose will end up at Aunt Mary's or at the animal shelter.  Don't wait!!!!!!!!  And, besides, dog training can be good, low impact exercise that will keep you healthy while you wait for baby. []

I'm 7months now.  I think by the time he arrives, our dogs will be as prepared as they can be.  I think the best advice for expecting mums is RELAX!  Don't let anyone tell you that you won't be able to do it, it's not safe, not hygienic..... When the baby comes home, don't flap.  Baby and dog should take cue from you, so don't worry overmuch or they will pick up on it. 
 
Luckily, in our house the eldest dog is a "pro" at dealing with babies, he know he'll take it in his stride and the others take their cue from him.  If he's not scared, they aren't either.  If he ignores something, they ignore it too.  I know that all I have to do is relax and make sure the intro with him goes smoothly (which should be fine, he's been around babies before) and the others will be accepting and calm.  We are so lucky.

I bought the book, Raising Puppies and Kids Together by Pia Sylvani & Linda Eckhardt, suggested by Spiritdogs and it is great!  We started playing a baby crying CD this weekend and have already started working with Charlie about walking around the blanket, bought a baby for me to walk around with, etc.  I am not due until the end of May but hopefully we will be well prepared.  Charlie is small and doesn't have any aggression issues at all so I think we will be OK.  I do think that if you are nervous and project that feeling out to the dog, he will be become nervous to.