There are different things to consider. I never realised how much hair my dogs dropped until I had a baby - and quickly figured it out when it meant tummy time left me with a baby covered in dog hair - even though I vacuumed regularly. The other thing I quickly realised is my dogs were both uncomfortable being around DD for a long time. One got used to it quickly, the other still isn't sure how she's supposed to behave and sits very still whenever DD is near. We still let them in at night to chill out on a mat, they sleep indoors on cold nights, but they actually prefer to be outside (one of them sits by the door as soon as she's let in).

My dogs were used to being outdoors though - they were out all day, only coming in at night when we got home from work. So this part didn't change for them. Whatever your plan is, get them used to it now so they aren't surprised when bubs comes along. If you decide that the dogs do need to go outside when baby comes home and toss them out, they'll associate it with the new baby and may have feelings of resentment. Make it clear to them now if you've decided that they can't go into baby's room so it isn't something you're trying to battle when bubs arrives. Get them used to walking with the pram. This took a long time for us - one adjusted straight away, the other freaked out completely. One would sit on my lap at night, and that had to stop - I was getting too big for that to happen, plus I knew that it would probably be my baby in my arms once she arrived.

The best thing we did to introduce DD to the dogs was whenever DH brought clothes home from the hospital to wash, he'd let them have a sniff and the day we came home, we put the dogs on leads and brought them out to the car to meet DD.

Two years on, one dog adores DD. They play ball, she's figured out where the crumbs come from The other dog sits and waits to be told what to do (she's generally like that anyway) and still sits perfectly still should DD go for a pat. It does change, no matter how good your intentions, but you just have to find something that works for you all