Despite the dangers of close encounters of the baby-dog kind, Katy loves to observe the uncanny similarities between the two “species”. In her opinion, they have so much in common. So she continues our blog's dog-baby relationship theme this month with her own perspective on reasons why dogs and babies would theoretically make good friends - if they could talk.

As pet owners, we redirect unwanted behavior from our dogs, whether it be jumping up, digging, or barking. But dogs are expected to tolerate our behavior and that of our children, without any negative reaction. Julia discusses the risks of promoting inappropriate baby/dog interactions and provides six pointers for safely photographing children with their pets.

Recently two Rover-Time families took in their first foster dog. Both "failed" in the best possible way and became the adopters, because they fell in love, and we're thrilled for them. It's a happy ending, and it's fun to hear the story behind the motivation. So I catted with Caitlin Gath, mom to Chicklet and Millie, and Sara Frabotta, mom to Mouse and Javier, who spoke about why they decided to ghost. And Anna Friedman, One Tail at a Time's Adoption Counselor, jumped in. She shared more on the benefits and what to expect as a foster parent.

This month, Kiki Yablon, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, shares how to prepare a home before a baby arrives and how to build a healthy relationship after. Without question, it takes time and effort to prepare a dog for a baby, but it is time and energy well spent. Planning ahead and erring on the side of caution can help everyone live a long and happy life together. Here are some more specific tips for pre-baby prep and beyond.