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My wife and I are expecting our first child and we have a lovely 1 year old amstaff bitch.My wife is scared that the dog will change or harm the baby( albeit not meaning too) and wants to start keeping the dog outside.The dog has become protective of anyone or thing coming close to her during pregnancy so i cant see anything changing when the baby comes.I think we are better leaving the dog to get accustomed to the baby being there.The dog sleeps in the same room as us at night.She has never bitten anyone but can be boisterous at times when excited.Does anyone have the same situation if so i would be gratefull to hear their opinions

I really can't offer advice since I haven't been in this situation but I would agree with your assessment about not changing your AmStaffs environment as that could possibly lead to problems. Baby's and dogs have gotten along before, I wish you good luck on both accounts. Hopefully someone that has been through this situation will offer their expertise on the subject.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Now is the time to take your dog to training classes if you have not done so. If you have gone to classes, go again and refresh the lessons. This will be the best tool you have to prevent any problems.

I have experience with my older dog getting protective of me while I was pregnant. That behavior did not continue once I had my children. Yet, I never encouraged the behavior when it happened either. I ignored it completely and removed my dog from the situations that started the behavior in the first place.

DO NOT start leaving your dog outside once the baby comes. That can lead to a lifetime of trouble. Am. Stafordshire terriers are some of the nicest dogs I've met when socialized properly. They do like kids and typically are not mean unless they are poorly handled and socialized.

Go into the forum on this site called "Kids and Dogs." I posted a while ago on how to deal with babies and dogs.

I'll try to recap it here, but I may miss something so check there as well. NEVER reprimand your dog around the new baby. Get oyur dog used to the noises and sounds of a child. Desensitize your dog to the stupid things kids do by doing to a park and feeding him great treats while watchi a softball game or kids on a jungle gym. If your dog seems comfortable, let the kids at the park feed your dog treats. NO dog should think a kid is anything less than a "Hot dog dispenser."

When baby comes home, encourage your dog to be in the same room with you and the baby. Give a lot of love, treats and attention to your dog for staying calm around the baby and investigating the baby. Poor manners around the baby don't need to be punished, they just need to be prevented- ie. put a leash on the dog so he doesn't jump up.

As baby grows, make sure you start showing baby/toddler appropriate ways to touch the dog. Don't let kids tease, torment, and molest the dog. That's unfair. Dog's don't need to put up with that. IF required, remove the dog from the situation, redirect the child, and then let dog back into the room. Also, make a "safe spot" for the dog to retreat to that the child is not allowed to pester him. My older dog is under my bed and my kids are not allowed to go under the bed with the dog. My younger dog has his crate and that is not a child's fort.

There's a book called "Baby Proofing Your Dog." I like most of the concepts in the book, but have had to modify a few of the techniques for my own dogs. Yet, the information is great.

Good luck, congrats on the new arrival and please keep us posted on the training.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

>>My wife and I are expecting our first child and we have a lovely 1 year old amstaff bitch.My wife is scared that the dog will change or harm the baby( albeit not meaning too) and wants to start keeping the dog outside.The dog has become protective of anyone or thing coming close to her during pregnancy so i cant see anything changing when the baby comes.I think we are better leaving the dog to get accustomed to the baby being there.The dog sleeps in the same room as us at night.She has never bitten anyone but can be boisterous at times when excited.Does anyone have the same situation if so i would be gratefull to hear their opinions

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At the link below my signature you'll find an article on baby joining the home with a dog, Children Need to Learn about Dogs, and Choosing a Dog for Children. The Baby article discusses things to do before you have the baby as well as after. The most important thing for you to know is that experts now agree you must never leave any dog alone with any child under school age, for even one second. However you set up your homa and schedule will have to observe that rule.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Take your choice of opinions---I think dogs are safer around kids, esp. toddlers, if they do NOT get "finger food." On the soccer sidelines they get belly-rubs, not snacks. If your AmStaff snagged a cheeseball from a sleepy little hand hanging out of a stoller, someone would swear that a pitbull mauled a baby.......