ps...didn't mean to write a novel !
My best advise is to make it seem fun....the more happy YOU act the more relaxed they'll feel......if you baby them then that'll only serve to make them feel there's a reason they need protecting and while it's HARD to not want to hold them and make them feel better - acting normal and trying to play with them seems to be the best way to help them overcome the fear
and you could always act stupid like I did !
Just remember - you're doing it for the DOG lol