Whispering sweet nothings

If you read the dog training books, you may learn that when you send your pooch to the vet at about six months, she'll settle down. The books tell you that the surgery that forgives your puppy any late night romance, will also calm her down.
The books lie.
Root Beer went for her female surgery last Saturday. Her visit began at 9 a.m. and I did have a moment of hesitation when I left her at the animal hospital. Did I really want her to never experience the joy of birth, the camaraderie of a same-species family, did I want to limit her experience?
It was only a momentary hesitation.
I thought of the mess and perhaps fright of dogs mating before Luke. I suspect the St.Bernard that lives around the corner of having amorous intentions. The huge chocolate labradoodle that lives across the street also has the potential to make babies. I thought of the whelping box, the puppy piddle and going through January all over again.
I left Root Beer at the hospital.
I picked her up on Sunday. She seemed a little slower and maybe a little sadder. She didn't jump on me and her gait as we walked to the car was careful.
Jump ahead a week and the dog is twisting to the sky as she jumps straight up. Her appetite increased to include shoes and other errant pieces of clothing. Her licks and cuddles returned. Her spirit remains undiminished.
Our puppy is growing up, and we get to keep her all to ourselves.