The Nicholberry Dispatch

Santa Monica Save the Date, Poo Eating, and Octopus Love

Welcome back to the Nicholberry Dispatch, where I bring you the latest insights into all things dog and a few things human. As always, I promise to keep it brief, but will also link to some great content that just might take you down a rabbit hole. And if you know me at all, you know I love a good rabbit hole!

BOOK NEWS

I have heard from quite a few writers that I really have had the “Cinderella” experience when it comes to my book (more on exactly what that means in future issues). As time goes on, I become increasingly aware of this. Case in point: last week, I met with my brilliant marketing team at Celadon and am wowed by their plans for the next few months. It’s going to be so much fun! I am particularly excited about the signing events, as I finally get to meet so many of you (and hopefully your dogs - that’s why I asked for leads on dog-friendly indie bookstores this week). If you happen to be in the Santa Monica area (or driving distance), send me an email or post in the comments. I have a really fun “save the date” for you!

SOMETHING TO READ

Remarkably Bright Creatures

One of the ways that I know I really loved a book is when I miss the characters after I’ve finished. This is definitely true of this wonderful book. It sounds like such an odd premise - a friendship between a woman and an octopus? But it works. Oh, how it works. If you’re looking for an uplifting, moving, engaging read, this one is for you. (Hot tip: I listened to it on Audible while doing all of my cleaning tasks and thoroughly enjoyed the narrator, especially that of the octopus). Anyone else read and love this book?

SOMETHING TO LEARN

Why Dogs Eat Poo

This article reviews a study on coprophagia (the scientific term for poo eating) and summarizes what I’ve been saying for years on Instagram: It’s gross to us, but normal for them. It does go into strategies to deter poo eating and reviews an interesting study.

Our first litter was with Moses and Tessa and I remember the shock of seeing mama diligently clean her puppies. But any sense of disgust was quickly replaced with wonder, as there is such beauty in the process. Puppies are born without the ability to spontaneously eliminate and nature provides for this by compelling mama to lick the “elimination outlets.” If you can get past what you as a human think of this, you’ll marvel with me. The newsflash is that many, many mamas continue cleaning up long after the pups need it. This article says mamas clean until three weeks of age, but our mamas are overachievers and despite our efforts to beat them to it, many have continued eating poo right up until the puppies went home. And because puppies are all about “monkey see, monkey do”, they watch mama clean the nest and they decide to help out. Dogs repeat what they rehearse. Thus, poo eating.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” - Anne Lamott

SOMETHING TO LOVE

Let’s keep changing the world, one dog at a time.

Hugs,

Kerry