The Nicholberry Dispatch

How a blog became a book, life lessons from Ralph Lauren, and canine cancer screening

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

When my agent (Leigh Eisenman - love her) and I sent out our proposal about Puppy Brain, we originally envisioned a book that converted my Instagram feed into book format. Once we began having meetings with various publishers, the same question cropped up repeatedly. Essentially, could we expand it to be a more comprehensive book about raising an emotionally resilient puppy? Could I?! Since our first litter, I’ve kept private blogs for our Nicholberry families, typically posting every other day about all the things they should know to prepare for a puppy. Everything from how to set up a puppy area at home to how to raise a therapy dog. I joked that it was Nicholberry boot camp and had no idea that those blogs would someday lay the foundation for a book. With the help of the extraordinary team at Celadon Books, Puppy Brain became a treatise on lovingly raising a confident and happy puppy. I simply cannot wait for all of you to get your copy (and still remain gobsmacked by your support when we launched pre-orders - thank you!). 

SOMETHING TO LEARN

Oprah’s Super Soul Podcast with Ralph Lauren

I have loved all things Ralph Lauren since I was in high school (RL polos, collar up - who remembers?) and have loved Oprah for just as long. So when I saw that the former was in a conversation with the latter, I knew I was in for a treat! They did not disappoint. It’s like a master class on gratitude, humility, and kindness (especially moving was his vulnerability about his diagnosis with a brain tumor, as I know I’m not alone in having people close to me similarly diagnosed). I hope you enjoy their conversation as much as I did - can’t wait for part two.

SOMETHING TO READ

Cancer Screening in Dogs

For those of us who have been loved by a dog - especially a Golden -  the potential diagnosis of cancer looms ominously as a potential one in our future. We all know the statistics. We all know the deal we strike when we bring them into our families and into our hearts. If you follow on Instagram, you know that we got that diagnosis last week with Lollie. She did a therapy visit at a hospital on Friday and was gone by the following Friday. It was a sucker punch and oh, how grateful we all would have been to know that lymphoma was brewing in her body. That’s what these screening tests do. There is still no cure, but by detecting certain cancers long before a dog becomes symptomatic, they allow for potential treatment. And, for a proper amount of time to say goodbye.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

“It takes courage to be kind.” - Maya Angelou

SOMETHING TO LOVE

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

Hugs,

Kerry