The Nicholberry Dispatch
A Stanford neuroscientist and tail wagging, plus "interior design" with Colleen Landry
Hey everyone! 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 fun rabbit hole.
BOOK NEWS
By the time I was done writing Puppy Brain, my research document had mushroomed into a thirty-three page Word document. Rather than put all of those citations at the back of the book, Celadon and I agreed that our best approach was to put the citations on a website. In addition to the citations, this website contains videos that illustrate concepts in the book and a link to all of the products mentioned. In case you haven’t yet visited it, here is the link.
Because this is a website I can modify, leave a comment and let me know if there any videos you’d like to see that would illustrate a concept. I’ll do my best to add them!
SOMETHING TO LEARN
What You Can Learn from the Direction of Your Dog’s Tail Wag
In 2022, a study came out about the important role that tail wagging plays in social interactions. In this clip, Dr. Ben does a great job explaining that study and telling us what the lateralization of a dog’s tail might mean. So fascinating! Now I’ve been scrutinizing all tail wagging here, as I’m sure you will do after watching this clip.
SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU LAUGH
English Teacher Interior Design Skits
If you have enjoyed Colleen Landry’s videos on “interior design,” you will love this interview with her on Kate Lindsay’s substack. It’s always so interesting to read someone’s backstory and see how their particular brand of creative expression got its start.
And if you haven’t yet discovered Colleen, you’re welcome. Little did I know that I was not alone in marveling at the creative places adult children leave empty bottles and the “helpful” way my husband puts away the dishes. You are going to laugh. Here’s a good one. (Incidentally, my friend Aly sent this to me and mark my words - someday I’ll be referring you to Aly’s substack, as she is that rare human who is both wickedly funny and profoundly deep).
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
“If I could be half the person my dog is, I'd be twice the human I am.” - Charles You
SOMETHING TO LOVE
I wish my job was to study tail wags of dogs, although all that math might be a challenge. LOL
Thank goodness for the Huberman video - I tried reading the paper before I saw the video and was a bit confused and then when I saw that math I almost choked. I will for sure be watching Harriet's tail from now on. When she runs across our property to bark at our neighbor's dog Gus (she usually is telling him she got dinner before him) she has a full on helicopter tail going.
Plus she runs like a bucking bronco- any research on that?