Nick Memphis Media

08/09/2026

An Early Lesson Learned

This photo popped up in my memories recently. It’s from a dog training client over 12 years ago, and it represents a lesson I’ll never forget.

It was the summer of 2014. I was working with a young black lab on leash walking skills and enrichment. Having helped countless dogs before him, I was feeling pretty confident in my abilities.

The reason I remember this lesson so vividly is because this lab only weighed about 40 or 50 pounds. At the time, it didn’t seem like a big deal. What could a dog that size really do to me? After all, I had over 125 pounds on him.

Then, I took my eyes off him for a split second.

He decided to go after a squirrel. I completely lost my footing and flew through the air, landing abruptly on the ground. That tenacious canine dragged me over the rocky cement until my own body weight finally anchored him to a stop.

How could this happen? He seemed like such a small dog, and I only looked away for literally one second.

This was one of my very first lessons in humility as a trainer.

It’s a story I’ll never forget. It doesn’t matter the size of the dog.

Pay attention. Stay humbled.

08/06/2026

“CALL YOUR DOG!” I yelled.

“Your dog needs to be on a leash!”

“It’s a dog park,” the woman snapped back. “If your dog can’t handle being at a dog park, then maybe they shouldn’t come.”

I pointed to the sign. I had receipts.

“It isn’t a dog park.”

It was a public beach with leash laws clearly posted.

The reason I liked going there was because of those leash laws. As soon as I saw two people approaching with off-leash dogs, I got Nacho out of the water, clipped on his shorter leash, and started heading out.

Then it happened.

Her Chihuahua came charging across the entire beach straight toward us.

As a professional dog trainer, I spend a lot of time reading canine body language. Long before that dog reached us, I knew exactly what was about to happen.

Nacho gave one sharp alert bark—a completely understandable response to a strange dog sprinting directly into his space.

I told him to leave it, and he did.

The owner casually walked over and finally collected her dog.

Nothing happened.

That’s exactly why this story matters.

Leash laws aren’t there because every off-leash dog is dangerous.

They’re there because you don’t get to decide what another dog is comfortable with.

Some dogs are recovering.
Some are elderly.
Some are in training.
Some simply don’t appreciate a strange dog charging into their space.

Respect leash laws.

All dogs deserve a chance to swim in peace.

Calm. Confident. Consistent.

08/05/2026

On August 5, 2021 I made the journey to a small Indiana city right outside of Chicago to pick up Nacho.

It’s not hyperbole to say that he’s changed my life.

Today I celebrate five glorious years.

08/04/2026

Want a calmer, happier household with your dog? 🐾

Hi friends! I’m Nick Memphis, a local dog trainer with over 20 years of real-world experience, an AKC CGC Evaluator, and the author of Civil Canines.

I see so many owners struggling with stressful walks, leash reactivity, or chaotic greeting manners at the front door. The truth is, dog training isn't just about teaching a dog to sit—it’s about helping humans understand how their dogs think so you can build a reliable bond anywhere you go.

Whether you're raising a brand new puppy, dealing with frustrating leash lunging, or just want a dog that listens the first time you speak, I'm here to help. I specialize in personalized, real-world lessons tailored directly to your home and lifestyle.

Let’s turn those chaotic walks into peaceful strides.

👇 Ready to get started?

Message me to get started!

💻 Virtual education available

08/03/2026

🐶 Finding Balance & Stability ⚖️

A lot of owners get stuck trying to force obedience when a dog is either redlining with excitement or completely frozen with fear. The truth? Neither state of mind allows for real learning.

My goal as a trainer is to help your dog find net zero—the ultimate sweet spot where they are calm, alert, and connected to you.

📈 Bringing them UP:
Fearful or insecure dogs don’t need more discipline. They need confidence-boosting exercises to pull them out of a shut-down state and bring them up to stability.

📉 Bringing them DOWN:
Frantic, over-excited, or reactive dogs don’t just need to burn off energy. They need clear structure, boundaries, and calming protocols to bring them down from hyper-arousal.

Energy isn’t the enemy. High drive is fantastic for sports or play, as long as the dog remains stable enough to listen. And a quiet dog isn’t always a relaxed dog—true relaxation is peaceful, not withdrawn.

🔗 Ready to transform your training? Click the link in my bio to book a personalized consultation today!

Calm. Confident. Consistent.

08/01/2026

Enter your cat and/or dog for a chance to be featured on a Surly Brewing can and win a professional photo shoot by yours truly.

Good luck!!

IT'S BACK!!

That's right, "52 Rescue Brew" Contest in partnership with Surly Brewing Company is BACK!!

Enter the contest and set up your pet's profile TODAY! Voting starts TOMORROW and goes through August 23rd, closing at 7PM!

Does your pet have what it takes to be a star?
Announcing the Pet Haven Rescue Brew Spokesmodel Contest Sponsored by SURLY BREWING!

We're on the prowl for a very special cat and dog to be the face of Minnesota's pet community. Could it be yours? Pet Haven of Minnesota has teamed up with Surly Brewing to celebrate dogs and cats and the people who love them with the Pet Haven and Surly Brewing Rescue Brew Spokesdog and Spokescat contest!

All are welcome to join! Your dog or cat does NOT need to be a rescued pet or a Pet Haven pet.

The dog or cat that captures the most votes will have their names and images featured on Surly's limited edition Rescue Brew Pilsner, released September 12th. Our Spokesmodel winners will have a chance to accept their award, take a bow, and mingle with their adoring fans at a Rescue Brew release party at Surly Brewing on Saturday, September 12th from 2 PM - 5 PM! DON'T MISS THE FUN!!!

If your pet is an introvert, we are happy to welcome their representative!

The free outdoor celebration will feature Surly Rescue Brew Pilsner ($1 a pour will go to Pet Haven), live music on the Surly patio, a dog adoption event, vendors, and great food from Surly Kitchen for purr-chase!

Seriously, this is SO MUCH FUN!!

***A portion of the proceeds of Rescue Brew and food sales will support Pet Haven's rescued pets - Eat, Drink, Save Lives!

Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for this celebration of our contest winners and Minnesota's amazing animal rescue community. We will have a Rescue Brew Reveal Party on September 12th from 2-5 in the Surly Yard!

The contest opens to build your pet's personal profile on July 31, 2026, and opens for voting on August 1st, ending voting on August 23rd at 7 PM.

Participation is easy — just upload your favorite photo and tell us why your dog or cat is the purr-fect Spokesdog or Spokescat to represent Pet Haven and Minnesota's rescued pets!

Then SHARE SHARE SHARE with your community, engaging and inspiring them to vote! Sharing is key to getting people to vote!

The more votes, the better your chance of winning!

Your $15 entry fee also buys you 15 votes for your pet. To view our competitors and cast your votes, just click on ‘view entries'. Each vote is $1.

CHECK OUT THE LINK TO THE CONTEST IN OUR COMMENTS!

PRIZES:

GRAND PRIZE:
The dog and cat with the most votes, once our contest concludes, will become our Rescue Brew spokesmodels! The winning pets will be featured together on their very own Rescue Brew Crowlers!

The winning Cat and Dog will also receive a professional photo session with Nick Memphis. This photo will be in the entryway at Pet Haven's facility until the 2027 Rescue Brew Contest!

They'll also receive a $25 Surly gift card, a $50 Chuck and Don's gift card, and 2 commemorative Rescue Brew Crowlers.

The winning cat will also receive a 6-month subscription to Meow Box- a monthly box full of assorted cat toys and treats. Meowza!

The winning dog will get pampered at Dogs Day Out and 3 days of complimentary daycare at Downtown Dogs! WOW!

SECOND AND THIRD-PLACE PRIZES:
The dog or cat to capture the second highest number based on total votes will receive a 3-month MeowBox or BarkBox subscription and a commemorative Rescue Brew Crowler.

The dog or cat in third place, based on the total number of votes, will receive a $50 gift card from Chuck and Don's and a commemorative Rescue Brew Crowler.

All winners will receive a Pet Haven T-shirt.

07/31/2026

5 Things Every Dog Owner Should Do

There are countless ways to be a better dog owner. So much so, I wrote a book about it. But here are five of my favorites.

5️⃣ Never stop learning.
Dogs are constantly learning from us, and we should never stop learning about them. The more you understand canine behavior, the better decisions you’ll make for your dog.

4️⃣ Respect leash laws and always pick up after your dog.
Responsible dog ownership isn’t just about your dog. It’s about respecting your community, other dogs, and the people who share those spaces.

3️⃣ Set clear boundaries and be consistent.
Dogs thrive when expectations are clear. Consistency builds confidence, trust, and better communication.

2️⃣ Meet your dog’s individual needs.
Every dog is different. Physical exercise is important, but so are mental enrichment, problem-solving, rest, and opportunities to engage in natural behaviors.

1️⃣ Research your dog’s breed
Every breed was developed for a purpose. Understanding your dog’s instincts, energy level, and natural tendencies helps set realistic expectations and prevents many common behavior problems before they begin.

These aren’t training tips—they’re the foundation of responsible dog ownership.

If you’re looking to better understand your dog, I’d love to help. I offer virtual behavior education consultations designed to help owners build a stronger relationship with their dogs through understanding, not just obedience.

Calm. Confident. Consistent.

07/30/2026

The Ego Element in Dog Ownership

When we ask for compliance with local leash laws, we aren’t attacking your character. Yet, a simple neighborhood request is constantly met with instant, aggressive defensiveness. Why does the ego turn a basic safety measure into a personal insult?

As the author of Civil Canines, my goal is to help communities move past the emotional noise. I refuse to engage in angry name-calling. My work isn’t about human egos—it is entirely for the safety and well-being of the dogs.

When you bypass accountability, the real-world ramifications remain exactly the same:

The Law Favors Compliance:
Legally speaking, a compliant, leashed handler holds the absolute right-of-way on shared public ground.

Automatic Negligence:
Violating local ordinances can be used in a courtroom as direct proof of negligence, stripping away your legal defenses.

Financial and Civil Liability:
You are legally liable for the medical bills, veterinary costs, and property damage caused by an unrestrained animal.

The Tragic Consequences:
In severe cases, animal control has the full authority to impound pets, and a judge can order an animal permanently removed.

Trolls and keyboard warriors will continue to shout in the replies, but online anger does not change municipal facts. I wish we could all rise above the defensiveness and prioritize our pets over our pride.

🧠 Calling all psychologists, behavioral experts, or counselors: I would love to hear your insights in the comments. Why does the human ego map a simple public rule directly onto personal identity? Let’s have a constructive conversation below.

Clip the leash. Every dog. Every time. Just do it.

Every dog and human deserves to feel safe.

07/29/2026

Not Every Reactive Dog Is Aggressive.

These words are often used interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing.

Reactivity describes a dog’s heightened RESPONSE to something in their environment.

Aggression describes a specific category of BEHAVIOR intended to threaten or cause harm.

A reactive dog may bark, lunge, freeze, retreat, or pull toward or away from something. Sometimes those reactions include aggressive behavior. Many times they don’t.

I tell clients all the time, I make mistakes and do stupid things, but that doesn’t make me a stupid person.

That’s why I’m careful about labeling dogs too quickly.

When we immediately call a dog “aggressive,” we can miss the more important question:

Why is the dog reacting this way?

Fear, frustration, excitement, stress, pain, and past experiences can all influence behavior.

The label isn’t the diagnosis.

Understanding the reason behind the behavior is what leads to better decisions—and better outcomes for dogs.

I’ve had plenty of clients that have come to me crying because someone called their dog aggressive, when in reality, it was just reacting to a situation.

Follow for more!

Calm. Confident. Consistent.